Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-22
Secretary FIatIy Refuses to
Be Drawn Into Discussion
of Prohibition.
ENFORCEMENT CHIEF
AND SCHAFER CLASH
Lack Of Cooperation Between
Treasury and Justice Depart
ments Is Denied.
By the Associated Press.

NAS" W. noe4Iou, VINO U00k over
the Treasury portfolio about the time
the dry law was placed upon the stat
ute books, recommended to q congress
sional committee today the transfer Of
the Prohibition Bureau from the Treas
ury to the Justice Department, but nat
ly refused to be drawn into q discus
sion Of the prohibition question.
The man who has had more than
eight years experience under three
Presidents as head Of the department
which has jurisdiction over the major
dry law enforcement units was pressed
again and again by members Of the
House expenditures committee with
questions on the controversial prohibi-
ton subject.
Evades Questions on Law.
II am sure we have made every eff
fort to carry out our responsibility,
was his answer to Representative Igoe,
Republican Of Illinois, who had asked
If Mellon believed the Prohibition Bu-
reau had done everything feasible TO
enforce the law.
Then you think prohibition can be
enforced?" pursed the Illinois member.
This Is matter Of legislation be-
fore u.s." responded the veteran Treas
ury Secretary. Prohibition is very
any place now to express personal
views"
Mellon testified on the Williamson bill
to carry out the phase Of the Hoover
prohibition enforcement organization
program to transfer the Prohibition
Bureau to the Justice Department.
He was accompanied to the commit
tee room by James M. Doran, commits
sioner Of prohibition, who, a current
report says, expects to retire from Gov
eminent service as soon as the transfer
Is effected. Seymour Lowman, the As
sistant Treasury Secretary. specifically
charged with dry law enforcement, also
was at the hearing.
Representative Schafer. Republican,
Of Wisconsin, asked Mellon why he had
been unable to obtain data from the
Treasury on the amount Of industrial
alcohol used. The Secretary said IL
members Of Congress had aiy reason
for obtaining the information u would
be given to them.
Denies Covering Up"
Schafer then asked II it were not
q fact that when prohibition agents
became involved in case reports on
the incident were sent to the bureau
II know nothing Of anything like
that" Mellon said. "If such O condi-
ton exists, 1t has never been brought
to my attention"
Schafer said he believed such q con-
dition did exist among officers In the
State Of Washington and that he was
going to move that the committse ask
the prohibition commissioner for a
report.
ington is serious" Schafer declared.
Doran then took the stand and rec
commended the transfer He said he
thought enforcement could be made
more effective by the Justice Depart
ment. as t@would make detection and
prosecution more efficient.
During the session Schafer urged
amendment of the Williamson bill to
requires report to Congress on any vio-
lation by prohibition agents Of search
and seizure laws.
Later, Doran. in discussing Schafer's
remarks about agents getting into diffi-
failed to discipline officers guilty Of
derelictions"
Representative Swing, Republican Of
California, asked why, II the personnel
Of the Prohibition Bureau Is transferred,
the regulations under the existing bu-
reau should not be transferred
Doran said the same regulations
would not be applicable to another de-
Mellon had said earlier all permits
for medicinal liquors and industrial
alcohol would be issued under joint
regulations drawn up by the Attorney
General and the Secretary Of the Treas
ury. .s.,
Replying to Representative Goodwin.
Republican Of Minnesota, Doran said he
was not aware Of any lack Of co-opera-
ton between the Treasury and Justice
departments.
Denies knowledge Of Friction.
Schafer then asked If there was not
friction between the bureau and the
Justice Department over liquor situation
In the State Of Washington.
II want to make 1t plain" Doran said.
that am not conscious of any diff
Guilty between the bureau and the
Justice Department"
Sc Schater inquired why he had not
much industrial alcohol had been with
drawn by the w. T. Rawleith Co. at
Freeport, III.
Doran said Schafer had not charged
a violation Of law by the company and
added he believed It would be harmful
to divulge information on the business
OF q company.
Schafer said he would insist upon his
motion to compel the Prohibition Bu-
reau to furnish the committee with
information on the amount Of with
drawal Of industrial alcohol.
The committee became embroiled
over the Scftafer proposal. The Wis
consin member modified It to have the
prohibition commissioner give informa-
ton on the Withdrawals within the last
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