New Britain herald., 1930-01-15
Plans Border Patrol

Washington, Jan. 5 P'-Steps necessary to muster immature army to patrol one of the longest boundaries any nation ever has at tempted to guard claimed the at tention today of the house immigra- ton committee as it moved to carry out the Hoover prohibition enforce ment reorganization program.
 Taking the lead over other con- mittees which must pass upon Tarl- ouj phases of the program, Char man Johnson summoned Commis- sioner Hull of the immigration bu- reau and other officials of the la Dor department for questioning.
 Meanwhila. the prohibition sltu- alton held the intense interest of many members of the house and senate as they continued the pre- paration of legislation to carry out different parts of the program and committee chairmcn arranged to assemble their committees to begin consideration of the proposals that have been made.
 "Nc cts HOiu conferences
 In the house, a group of wet" members returned to their discus sion of the question at an informal conference. In recent years there has been an unofficial committee ill the house known as that favoring modification of the prohibition law. 1t has been only more or less active but it is known that some of its members now feel that it should announce a definite aim and work to that goal.
 Some members of the committee have advocated that a particular phase of the prohibition issue be singled out and every effort be made to obtain a roll call vote on the proposal. These members contend that considerably more than hun drcd votes could be mustered in support of such a move. They as sert that in recent sessions only a handful of "wets" have voted on wet and dry questions and that there are many more votes in favor of modification among the 435 mcm- bers than most people realize.
 Interest in Vote Admitted
 It is admitted in many quarters at the capitol that such a record vote in the house would be of paramount interest. Many "wets" claim that since prohibition became effective there never has been an out and out roll call vote in the house on the question. House drys have nev- CT shown concern over such an is sue. Their answer has been, let the "wets" arrange for the ballot and i've will supply the votes"
 In the senate today discussion continued informally over the con- stitutionality of the proposal to turn petty offenders over for trial by United States commissioners Chairman Norris of the senate judi ' cary committee. is one of those wondering if this would not violate he constitutional guarantee of trial by jury.
 Legislation to authorize commits sioner trials has been pending be- fore the committee for several years but never reported for this reason Senator Norris, democrat. Georgia dry leader, is sponsor of the long pending proposition.
 Bill Before Committee
 A bill designed to accomplish the same end was before the house ,,u- dietary committee today, having been introduced yesterday by Rep.
 
 Oklahoma. this committee was call led in session for other business, but it was thought that before adjourn. ing it might set a date for consd eration of the subject.
 The session of the house immgra. tion committee was watched witt interest. While this committee ha; jurisdiction over immigration meas ures, the house commerce commit tee has control over legislation af fecting the coast guard. Tho two committees probably must work to sether in drafting legislation tt create the new border patrol force nended that this be placed unde the supervision of the coast guard which is a military arm of the gov ernment.
 Hearings on Conditions
 Last session the immigration committee held extensive hearing pn enforcement conditions along tn Mexican and Canadian borders |. connection with the box bill to plac quota restrictions on mmigratioi from western hemisphere nations This testimony never has been mad public, but Chairman Johnson nov hopes to be able to release it. Man, believe it will throw much light ol he situation to be considered il mobilizing a force 10 patrol tn thousands of miles of boundary.
 The Williamson bill to authoriz the transfer of the prohibition uni