Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-21
Congress and the Rsnort,

Congress and the Report.
The Congress has before it the report
Of the Presidents Commission on Law
Observance and Enforcement, It's rec
concentrations and the recommended
lions Of President Hoover transmitted
along with the commission report. 1t
b to Congress that the country will look
for whatever action. If any, is taken in
connection with this report and the
recommendations made by the eleven
commissioners after an exhaustive study
Of prohibition enforcement. In the
present short session it does not appear
likely that anything can be done to put
into law the recommendations Of the
commission. If that be true, then the
whole matter must 60 over TO the first
session of the next Congress, which may
not meet until December. At that time
Q national political campaign wiz over
shadow everything that is done on Capt.
tA Hin. With national prohibition ex-
pected to play an important part in
that campaign, what chance is there for
action on the recommendation of the
Wickersham Commission? The outlook
does not appear bright.
Just what are the Affirmative recon-
mendations Of the Wickersham Com
mission? II the majority report, signed
By ten members Of the commission, Is
considered, these recommendations are
nine In number, designed to bring about
improved conditions in the enforce
ment Of the Volstead act. These pro-
posals of the commissions majority re-
port are calculated to do two things.
First 10 strengthen the enforcing arm
Of the Federal Government, and, sec
end, 10 remove from the Law those pro-
visions which have proved . particu-
lar irritation, adding to the critics and
the crtticism Of national prohibition.
me purpose Of the commission is. Of
course. by the removal Of the irritation
spots to make the law more readily en-
fercible by the Government.
The first Of the affirmative pro-
posals advanced by the majority report
eeeiEs to remove q cause Of irritation.
It would do away with the limit now
imposed On physicians for prescribing
medicinal alcoholic beverages. The
second Of the Recommendations looks
b 90 elimination Of the anomalous
provisions ID tbs volstead act which
exempt fruit Juices and cider from the
Hnttation Of one-half Of one per cent
alcohol The third recommendation
proposes a increase Of the staff Of the
prohibition bureau by so per cent more
agents and so per cent more storekeeper
gnugers. It's fourth recommendation
Weuld give the government authority
to examine the books and premises of
al wholesale and retail concerns using
specially denatured alcohol, since the
bureau at present lacks power to go
beyond the Grst purchaser. The NTH
proposal would prohibit the operation
Of independent denaturing plants. The
sixth proposal places the commission
m opposition to legislation allowing
more latitude for Federal searcherS and
BeaS1fes. The last three proposals Of the
commission are repetitions Of recon-
naendations made TO Congress In q pre-
nminary report. They call for q cod
incation Of the dry laws, for permission
10 bring paddock injunctions without
personal service upon the owners Of
property where violations Of the dry
laws have been proven, and for the
trial by special commissioners Of petty
violations Of the prohibition laws.
SO far Is Federal legislation Is con-
eeEned, these are the sole recommends
tons OF the commission, contained In
the majority report, except for the con-
sideration by Congress of the tentative
Recommendation Of a revised eighteenth
amendment. The report lays emphasis
upon the need Of state cooperation
With the Federal Government II there
b 10 be proper enforcement Of the dry
laws But that Is matter for the States
Themselves 10 deal with.
The sixth proposal Of the commission
which opposes legislation extending thu
wight Of Federal search and seizure, Il
regarded Is applicable TO the Howell
In. now pending in the Senate, TO IN
crease the right Of search and seizur,
81 the District Of Columbia. II tina
measure comes before the Senate,
Fgvbably VIM become the vehicle for [
general discussion of the Wickershau
IMPORT.