Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-22
SHIFT OF DRY UNIT
WINS APPROVAL OF I
MELLON AND DORIAN
CONTINUED From First Page.)


committee adopted by q vote Of IL to
| q motion by Representative Cotton, Re-
publican, Utah, to postpone considera-
ton Of the Schafer proposition until
| tomorrow.
Representative Cochran. Democrat, of
Missouri, then asked Doran whether he
knew of any important cases involving
derelictions Of prohibition which had
been 'pigeonholed.
Schafer and Doran Clash.
81 know OF none," Doran replied.
Asked why he had said more alcohol
for beverage purposes was manufactured
In the corn-growing States, Doran an
Swered he had not made any such
statement, but merely some obServa-
lions on the increased production OF
| corn sugar which he felt were justified.
The commissioner said there had
been q great increase In the consump-
ton Of corn sugar and that many of
this Sweetening was used In making the
alcohol.
| Schafer and Doran clashed over the
formers charge that no action was
taken against prohibition agents who
violate the law by raiding homes with
out search warrants.
In Milwaukee last week they con-
victed two of your agents and think
more convictions are coming" Schafer
| roared.
Insisting that there had been no lack
OF action against Federal agents when
necessary Doran asserted he would not
accept responsibility for raids made
illegally by every constable, deputy con-
stable and sheriff.
The commissioner said prohibition
agents had been charged unjustly with
violating the Sanctity OF the homes.
The bureau had strict regulations
against this and the regulations were
enforced. he added. He denied a charge
by Schafer that the regulations were
ineffective.
Schafer asked the commissioner to
give to the committee the names of
agents who had been guilty of violat-
ing the sanctity of the home.
Questioned as to his recent statement
that infiammatory remarks" had been
responsible for the killing of prohibi-
ton agents in Florida by rum runners,
Doran said he had not accused anyone
specifically.
Schafer and Doran reared at each
other for several minutes and q number
Of other members of the committee
chimed in, with no one able to UNDER
stand any one else.
Executive Meeting Tomorrow.
Chairman Williamson banged the
table for order. Finally he obtained
quiet and adjourned the meeting with
Doran Still OH the stand. The chair
| man said he would call an executive
meeting tomorrow to consider the pro-
cedure under which the hearings would
be held because he felt that many of
the questions on prohibition pro-
pounded today were not pertinent To
1 NNna ~. sAr.k
provide for the transfer OF the Prohibi-
ton Bureau.
After summarizing the measure in
his testimony Secretary Mellon said 1t
meets with the approval Of the Treas
ury Department. recommend the
enactment of the proposed legislation. "
Mr.. Mellon said the responsibility OF
prohibition enforcement presumably
was placed with the Treasury Depart
ment because before the enactment of
the eighteenth amendment the commits
Sioner OF internal revenue was charged
with the duty Of collecting excise taxes
levied on alcoholic liquors sold for
beverage purposes and administering
the provisions Of the denatured alcohol
act Of 1906.
/ 1t was an illogical choice" he as
serted. There Is no connection be-
tween the assessment and collection of
taxes on beverages which 1t Is legal to
SELL and the enforcement Of laws in
tended to prohibit their manufacture,
transportation and sale.
When Congress created the Bureau
OF Prohibition" he continued. "it for
mally recognized that there Is no such
relationship. II this be so, prohibition
Is unrelated to the duties Of the Treas
ury Department and to the purposes
for which that department was Gre
ated."
Sees Better Result by Change.
Mellon said the Treasury was pri-
marily responsible for managing the
finances Of the Nation, collecting
revenues and protecting the integrity
Of the revenue laws and Of the cur
rency.
Il know Of no reason, therefore" he
said, why the Treasury Department
should be charged with the duty of en-
forcing an unrelated penal statute. On
the other hand, there is very sound
basis for charging the law enforcement
department Of the Government with
this task.
ut is. the duty OF the Department of
Justice, acting through United States
district attorneys, TO prosecute viOlators
of this and other Federal statutes. 1t
seems to me that better results may be
obtained ~ those who are to try the
cases are In o position to control and
direct Investigations OF violations Of the
law and the gathering Of evidence
necessary for their prosecution"
Quoting the recommendations OF the
National Law Enforcement. Commits
sion, he said: at Is an anomaly that
the cases are investigated and prepared
| by agencies entirely disconnected with
and not ansWerable to those which are
to prosecute them"
Resignation Would Cause Juror.
| DIR. Doran, whose resignation is ru-
mOred, entered the Government service
, 20 years ago and has been In charge OF
| the prohibition enforcement unit for
| nearly three years. Previously he had
served as chief chemist OF the Treasury.
| and in that capacity was prominently
| formulate for denaturing alcohol.
| Should the reports in circulation to-
| day prove correct, 1t Is expected that q
Juror will follow in dry circles. Doran
/ has received the support OF dry leaders
| throughout his tenure Of ofiice, and
| particularly In the recent controversy
which found him the object OF severe
1 criticism.
His salary is $1,000, while the present
reports say he has been offered twice
and three times that amount to enter
private industry. The rtinlors have It.
too, that D0ran feels that after 70
| years he can no longer disregard such
attractive propositions and that he re-
| CARDS the transfer Of his unit as an
appropriate time for stepping out.
\
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