Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-03
TEXT OF PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
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ture, and they are the distillation of the common
sense of generations.
Suffer From Overlap.
For instance the conservation of national re-
sources is spread among eight agencies in five
departments. They suffer from conflict and over
lap. There is no proper development and adhsr-
to broad national policies and central point
where the searchlight of public opinion may con-
centrate itself Thsse functions should be grouped
under the direction of some such official as an as
sistant secretary of conservation. The particular
department cabinet officer under which such a
group should be paced Is of secondary Importance
to the need of concentration The same may be
said of educational services, of merchant marine
aids. of public works. of public health of veterans
services, and many others, the component parts of
which are widely scattered in the various depart
ments and independent agencies. 1t is desirable
that we first have experience with these different
groups in action before we create new departments
These may be necessary later on.
With this background of all previous experience
can see no hope for the development of sound
reorganization of the Government unless Congress
be willing to delegate its authority the problem
Subject to defined principlesl to the Executive, who
should act upon approval of joint committee OF
Congress or with the reservation of power of rev-
sion by Congress within soma limited period ade-
3uate for its consideration.
Prohibition.
The first duty of the President under his oath
of office is to the enforcement of the laws.
The enforcement of the laws enacted to give effect
to the eighteenth amendment is far from satisfactory
cation of the administrative agencies of the Fed
eral Government With the hope of expediting such
reorganization, requested on June last that
Congress should appoint joint committee to col
laborate with executive agencies in preparation of
legislation. 1t would be helpful if it could be so
appointed. The subject has been earnestly consid-
cred by the Law Enforcement Commission and the
administrative officials of the Government Our
Joint conclusions are that certain steps should be
taken at once First there should be an Immediate
concentration of responsibility and strengthening
OF enforcement agencies of the Federal Government
by transfer to the Department of Justice of the
Federal functions of detection and to considerable
degree of prosecution. which are now lodged in the
same time the control of the distribution of indus
trial alcohol and legalizad beverages should remain
in the Treasury. Second, provision should be made
for relief of congestion in the Federal courts by
modifying and simplifying the procedure for dealing
with the large volume Of petty prosecutions under
caton of the laws relating to prohibition to avoid
the necessity which now exists of resortng to
than Is statutes enacted at various times over 40
years.
Technical Defects Found.
Technical defects in these statutes that have
been disclosed should be cured. I would add to
these recommendations the desirability of reor-
ganiZing the various services engaged in the pre-
vention of smuggling into one border patrol under
the Coast Guard. Further recommendations upon
the subject as whole will be developed after fur
Their examination by the Law Enforcement Commits
sion. but it is not to be expected that any criminal
law will ever be fully enforced so long criminals
exist.
The District of Columbia should be the model
OF city law enforcement in the Nation. While con-
ditions here are much bitter than in many other
cities, they are far from perfect, and this is due
in part ID the congestion of criminal cases in
the Supreme Court of the District resulting in long
delays. Furthermore, there is need for legsla-
tion in the District supplementing the national pro-
hibition act, more sharply defining and enlargng
the duties and powers of the District Commissioners
and the police of the District, and opening the
way for better cooperation in the enforcement of
prohibition between the District officials and the
prohibition officers of the Federal Government. 1t
is urgent that these conditions be remedied.
Ldu Enforcement.
No will look with satisfaction upon the
volume of crime of all kinds and the growth of
organized crime in country. We have pressing
need so to organize our system of administering