Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-26

position here and there to go TOO lar
and transgress the law"
He added that "the machinery OF
some trade associations seems 10 nave
been made use of for transactions tnaI
come dangerously near to prlce-lxlg.
Turning to what he described as the
department's other two major problems
prison condition improvement ana
enforcement of the proh1b1tlon laws
the Attorney General said an extensive
program to improve prisons hao neen
formulated and awaited congIessiolta "a
approval. and efforts are being made 10
strengthen the dry laws while awaiting
the report Of President Hoover's Law
Enforcement Commission.
Measures for Betterment.
Activities in this connection, he
pointed out, were based on improvement
of the personnel and efficiency OF the
United States attorneys to obtain prose-
cutors "who may be depended upon 70
administer their Offices free from ex-
traneous influence, political or other
wise; speeding up the operations OF
Federal courts trying liquor cases; and
transfer of the prohibition unit from
the Treasury Department to the De-
partment of Justice, which must be ap-
proved by Congress.
He also indicated that selection OF a
successor to Mrs. Mabel Walker Willie
brandt who resigned as Assistant At
torney General in charge OF prohibition
and tax matters, had been made and
that an announcement would be 1orth-
coming Gin the near future"
Despite much pressure, the Attorney
General said he had avoided until now
discussion of the policies to be followed
by the department In regard TO the anti
trust laws, pending a study. THE de-
partment's program Of law enforcement
does not make any exception OF the
antitrust laws" he continued.
Pointing out that these laws are
founded on the proposition that ave
kept open as far as possible to the in
itiative of the individual citizen" he
added that the alternative Is bureau
cratic regulation and until the political
philosophy underlying the present anti
trust laws has been abandoned, by Con-
gress, 1t will be the duty of the Attor-
ney General to enforce these laws, and
we shall undertake to do this without
prejudice and with fairness, but with
firmneSs."
He called attention to the practice Of
the department in the last administra-
ton to consider proposed mergers or
other business transactions presented to
1t by those interested, and to indicate
in limited way its views of the legality
Of the proposals. Asserting that the le-
tiers in reply to such cases were care
fully guarded in their terms, he said
the attitude of the department. has
often been misrepresented and miscon-
strued"
In announcing that passing upon the
legality of business deals in advance
AicaAYafsF4YaAI De-
instances, he said, I'VE have found as
a result Of such experience that such
proposals often have some practical ele-
mentS that are not fully developed
when the proposals are submitted and
that the plans as carried out have not
operated just as was contemplated, and
the transactions as outlined to the de-
partment in advaice. seemingly innocu-
GUS, have In practice worked in appar-
ent violation of the antitrust laws"
Officers Are Elected. .....
With election of Henry Epson. Sims.
Birmingham, to its presidency, the Bar
Association adjourned its f1fty-Second
convention yesterday.
Sims succeeds Guerney Newlin as
president. His first message to the bar
OF America was an urge to lawyers to
uphold the dignity of their profession.
John H. Voorhees,. Sioux Falls, S. OAK,
was reelected treasurer and William P.
McCracken, Chicago, was reelected sec
rotary.
Reports were received from the Judi
cial committee that it expected favor
able action from Congress on the at
tempt to give the Supreme Court of the
United States power to make rules of
procedure. A committee reported It
hoped to get bill through the next
Congress which would make the presi-
Dental Inauguration date in January
instead of March.
The recommendation of the commit
tee on aeronautical law that an uniform
State aeronautical code be drafted was
adopted.