New Britain herald., 1929-06-07
PROHIBITION MAJOR TASK IN CONGRESS
Yots to Appoint Cenntss <
 HooYf kdd Pa1d

Washington. June ' N-Prohtbi' ton today was once again . major subject of cenddeation in the lssis- lativs and executive branches of the govArnment.
 Moves were already under way at the capitol to comply with Presi- dent Hoover's request for appoint. ment of . joint congressional com. mittes to join with administrative groups already at work on the preparation of legislation for the reorganization and unincatien. as far as possible. of prohibition en. forcement machinery in the depart. ment of justice. He wants to sea | such legislation enacted at the regular session of congress which | begins in December.
 Two Heads Heard
 One of the agencies which will cooperate with that committee, the presidents new national commits 1 sion for law observance and en- forcement, already has heard Secre- l tary Mellon. now chiefly responsible for administration of the prohibition laws. and Attorney General Mitchell. whose department is to become the principal enforcement agency under the administration plan.
 They were the first to be heard In the commissions contemplated two-year investigation of general enforcement and observance, pre- senting their views behind closed doors at the opening session of its second meeting, which, was con- fronted today with . study of crime statistics presented by the attorney general
 The presidents messaEe drawing congress into his enforcemen mt -ob- servance program. disclosed that through his cabinet members and the inter-department committee which was organized some time ago to make a preliminary study of the situation. the administration had a fairly comprehensive plan for the task of transferring enforcement machinery.
 First Move Taken
 The first move of congress to it Into the program followed quick Iy on tho receipt of the presidents message with the introduction of . resolution by Senator Jones, repub- lican, Washington. . dry leader. to provide for the appointment of . committee of three senators and four representatives to work out the comprehensive legislative program suggested. This resolution will be taken up by the judiciary commit tee Monday, and comments on both aides of the capitol have indicated that it will meet with little oppo- sition.
 The work of inter-deparemental committee as we'll as the findings of the law enforcement commission will be at it's disposal. and the task 1t will be assigned undoubtedly will keep its members in Washington much of the summer. As administra- ton officials view the problem, that task will involve an extensive study of existing laws and regula- ltion. together with consideration of governmental policies relating to the cdast guard and customs services of the treasury and the immigration Inspection service of the labor de- partment. as we'll as the present pro- hibition prosecution machinery of the justice departments.
 Alcohol Permit Question
 The congressional committee will be called upon to consider not only the advisability and means of trans ferring the prohibition enforcement work of these agencies to the justice department. but tho difficult prob- lem of what to do about commercial alcohol permits. It has been sug- Eested that this division of tho pres- ent prohibition unit of the treasury might be transferred to the conn merce department. but the impor- tarce Of its. work from an enforce ment standpoint has been empha- sized by statements that diversion of indust rial alcohol from legal chan nels is one of the chief sources Of surply for the bootleg trade.
 The working out of the progra m will call for a considerable amount Of legislation, q fact which Presi- dent Hoover undoubtedly recognized in deciding to inject the prohibition situation into the special session of congress in order to get an early start on the preliminary work. Po- litical observers at the capitol see in the program itself and in the recep- ton given the presidents message in both wet and dry groups clear indi- cations that prohibition is likely to he one of the most voluminously dis cussed topics of the list congress.