Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-05
DRY ENFORCEMENT
HIT AND DEFENDED
Cramton LaudS AdminiStra-
tion-GIaSS Sees End of
Commissions Funds.

subject OF serious debate, with al
ditional support for the administration
and threats that the appropriation for
the work of the law enforcement
after next June be cut off. 1t devel-
oped also that the Prohibition Blu
reau is considering use of airplanes IN
patrolling the Mexican border.
Breaking a self-imposed silence on
the prohibition question, Representa-
tive Cramton of Michigan, dry and a
Republican, said in a statement last
night that enforcement of the liquor
laws was more effective today than
ever before.
Asserting that President Hoover was
proceeding earnestly with this task OF
general law enforcement" Representa-
tive Cramton said the President should
have the support and cooperation Of
Congress. States, cities and the people"
Pinning It's hope and confidence on
Commissioner Doran. the Board OF
Temperance, Prohibition and Public
Morals of the Methodist Episcopal
| Church re-entered the discussion with
the declaration last night that dry en-
| forcement would become uniformly sat-
! isfactory under the prohibition COM
missioner, IF he is protected from the
irritating interference of local politi-
Clans"
May Seek to End Funds.
Meanwhile, dry Senators were aroused
over rumors that the Law Enforcement
Commission in its final report will rec
ommend modification Of the Volstead
act, with view to its liberalization,
and 1t seemed plain to some observers
| that move would be made to cut off
the appropriations for the body at the
| present session of Congress
Emerging from a conference with
President Hoover recently, Crarnton
| the liquor problem until he had good
reason. because the press of the coun-
try Is wet and will not print but line
or two Of q dryS comment"
Cramton said last night that the en-
forcement Of the dry laws was more
effective than previously, had brought
about increased prosperity during the
past decade, and he described as un-
fortunate some recent wholesale criti-
clsms OF Federal enforcement from
friends of the policy"
ton is not complete" he said, but It
Is more effective today than ever be-
fore
Almost daily the papers report in
stances showing the increased effective
ness OF the Federal Government in the
enforcement Of the eighteenth amend
ment, especially against the big fell
lows. District attorneys and other
1althless officials are being removed
when proved facts permit. The Federal
organization Is being strengthened and
the program Of reorganization and ex-
pansion the President Is prepared to
submit to Congress should be speedily
enacted ."
Cites Growth Of Rackets.
Large cities which coddle to Violators
OF one law were said by Cramton to be
nnolng themselves plagued by viola
tioils OF all laws by these same men.
The racketeers ~ he continued
nave grown strong under the tndul-
gent attitude Of municipal police" He
concluded that those supporting the Srv
laws should face frankly amy weakness
OF The present system" but should
admit what has been accomplished"
Inc prohibition board of the Metho-
DIST Church, in its statement, made no
reference to the recent charge by Sena-
TOR borah OF Idaho that prohibition
never could be made effective with
the present personnel from top to bot
TOM" 1t contended that "the adj
mitted fact that prohibition enforce
ment Is not 100 per cent efficient should
not divert attention from the remark
able progress which has been made
during the last 10 months"
Organizations supporting the eigh-
tenth amendment. it continued, are on
record as having utmost confidence in
the purpose and ability Of the Presi-
dent to secure enforcement" and added
that Attorney General Mitchell was
regarded with warm approval" by the
organizations
las for DR.. Doran, the prohibition
commissioner, the statement con-
tinued, ANY estimate of his work must
record an intelligent and efYicient adj
ministration. Particularly notable has
been his success in dealing with the
industrial alcohol problem, for, while
1t Is undoubtedly true that there is still
diversion of industrial alcohol to boot
leg channels, the general situation is
better by far today than ever before
and this is due TO DR.. Doran's complete
understand ing and fearless handling of
the problem"
Commission Report Awaited.
With dry Senators watching narrowly
for the preliminary report of the Law
Enforcement Commission, open talk Is
heard among the drys that the appro-
priation for the commission may not be
renewed.
Senator Carter Glass yesterday point
ed out that under the law the appropri-
alton for the commission expires June
80. Senator Glass is the man who orig
mated the proposal for an appropriation
for such q commission and 1t was his
idea that 1t should deal primarily with
prohibition enforcement and not take
up law enforcement generally, unless
incidentally
Senator Glass, as long ago as last
June, charged in the Senate that the
investigation of prohibition was being
submerged" and that the purpose Of
Congress was being thwarted. He was
asked yesterday about this and other
phases Of prohibition. While he said he
did not desire to make q statement with
reference to the agitation recently STIR
red up by Senator Borah and others, he
made 1t plain that he believed just as
he did last June, that the commission
has not made an investigation of pro-
hibition and that 1t was the purpose of
Chairman Wickersham, as well as the
administration, to lay emphasis on gen.
eral law enforcement, when Congress
did not 50 intend.
Consider DArder Plane Patrol.
Use of airplS91aS in prohibition en-
forcement work aNong the Mexican bor-
der Is being considered by the Prohibi-
| ton Bureau.
Commissioner Doran said yesterday
that he was looking into the feasibility
Of the use Of three planes, one in Texas,
| one in Arizona and one in Southern
California. He said that he had not as
yet decided what he would do in this
| connection.
The Prohibition Bureau, Doran con-
tinued. had three old planes which had