The Washington times., 1929-12-30

OPENING
HIT
(csnlinHsd from Page on.l :

f6Onetnue0 from E028.- One<
asnt agencies were sbustling with
Activity which preSaged q greater
drive on bootleggerS, and Con-
: RresSional dryS were preparing for
q continuation of the controversy
on the floor Of the Senate and
( House next week.
The Hoover Law enforcement
Commission was preparing to put
ne final touches on its prohihis
( lion report, and House dfyS
planned to demand quick action
: ON the Jones resolution, creating
0 Joint Congressional committee
! 10 study reorganization of the en-
: forcement machinery.
!; Senator Thomas, disapprovine
both the statement Of Senator
Borah R0 of Idaho, condemning
the Federal enforcement person.
!. mel, and the bill Of Senator Shep.
perd ODD Of Texas to punish
buyers of liquor, said:
"Since the Volstead act went
into effect, until the last few
months, there was no legal manu-
facture Of liquor within the
United States. Since that time
! the Government has given per
nlits for opening five distiIleries
to manufacture liquor, thus put
ting the Government in the bust
ness.
''It occurs to me that the in
terests complaining Of IIon-er-
forcement, especially the law
makers, might better accomplish
!, their purpose by repeating that
part of the Yolstead act permit
ting the making Of liquor.
"1t just opens up another ave
nue. for graft in the dispensing
!, Of liquor. There is bound to, be
liquor stolen and embezzIed from
these distilleries running with
!. Government permits: they are
Just another source Of supply.
Thomas Raps Mellon
"The Government is making
whisky to please disreputaple dis
pensaries and drug stores Of no
high standard which deal in it.
TO furnish liquor for disreputable
! stores and doctors is a farce.
contend, II there Is any medicinal
! value in liquor, it comes from
alcohol, and therefore it Is not
!. necessary to make whisky.
The Government, too, is order
ing the manufacture Of different
kinds Of liquor, such as rye and
scotch, for the purpose Of pleas
ing the palate"
Thomas announced he would
support Q movement for larger
appropriations and more enforce.
snaent agents and asserted ut is
wen known that Secretary Mellon
Is not In sympathy with the Vol
stead Act and we viii never have
better enforcement SO long as he
= the head"
Opposes Sheppard Bill
he doesn't believe the Sheppard
bin to penalize buyers will &C
,complish anything. Continuing.
ne said:
= TN localities where the people
DO not want the law enforced it
Is not and cannot be. Where the
law Is unpopular and people
make wine and beer in their own
homes or use it personally, you
cant get "a jury to convict some
one for doing something they do.
! People get the kind of en-
sforcernent they want. The only
thing to do. is to try to enlarge
the areas where people want it
.enforced. I think there are too
many in the prohibition service
for what they can get out Of II"
Anticipating the law enforce
mens commission will report the
Federal Courts of the countrS are
overburdened, some Congressional
dryE are studying proposals to
create prohibition commissioners
under Federal judges and give
them limited jurisdictions.
These coFnH1issio 1ers, under the
plan, would handle the small
Fellow" leaving the big yiolatcrS
FOR the District Court Itself.
~ v