Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-17
Wheeler Resolution and Nor
ris Substitute Fail to Get
Committee Action.
ROBINSON SEES MOVE
AS AIDING WET GROUP
Indiana Senator Says Effect of In
vestigation Would Be to Para
lyze Law Agencies.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

The proposal Of Senator Wheeler Of
Montana for an investigation of pro-
hibition enforcement by the Senate
judiciary committee struck a snag
when his resolution came up for con-
sideration in that committee today
Although Senator Norris Of Nebraska.
chairman Of the committee, offered a
substitute providing for the investiga-
ton and will support the proposition.
predictions we're made by other mem
bers of the committee that favorable
action would not be had.
The assault on the proposal was led to-
DAY by Senator Robinson, Republican, of
Indiana, who insisted that the proposed
investigation if undertaken by the SEN
ate committee would merely be play
ing into the hands of the "wets." He
said II the Senate undertook such an
investigation the result would be
TO paralyze prohibition enforcement
agencies.
Caraway FavOrs Inquiry.
Senator Caraway OF Arkansas,
Democratic member of the committee,
taking different view said If prohi-
hition enforcement officers are honest
they nave no reason to hesitate to APP
pear before the Senate committee. He
said he thought an investigation of
prohibition enforcement would be far
more effective and of greater value
than hearings on the proposal to modify
or repeal prohibition enforcement.
No action was taken today by the
Senate judiciary committee on either
the Wheeler resolution or the Norris
substitute. The matter is expected to
yO nrynp mt A.
meeting day Of the committee. Several
Democratic members expressed opposi-
ton to the proposal and one predicted
that the resolution would not be re-
ported out.
The Norris substitute. more specific
in its terms, also eliminates the long
list of "whereases" contained in the
Wheeler resolution, one of which at
tackled the Law Enforcement Commits
hearings on the prohibition enforcement
question.
Thorough Probe Proposed.
The Norris substitute would authorize
the judiciary committee to investigate
the activities Of the Bureau of Prohibi-
ton in the Department of the Treasury
and all matters in any wise pertaining
to enforcement of prohibition laws; and
TO ascertain whether Federal prohibi-
ton laws have been faithfully, fairly
and honestly enforced
If the committee finds the Federal
prohibition laws have not been proper
ly enforced, the substitute authorizes 1t
to ascertain whether such lack of en-
torcement is due to inefficient or dis
honest officials, or whether it is due to
lack of any legislation. and also to as
certain whether enforcement has been
retarded through partisan political in
f1uence in the selection or appointment
OF unqualified or dishonest enforce
ment officials
Il also would have the committee
ascertain to what extent, If any, the
real intent of the dry laws has been
perverted or nulli1ed by the incom-
potency or the prejudice of executive
Government officials having to do with
the enforcement of said laws or the
appointment of subordinate officials.
and to make any further Investigation
that in the judgment of the said COM
mittee may be proper or necessary in
order to enable the Senate to compre-
| hensively legislate upon the subject"
Authorizes $4,000 for Probe.
The resolution authorizes the COM
/ mittee to subpoena witnesses, and re-
quires production of books and papers
and to employ counsel and experts. It
also authorizes the committee to ask
for subcommittee If necessary and
provides $4,000 to make the investiga-
ton.
The Norris substitute is likely TO win
the approval of Senator Borah. who
has contended that the trouble with
prohibition enforcement lies with the
personnel intruSted with enforcing pro-
hibition.
The Senate judiciary committee has
before it the Williamson bill recently
passed by the House to transfer to the
Department of Justice the Prohibition
Enforcement Bureau now in the Treas
ury Department.
This is the first bill to be passed by
the House to carry out President Hoo
ver's program for the strengthening of
prohibition enforcement. It was not
taken up by the Senate committee to-
day, which gave practically all of its
time to discussion of the Wheeler
resolution and the Norris substitute.
The fact that Congress is about to
transfer prohibition enforcement 10 the
Department of Justice will be used by
opponents of the proposed investigation
as an argument against the Wheeler
resolution. On the other hand, support
ers of the investigation proposal will
urge the need of the inquiry at this
time because 1t is proposed to transfer
practically the entire personnel engaged
in prohibition enforcement from the
Treasury Department to the Depart
ment of Justice,