Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-20
FAVOR TWO HEADS
OF DRY MACHINERY
Officers Studying Transfer
Problem Would Divide En-
f0rcement and Prohibition.

Py the Associated Press.
Administration officers who have
studied the problem OF transferring the
prohibition unit from the Treasury to
the Justice Depar rtment are Of the Opin-
ion that the enforcement and prOsecu-
tion mschineries should be under seps- :
rate heads. working in close cooper
alton.
They take tlse view that the pr0Secu-
tiOn end now under the direction OF
Assistant Attorney General Mabel Wal
ker Willrbrandt, is = task Of such iM-
portance and magnitude that taae officer
in charge would be unable tO spare the
time for directing The strictly enforce
ment part of the job.
Some congressional leaders concur in
the view Of these officials that the
measurement of the Quaiifics tiOns Of the
enforcement director should be ability
AZ IA organizer and administrators
rather than aS u lawyer On prosecutor.
and that the proper performance of the
task would absorb the full attention Of
an individual.
Problem Is KAtrieate.
Preliminary sarveyS of the prOhibi-
ton enforcement field have disclosed
that the problem of making the transfer
which President Hoover announced III
his inaugural address Is an exceedingly
intricate one, requiring the most care
ful study before legislative reccommen-
dalionS to bring 1t about are laid before
Congress.
There are many ramifica tions Of the
enforcement problem. with some fes-
tures ot Tire work spreading tU three
departments anu ca several divisions
vi the Treasury as well. A complete
transfer of tile whole machinery IL
regarded as out vf the question aud II Is
recognized that after tIIr necessary leg
iSlaIlon has been put into operation,
close corporation viii have to be MAIN
tanned between the several departments
of the Government which still will De
concerned.
There is suggestion that James
Al. DOran, The prohibition commissioner.
who is now engaged Oh study Of the
problem, may be- made the r0-ordlPatOr
with general supervision III the several
departments.
One important division Of enforce
mrnt is the Customs Service. which
obviously cannot be transferred info the
Justice Department since it's primary
function is that OF collecting customs
taxes and preventing smuggling and
frauds under the tarirf acts.
Labor Department Affected.
The Coast Guard which also has
become an important arm of prohibition
enforcement works closely with the
Customs Service. Similarly. enforcement
finds its way into the Labor Depart
ment through the immigration Service,
AS the agents ou lhe borders. in addi-
ton TO their primary duties. assist IN
detecting and preventing sniugg ting of
lntoxlcAnts ~ well HS other coIItrsDand.
Another division vi enforcement
which has n vital bearing Oh the Illicit
iiqli0r trafric Is that dealing with alcohol
and other permits under the prOhlbi
ton act. This Is regarded rs n strictly
business transaction which well might
be placed under the Department Of
Commerce.
Internal revenue agents also have
their proper place in the enforcement
machinery. but like the customs agents.
they have prior duty-that of enforc-
ing the internal revenue laws generally