Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-04
Country Is Unable to Agree
On Law Enforcement Board

Few subjects before the country In
Tecent months have brought out 40
many differing opinions as the contro-
versy over the appropriation for Presi-
dent HooverS Law Enforcement Commits
sion. Supporters of the commission
tnat Is headed by Mr.. Wickersham
charge that senatorial criticism has
been inspired by political Opposition.
Others, commencing the achievements
OF the commission to date, believe that
the $250,000 asked should be granted
Tor further work. There are conflicting
views, also, as to the suggestions that
private contributions be made in the
absence Of adequate funds from the
treasury, and that the inquiry should
be confined to prohibition.
The theory that both sides to the
controversy are wrong is held by the
Milwaukee Journal, whose position is set
forth in the statement: President
Hoover's motives in defying the Sen
ate'S limitations on his Law Enforcement
Commission are doubtless good, but
when he announces that he will seek
private funds to carry on the part of
the work the Senate refused to approve,
he Is setting precedent which has
dangerous possibilities. The propriety
soliciting funds for any public purpose,
other than in behalf of the Red Cross
or similar charitable enterprises, Is ex-
tremely doubtful for 1t will always be
difficult to divorce from such funds a
political implication"
In reply to this argument, the Phila-
delphia Inquirer states: such action
is not without precedent. An act
passed to forbid 1t during the Roosevelt
administration was interpreted by the
Attorney General as not intended to
cover services rendered in an official
capacity under regular appointment
otherwise permitted by law to be I'M
Salaried.' Since the members of the
Law Enforcement Commission are serv-
ing without salary, this ruling obviously
applies to them" The Inquirer charges
"a policy of harassing the President"
and contends that there will be Scant
sympathy with any attempt to hamper
the President by such picayunish
methods of interfering with the work
of an important commission appointed
by him for highly useful purpose"
"Pm-pricking hostility to President
Hoover" is seen by the New York Herald
Tribune, which maintains that the
commission was created for the broader
purpose of recommending improvements
in the whole field of law enforcement
The members of the commits
sion are public-Spirited citizens serving
without salary. It shows petti-
ness of mind on the Senate's part to
refuse to support this work to its con-
clusion. Its gesture is one largely
of futile ill-will."
LAS for the public generally" in the
opinion OF the Chattanooga Times
some will agree with Senator Glass
that those private individuals who may
finance the commission will be foolishly
wasting their money, while others will
hold with Senator Jones that Congress
ought to feel Inundated. One thing,
at least, is clear: Congress has got very
much out Of the hands of the PreSi-
dent. And the body's action in connec-
ton with this commission appropriation
may be taken as further indication that
Congress Is not likely to pay much at
tention to the commissions report when
1t is finally issued"
The New York Evening Post sees
more than a tinge of personal spite in
this congressional attack" and states
that ito limit the commission is to give
it a function half public, half private,
is to reduce the value of the costly
work already done and to lessen the
authority OF any verdict or VerdictS
which 1t may eventually bring In"
The value OF the work done by the
commission Is questioned by the Balti-
more Sun, with the added comment:
I'm all probability the commission is
making useful studies in certain fields,
but so far little has been advanced save
suggestions for greater efficiency in en-
forcing laws which millions of people
regard as unjust and unavoidable. Find
ing in the commission no interest in
that aspect of the question, the public
is tired of the commission. It is that
fact, over and above senatorial i'll
nature, which explains the act of
mayhem"
IF the commission gives out a. quar-
ter-million dollars worth of tnforma-
tion," suggests the Fort Worth Record