Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-24
W|CKERSHAM ASKS
LIGHTER PENALT|E
FOR DRY WOLATORS
Says Jones Law Covers Of
lenses Unfortunately
as FeIonieS.
BUREAU REORGANIZATION
RESULTS ARE AWAITED
Chairman Believes Effective En-
forcement Is Not Accomplished
by Extreme Terms.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
Modification of the Jones act is
favored by Chairman Wickersham of
the Hoover law enforcement committee,
who is of the opinion that effective law
enforcement is never accomplished by
placing extreme penalties on minor
violators.
This view was disclosed with the
making public today of recent testimony
given by the chairman before the Senate
Judiciary committee.
The Jones act imposes a maximum
penalty of $4,000 fine and five years
in prison.
Human Appetite widespread"
Wickersham told the committee the
act covered offenses "indiscriminately
under the classification of felonies with
the exception of possession and main
tanning a nuisance" He said that was
contrary to what he regarded as sound
legislative policy" adding:
It do not think you ever can enforce
laws more effectively by putting extreme
penalties on minor violators.
Under questioning, Wickersham said
he thought judges had used 'dfscre-
ton" in applying the heavy penalties
On minor offenders. Such discretion
is given in the act.
The commission chairman also said
the dry laws could "be measurably
enforced, although human appetite"
was widespread.
Wickersham said a fair test would
have to await an opportunity for en-
forcement under the Justice Depart
ment, as proposed in legislation now
before Congress.
Committee Calls Mitchell.
until that is DONE" he asserted, mo
one can say absolutely whether the
law can be or cannot be enforced.
IT think it can be measurably en-
forced, although human appetite is
widespread We all know the history
of efforts to enforce regulation OF the
use of liquor which resulted finally in
prohibition. 1t is a long and somewhat
disheartening history"
Meanwhile, the judiciary committee.
today asked Attorney General Mitchell
to appear for questioning and the House
judiciary committee arranged TO con-
tinue wednesday In hearing friends OF
the dry law testify against proposals
for repeal Of the eighteenth amend
ment.
The expected early passage of the
tariff bill in the Senate also was looked
to to pave the way for prohibition
discussion in that chamber and pos
sibly later vote on the Blaine resolu-
ton asking a vote ON repeal OF rhe
amendment.
Wickersham in his testimony said the
Law Enforcement Commission started
its work with the assumption that the
eighteenth amendment is part OF the
Constitution of the United States.
Favors Reorganization
cit was not for us to inquire" he
said, whether the Constitution of the
United States should be what 1t Is or
not. We took the Constitution"
Commenting on the future OF prohibi-
ton, he asserted:
at think If the Attorney General has
a free hand-as he should have, in re-
organizing the bureau-you have as
good an assurance of effective conduct
of the enforcement agencies as could
well be had, provided his personnel Is
sufficiently compensated and put on q
proper basis. They are being placed
are going forward. I know they have
not all been completed. But that is
your best insurance, think, Of The
effective enforcement of the law.
Then you will know when you have
got the law enforcing agency OF the
Government in charge for SUFFICIENT
length of time to grasp the whole prob.
lem-they will be able to tell you what
is necessary to bring about the maxi
mum enforcement, and then it will be
for Congress to second their efforts or
not. / think until that is done no one
can say absolutely whether the law can
be or cannot be enforced"
The chairman reported that the best
enforcement of the dry law is In the
state of Kansas, while it is least effect
i've in the States where no State en-
forcement acts exist.
People Want Strong Drink"
Wickersham told the Senate commit
tee that 1.-The case for beer seems to be
greatly diminishing, and the people
who want to drink at all want strong
drink, something more intoxicating"
He made this observation in comment
upon home brewing, which, he said,
seems to be directed principally toward
the manufacture of whisky from corn
sugar or corn sirup."
He estimated that of the 100000, 600
gallons of industrial alcohol manu-
featured and sold last year, perhaps
there was diversion of 100000 or
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