The Washington times., 1929-06-07
HOOVER WANTS
RUM LEAKS
STOPPED
BY GEORGE r. HOLMES
International News Service

AntGNuMbhUu3A
President Hoover wants action in
prohibition enforcement--real action.
Impatient because of existing con-
ditions. and unwilling to wait two
wears while his civilian law enforce
ment commission leisurely studies
the abstract question of what makes
the American people so lawless. Mr..
Hoover has called upon Congress to
get busy. and ordered the Prohibi.
ton Bureau to tighten up every.
where.
As A result, Congress had before
II today q, request from the White
House to appoint o select commit
tee to work during the summer so
that legislative wrenches may be APP
piled to the endorsement machinery
when Congress meets again in the
fall. and the Treasury is engaged in
another of its spectacular efforts to
mop up the wringing wet Detroit
sector.
Meanwhile, the law observance
committee, headed by ex-Attorney
General George w. Wickersham,
continued its sessions In a downtown
office building, examining Cabinet
members and other Government Of.
ficials behind closed doors.
Mellon in Conference
Secretary of the Treasury Mellon
and Attorney General Mitchell spent
most of yesterday giving their views
to the commission.
All around the Capital, Il seemed,
prohibition developments were erupt.
ing, or smoking preparatory thereto.
In his request to Congress to ap.
point a select committee to study
legislative needs during the recess
with a similar committee from the
Cover m z mt departments, Mr..
Hoover plainly indicated he consid.
cred existing conditions to be de-
plorable.
He said he wanted to secure 1.-The
utmost expedition in the reorgahiza.
ton" of enforcement activities, and
referred to changes 80 greatly
needed" to improve effectiveness of
existing laws.
The principal change contem-
plated, although it was not men,
toned specifically. Is the transfer
of prohibition enforcement from the
Treasury to the Department OF Jus
fer of some of the functioning of
the auxiliary arms of enforcement,
Customs, Coast Guard. etc.
1t is an intricate business, and
there will be considerable fireworks
over it before It is ever done. Even
the professional drys are split upon
whether it is advisable.
Detroit War Begun
The Treasury is throwing all its
reserves into the Detroit sector,
where liquor comes across from
Canada in a never.ending stream.
Boats and men are being with
drawn from other sections Of the
country for duty Sround Detroit,
and the personnel has been shaken
up again in hopes Of obtaining some
results.
These moves are the direct result
| of White House pressure, for Presi'
| dent Hoover is understood to have
been recently nettled at Newspaper
| stories telling how rum Is run
across the river openly in daylight
| and unIoaded under the very eyes
of custom agents.
The White House may think
! things are in a pretty bad way, but
not 80 DR.. James M. Doran, CHIEF
of the Prohibition Bureau.
| DR. Doran was almost optimistic
today. He characterized enforce
ment as moving full speed ahead,
and pointed to the arrest OF 51,S0S
persons from July l to April l.
| more than ever have been arrested
before during similar period.
The preliminary findings Of g
survey Of enforcement conditions ir
all States" said the doctor. Shows
a surprisingly better situation Of CO
operation than was anticipated.
"a majority of governors oi
States are cooperating with the
Federal forces. The exceptions are
In those States that have no loca
enforcement laws"
200 New Agents
They have been getting particu
1arlv good cooperation. he said
from the Connecticut constabulatory
/ the Texas rangers, the Pennsyl
vania State troopers, and the New
Jersey State troopers.
Reinforcen.ents made possible un
der the special appropriation In the
closing days of the last Congress
are going right ahead.
Two hundred new agents havt
4 been employed since February. and
40 more will be added as soon a:
qualified men can be obtained
through the civil service.
At "full war strength" the bu
reau will have 2,170 enforcement
agents and inspectors. These. o.
course, are in addition to the thou
sands of customs agents, coas
| guardsmen, border patrols, etc.
| which combine to make up the far
L an..-..- ..--.... .Rnn.nnr,nnr