Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-12
HOUSE WILL SPEED
ENFORCEMENT BILL,
TlLSON DECLARES

IlLSUN UECLAhES
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that reason have provided in my bill
that it shall not take effect until 90
days after the date of its approval by
the President. That would give the
Attorney General time enough to build
up the necessary organization. He al
ready has under him the United States
marshals and United States attorneys
Senator Kings proposal would
eliminate Prohibition Commissioner
Doran and all of his assistants, incfud-
ing the prohibition field agents.
II do not believe that the prohibit
ton enforcement unit is much more
efficient now than 1t has been in the
past said Senator King. MY bill
would do away with the whole organi-
cation"
Sharp Fight Is Seen.
If serious effort is made, however, to
do away with the present prohibition
enforcement organization, sharp
fight will follow in the House and
Senate.
Senator Jones Of washington, one Of
the dry" leaders Of the Senate, said
last night that he would strongly re-
sist any such effort. 1t is his belief
that the present enforcement organi-
zation should be transferred to the
Department of Justice.
ANY other course" said Senator
Jones. would be q great mistake. What
would be the use of tearing down an
organization which has been built up
over period Of many years and then
undertaking to build up a new or
ganization? I think 1t would be folly
to attempt such a thing. do not be-
lieve that any legislation can be put
through which contemplates the elm
nation of the prohibition organization
and all its agents as now constituted"
There have been indications, how
ever. that the "drys" themselves
might split over this question. Senator
Borah of Idaho. one of the outstanding
proponents Of more adequate prohibi-
ton enforcement, In recent public
statement startled the country by de-
claring that prohibition could never be
enforced under the present officers
whose duty it is to enforce it. His
statement brought a sharp retort from
Attorney General Mitchell.
Hoover Studies Recommendations.
President Hoover yesterday went over
the recommendation made by the Law
Enforcement Commission and prepared
his own message, which will accompany
the commissions report when 1t is sent
to Congress tomorrow. His message will
set forth his own views on these recon-
mendationS. He also conferred with At
torney General Mitchell. It is supposed
that the conference had to do with the
Law Enforcement Commissions report,
although no statement regarding 1t was
made at the White House or the De-
partment of Justice
The determination Of the House lead
ers not to 60 ahead with the Jones reso-
luton to create a joint congressional
committee to deal with the recon-
mendations of the Presidents Law En-
forcement Commission, in the opinion
Of Senator Jones, may result in slowing
up action on the legislation which may
be recommended. The Senator from
Washington pointed out that several
bills to cover the legislation have been
introduced.
The House." he said. under its rules
can dispose of bills promptly. In the
Senate, however, with its rule of I'M
limited debate, 1t is different matter.
Each of the bills dealing with prohibit
ton enforcement would lead to fight
in the Senate with protracted debate.
If the Presidents recommendations were
handled by a single joint congressional
committee" he said they could all be
embodied in one bill, which would ex-
pedite their handling in the Senate.
Capitol Awaits Report.
The report of the Law Enforcement
Commission, which has been under fire
OF some Of the Democratic "drys" from
the South as well as of Senator Borah.
Is awaited at the Capitol with much
interest. The critical attitude assumed
by some Of the Senators has not been
abandoned. Senator Glass of Virginia
last night ridiculed the statement issued
Friday night by Chairman Wicker
sham of the Law Enforcement Com
mission, In which Mr.. Wickersham had
said that the commission had found
the agencies for the enforcement Of law
were inadequate. The Virginia Senator
said:
You know, Will Rogers recently told
the country that when the White
House fire occurred the President di-
rected the District authorities, to ap-
point a commission Of inquiry, which
was done. The commission THUS desig-
mated made an investigation and
promptly reported that fire had ac-
tually occurred. The aspect of the in
cident which apparently appealed most
to the satisfaction of Will Rogers was
the fact that of all the commissions
appointed by the President, this was
the only one that had ever ventured
to make q report. The Wickersham
commission, appointed to make
searching inquiry into the problems of
prohibition enforcement, seems to have
firmly resolved not to be outdone in
courage by the District FIRE chiefs, al
belt too late to match their celebrity.
Hence, the Wickersham commission has
made report comparable In impor-
| lance 10 that Of the commission which
7 confirmed the rumor Of q fire at the
| Wfhita E{otise ofIices :"