Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-11
Presidents Experts, in Pre-.
Iiminary Report, Declare Ma.
chinery Is 0vertaxed.
HOOVER TO READ FORMAL
STATEMENT ON MONDAY
Prohibition Study Centered About
Centralization-La Toilette Seeks
Unhampered Work.

"The criminal law enforcement ma
chinery Of the country Is entirely In
adequate"
With this direct charge, the Presi-
dents Law Enforcement Commission in
its first comprehensive statement, made
public last night, gave intimations that
its formal report to be submitted to
Congress by President Hoover Monday
is based on the conviction that much
improvement is needed.
The statement, issued by the commits.
sion chairman, George w. Wickersham,
gave detailed description Of the or
ganization of the commission into COM
mittees and the lines of procedure be-
ing followed in its searching analysis Of
conditions.
Prohibition, automobile theft, white
slave traffic, immigration and other
criminal laws of the Federal Govern
ment," said the commission statement,
have overtaXed the capacity and eff
fectiveness of the national machinery
for enforcement"
Hoover Drops Plan.
Following the preliminary statement
of the lines of procedure being followed,
report on results of its inquiry. which
it was announced at the White House,
will be forwarded to Congress Monday.
At the same time 1t was learned that
President Hoover has abandoned his
plan for joint congressional commit
tee on prohibition to receive the report
and study of the question Of legislation
for improving the enforcement Of the
dry" statutes.
Prohibition, the commissions state
ment last night announced. had re-
ceived attention from one committee.
A considerable portion Of the activities
Of this committee, it was explained,
has been given to development of pro-
posals for action on most urgent ques-
tons. The question Of the better CEN
tralization Of responsibility and CO.
given careful examination, together
with measures for relief Of congestion
in the courts"
Prosecutor Cooperating.
Amos w. Woodcock, United States
given leave by the Department Of Jus
tice. was said by the statement to be CO.
operating with the commission. along
with various Government agencies"
Simultaneous with the publication of
the commissions statement came an ex-
preston from Senator La Toilette Of
Wisconsin, member Of the Indepen-
ASAAe~&SCRAbAAl0I 4dCbiOll, tllHb LIE CIIkLG
study group be allowed to conduct its
survey unhampered by outside influence
or discussion.
His views were contained in an edi-
torial made public by him which will
appear in the Progressive, q magazine.
THE violent outcry over the enforce
ment OF prohibition and the torrent Of
criticism and abuse Of the Presidents
commission on law enforcement" he
wrote "aro MT No,, H,1nix,a &I,o cn~>%,,f
patient. scientific research which the
country has right to expect and de-
ma OF that tribunal.
Efforts to "Hamstring."
That a deliberate effort is being
made to hamstring the commission and
diScredit its work Is the only fair con-
clusion to be drawn from the untimeiy.
bitter attacks now being made upon 1t
In advance Of its report. Reason and
Justice demand that while 1t Is conduct
ing its far-reaching investigation, the
commission should be accorded the re-
spect and consideration and granted
the time which an intelligent study Of
the important problem delegated to it
THAT contempt for law and its VIC.
lation are widespread and constantly
increasing no thoughtful observer seri-
ously disputes. It is the commissions
responsibility to uncover the facts, to
trace. If it can, the crime wave to
its source. Prohibition, OF course, Is
a part of the problem, but only q part
To what extent, II any, 1t has Ell
couraged lawlessness and destroyed re-
spect for the law is for the commission
to form its judgment upon the ascer-
tanned facts.
Besides individual lawlessness. the
commission must direct its attention
to Government lawlessness. One Of the
most serious phases of the crime wave
Is the use of violent and illegal meth
DDS by the Government officers who
are themselves charged with the en-
forcement of the law.
Majority Law-abiding.
eft may be conceded that the great
majority Of law officers Of the Federal,
State and local governments are law
abiding, yet 1t must be admitted that
there are altogether too many cases OF
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