Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-24

the meeting of the Senate appropria-
tons committee, and that those op-
posed to this law were anxious for the
commission to delay any such, report
until Congress adjourned, I determined
to try to bring the matter to an issue,
Millions of voters, Democrats as well
as Republicans, supported Mr.. Hoover
because they believed he would enforce
the eighteenth amendment, and there
Is little doubt that most Of the members
Of both houses OF Congress owe their
election, IN part at least, to their sup,
port OF this amendment. A bill has re-
Gently been introduced which will give
us a test vote in the Senate and pos
sibly the House, and those of us who
favor prohibition welcome this oppOf-
tunity to show the Country the senti--
ment Of Congress, confident that it will
prove to be Overwhelmingly In favor Of
prohibition.
Progress Made In last Decade.
Real progress has been made in this
great moral undertaking during the
past 10 years and the friends of tenn
perance have every reason to be grati-
ned. Millions Of homes, particularly Of
laboring men, have been made happy
because Of this Law. g. the money that
was formerly spent for whisky now
other comforts and luxurieS of life.
Practically all the leading manufac-
turers Of this country favor prohibi-
ton, and many of them claim they
could not compete with the world ex-
cept Tor the reliable and sober labor
they now have. However, among In
dividuals in all walks of life We fire.
quently find disregard and hagrant
violations of this Law. Some good peo-
pie seem to forget that In encouraging
by their example violations of one law
they are developing lack Of respect for
all laws.
One trouble Is the present generation
knows little Of the degrading influences
OF the bar room and the next win know
nothing OF its horrors; another Ia. the
exaggeration Of everything relating to
prohibition by the metropolitan daiIies-
and their representatives here and eise-
! favor transferring this work from
sne secretary OF the Treasury to the
attorney General, and also favor the
other changes In the law recommended
~ President Hoover, and feel that
their enactment and enforcement
would help greatly In many waya.
agree with the Attorney General
that the most important measure rec
onmended Is the one Ito give relief to
the courts and Federal judges. Nintro-
duced bill IN tina Seventieth Congress-
and again in the Seventy-first CONGRESS
emoodying the principles Recommended
ny the Crime Commission relative to
the use of United States ComTnissioff1
ers In trying minor cases, provided the
accused agrees to waive jury trial.
This bill was prepared for me By Judge
Samuel II. SHIRLEY. one Of the best men
ana one OF the ablest Federal judges in
the United States, and 1t is under con-
sideration by the Senate judiciary COM
mittee. Chairman Norris has appointed
e subcommittee composed Of Senators
Steiwer, Herbert and OveFnaan to study
the measure and has asked the Attor.
ney General for his opinion.
am particularly glad that the emil
nent judges and lawyers on the crime
commission all agree that q measure
OF this hnd would be constitutional.
Requires Only Common Sense.
Judge sibiey, who has probably han
aled - many prohibition cases as any
lucge Ia the United states, gives It as
his opinion that the Commissioners
could give great relief to the district
courts which are overwhelmed With
what Is virtually police court work. he
says II requires only common sense to
deal with these cases, and they are not
Such as TO occupy the attention OF the
FEDERAL judge, or take the time Of the
court. The accused Is often poor, comes
long distance with his witnesses. and
due TO the crowded condition Oh the
court Is frequently delayed several DAYS
or misses a trial altogether. These de-
lays are expensive and unjust Is him.
On the part OF the Government the
witnesses are required to appear before
the commissioner, and then before the
district court. Frequently the cases
ing 1t necessary to recall the witnesses
SO the Government also is put TO treat
and needless expense. It would be