Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-20
HOOVER CONCURS
IN OPPOSITION TO
REPEAL OF DRY LAW

Continued From First Page)
exclusively and painstakingly gath
cred and examined the facts as to en-
forcement, the benefits and the abuses
under the prohibition laws, both before
and since the passage of the eighteenth
amendment. I am transmitting their
report Immediately. Reports upon the
enforcement Of other criminal laws will
follow.
Civil Service Aids Law.
1.-THE commission considers that the
conditions of enforcement OF the pro-
hibition laws in the country as whole
are unsatisfactory but it reports that
the Federal participation in enforcement
has shown continued improvement since
and as consequence of the act OF
Congress of 1927 placing prohibition
officers under Civil Service, and the act
of 1880 transferring prohibition en-
forcement from the Treasury to the
Department of Justice, and it outlines
further possible improvement. 1t calls
attention to the urgency OF obedience
to law by our citizens and to the i'm
perative necessity for greater assump-
ton and performance by State and local
governments of their share OF
responsibilities under the concurrent
enforcement provision of the Constitu-
| ton if enforcement is to be successful. It
recommends that further and more effec-
| tive efforts be made to enforce the laws.
It makes recommendations as to Fed
eral administrative methods and GER
! tain secondary legislation for further
| increase of personnel, new classlf1ca-
| ton Of offenSes, relief OF the courts and
amendments to the national prohibition
act clarifying the law and eliminating
| Invitations which arise under 1t. Some
of these recommendations have been
enacted by the Congress or are already
| in course of legislation. I commend
these suggestions to the attention OF
the Congress at an appropriate time.
In Accord With View.
"The commission, by a large major
| ity. does not favor the repeal of the
eighteenth amendment as a method o.
| cure for the inherent abuses OF TIT
| LIQUOR traffic. am in accord with thl!
view. I am in unity with the spirit Of
the report in seeking constructive step
to advance the national ideal OF eradl
| cation of the social and economic anC
political evils of this traffic. to preserve
the gains which have been made, ant
to eliminate the abuses which exist, a
the same time facing with an open mint
the difficulties which have arisen unde
this experiment. l do. however, see Sc
rious objection to. and, therefore, mus
not be understood as recommending
the commissions proposed revision
the eighteenth amendment which
suggested by them for possible consid
Grafton at some future time If the con
tinued effort at enforcement should no
prove successful. My own duty AM
that of all executive officials is clear
to enforce the law with all the mean
at our disposal without equivocation
reservation.
The report is the result of thorougI
and comprehensive study of the sit
uation by a representative and authori
tative group. 1t clearly recognizes tn
gains which have been made and
resolute that those gains shall be pre-
served. There are necessarily differ
ences in views among its members. 1t
temperate and judicial presentation
, 1t should stimulate the Qualification c
; public mind and the advancement G
! public thought"