Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-30
W|CKERSHAM CRIME.
GROUP ENDS TODAY
Only Report of Activities to
Hoover Remains for
Committee.
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
One Of President Hoover's commits
sions, once the highest focal point of
interest in the Nation, today dissolved
quietly into its IL component parts.
The Presidents National Commission
on Law Observance and Enforcement,
more often called the Wickersham Gem
mission. does not reach the end Of its
allotted span until midnight tonight,
when the remainder of its $500 900 APP
preparation revertS TO the Government.
But the commissions cnce immaculate
Offices and equipment today were in the
hands Of the movers. All its members
save two have departed. And prospects
were that after tonight Chairman
Wickersham alone would remain In the
Capital.
Departure Is Quiet.
Commission observers had expected
a final meeting and some brief cere-
mony as the time came for its dissolu-
ticn. But as each member completed
his part in the 25-months' long inves-
tigation of crime he, or she, departed
quietly and with none Of the excite
ment that marked their first coming TO
the Capital.
Here is the commissions record: Ten
reports have been delivered to the Gov
eminent printer or deposited at the
White House; four others, one of them
the still-contrcverted study Of prohibi-
ton. have been made public. OF the
half million dollars appropriated for
this work, approximately 10000 can
be returned to the Treasury.
Task Not Done.
Even with the completion Of this
work, the stripping CT the commi ssion S
Offices and the departure of the men,
bers. its task is not yet formally done.
At commission headquarters the view
was expressed that only when a final
history Of the commissions activities
and expenditures Is written and accept
ed with a well done" by President
Hoover, will the commission actually
cease to exist. It was not created by
law but by executive command.
In order to attain this end a tenn
porary commission headquarters has
been established near the White House
equipped to accommodate only Chair
man Wickersham and small staff
There the fifteenth report will be writ
ten.
Silent on Financing.
Both chairman and commission
members have remained silent, how
ever, as to how this task is to be
financed. It was said authoritatively
that funds for its maintenance could
not be taken from the expiring appro-
priation. But whether they will come
from the pocket of some member, from
outside sources or from the President
himself has not been disclosed.
During its final days the commission
allowed 1t during its long prohibition
study. Then, with much of the coun-
try waiting to obtain the thought OF
the IL members about the dry law
rumorS surrounded it so thickly that
every possibility was envisaged.
In this quiet since Midwinter the
commission has completed reports upor
the deportation of aliens, "lawlessness
in law enforcement" crime among the
foreign born, juvenile delinquency. the
work OF the police, prisons, probation
and parole, the costs and causes OF
crime and progress report" upon the
work Of the courts, to be carried on BY
private agencies.
Report Discussion Seen.
Although none of the commissioner:
would be quoted. several have pointed
to the forthcoming report upon thu
, deportation Of aliens as one mos
likely to arouse public discussion.
When one of the experts reports t.
be attached to this document was SUBJ
mitted to the Labor Department, Secre'
tary Doak became so incensed that N
wrote a lengthy letter Of protest to the
commission. Members said this lettel
was before them when the commits
sion'S report was drawn up.