Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-17
Rum Yields Gangs But 20 Per Cent
OF Revenue, Declares Mitchell
Continued From Rirs. Page,

Continued From FIRST Page)
dom to engage in trade and commerce.
II We are to abandon these fundamental
concepts and permit combinations TO
limit competition, substituting govern
mental regulation TO protect the public
against eXtortion and oppression, the
change will have to be made by legis-
lation.
Relief Plan Lacking.
The overproduction, low prices and
resulting waste in the field of natural
resources such as oil and minerals have
given rise to the assertion that COM
binationS TO restrict production and
thus raise prices are lawful which,
undsr normal conditions, would be con-
sidered illegal. Ths business interests
which make this claim have not had
enough confidence in 1t TO face civil
litigation on the subject, and the emeF-
geney might pass before q legal con-
troversy could be ended, and II they
have any concrete plan for legislative
relief 1t has not been produced in the
form Of bill for a law which would
enable US to see just what is proposed.
With the desire to be helpful We have
given the subject much thought in this
department, but any measure which
permits combinations to restrain pro-
duetion seems TO lead to the necessity OF
protecting the public by governmental
supervision Of the combination, and
that Is q dubious proposal Possibly
Congress might consider sympathetically
some measure permitting combination
to limit production OF natural resources
az an emergency matter to prevent
waste. limited as to time, under Gov
eminent super vision. and to be followed
by an early return to our present syS-
TEN OF competition without restraints.
5. A most important function Of the
President Is the appointment Of Fed
eral judges 1t Is q responsibility not
new to this administration, but we have
largely Increased the extent to which
the agencies of this department are
used to obtain accurate information for
the President about candidates for iu-
dicial ONCE. Since March 4. 1929, the
President has appointed Sc judges. and
the amount Of effort expended in as
certaining the facts about the many
men under consideration for these posts
has been large
8. The Federal building program. in
volving the acquisition throughout the
United States Of sites for many new
buildings, recently has thrown an extra
load upon the Department of Justice,
which conducts condemnation proceed
lngs and passes on titles and convey
ances. To meet this demand. our meth
DDS have been modernized and legiSla-
ton was drafted in the department.
and has received the approval OF Con-
gress, TO prevent delay by allowing the
Federal Government to take possession
OF such sites without awaiting the out
come OF litigation over their value. and
70 simplify the work Of examining titles.
There are many other activities in
which We are engaged at the present
time. At the direction Of the President,
and with the cooperation OF business
organizations. commercial agencies, and
with assistance from the referees In
bankruptcy and clerks OF court. a thor
ough investigation of our bankruptcy
system Is now being made to develop
the reasons for such defects IS now ex-
ist and enable the President to recon-
mend constructive legislation on this
subject. We have under consideration
proposed legislation for the adjustment
Of tort claims against the Government
In judicial tribunals instead OF by claims
committees Of the Congress; legislation
TO provide for payment Of interest on
judgments and contract claims against
the Government: the problem Of deal
Ing with the parole or probation of per-
sons sentenced TO one year or less not
now subject 10 the parole law: the
question Of extending the civil service
Law and regulations TO q larger num-
Der Of the employees Of the department,
ard q multitude Of other matters.
One thing 10 obvious TO any one who
has studied the activities OF thu d,