Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-08

Continued From First Page.)
on its fundamental problems so soon.
Indeed q member Of the commission
has practically said that at least six
months more time should be given TO
the writing Of final report. This, II
correct, means that Congress will not
get final report until the session that
opens IA months from now, In Deem
Der, 1881. That session of Congress will
overlap in time the presidential NOM
mating conventions and campaign Of
1882.
May Provide Issue.
Such q condition seems to assure
that the report Of the commission will
be thrown Into the pot to add to the
already increasing probability that pro-
hihition will be an issue in the contests
for the presidential nomination Of both
parties as well as the presidential cam
paign. Indeed, this commissions report
may provide the specific issue.
What Is here surmised Is subject to the
qualifications that the commission can
at any time make partial reports. II
has already made one, last January.
Doubtless statements viii enanate from
the commission during its present ses-
sion. However, what the public really
.
forward to eagerly is the final sum Of
the commissions recommendation on
the outstanding question, prohibition.
Hence the second problem faced by
the commission Is, of course, the con-
tent of its report. The report will cover
much beside prohibition. The full scope
of the commissions work Is suggested
by the names of its II committees,
which beside the one on prohibition.
IN AthAru rae
juvenile delinquency, criminal justice
and the foreign born, cost of crime and
the like. The largest public expectancy,
however, looks TO what the commission
will say on prohibition.
Within that field are three areas
that the commission, In its discretion,
can cover. One Is the question whether
the prohibition amendment TO the Con-
stitution Is enforceable or ought to be
repealed or changed. 1t Is rumored
that within. the commission there IL
difference Of opinion as to whether this
fundamental question should be taken
up. To take up this matter would be
to enter the field of the Constitution.
Any recommendation contemplating
change would take many years to be
acted upon by the 48 States.
Question Of Modification.
AHe SSCOlu area upon WHICH TIE
commission can report Is the Volstead
act. Whether this act could profitably
be modified is simple and obvious
question for the commission to take up.
If the commission should recommend
modification of the Volstead act, such
recommendation could be enacted by
a simple vote of Congress.
1t Is, for example, the Volstead act
and not the Constitution that fixes one
4 tnA
alcoholic content of beverages. The
commission, If 1t should choose, could
recommend a change to 8, or per
cent or any other per cent that might
reasonably be expected to be upheld by
the courts. Many details of the Vol
stead act offer similar opportunity for
recommendations such as the quantity
of liquor a physician may prescribe or
a druggist sell.
The third field in which the COM
mission can reasonably make recon-
mendations Is the matter Of defining
the limits of enforcement as between
the Federal Government and the
States. That the commission may make
an important recommendation in this
field Is rather generally anticipated.
More than a year ago Chairman Wick
ersham, writing an informal letter,
which became public, stated, in the
1Ottu VI y 0ASbSobAOA1 VA AAo PSASohdA
initiative:
IF the National Government were
to attend to preventing Importation
and shipments IN inter-'s
state commerce of intoxicants, the
States undertaking internal police reg
ulationS to prevent sale, saloons, speak
easies, and so forth, the national and
State laws might be modified so as to
become reasonable. enforceable ."
Since that suggestion became public,
sentiment in favor of it has grown.
Many drys, though not all, have recon-
ciled themselves to the notion that the
Federal Government cannot be expected
to cover the entire field of enforcement.
These drys realize that part of their
work Is to hold State governments and
State officials up to the work of local
The idea that the Fed
eral Government at Washington cannot
be in the business of punish-
ing petty violations In little VILLAGES
$500 miles away in Oregon, for ex-
ample, has appealed to common sense
The practice Of the Federal enforcement
ofiicials has gone upon acceptance If
the idea that their major work muSt 10
what Chairman Wickersham Gales
preventing importation, manufa ct,,re Z
and shipments In interstate co,s,.asr.,S