The Indianapolis times., 1931-01-21
SENATE QUIZ
DEMANDED ON
rum REPORT
Senator TydingS Asks That
WiCkerSham Be Called
to Explain.
PUZZLED BY CONFLICTS
Hint Last Minute Ban on
Modification Due to
Hoover EdiCt.
BY RAYMOND CLAPPER
United Press STAFF Correspondent

WASHINGTON, Jan. 21.-A move
was made in congress today to clear
the mysteries involved in the seem
ing conflict between the anti-repeaI
recommendation of the Wickersham
report, and the individual reports of
commissioners taking widely on
poSite stands.
The congressional step-a resolu-
ton foStered by Senator Millara =
1ydlngs Dem., Md, for investiga-
tlon of the commissions process in
reaching conclusionS-follo close
~ upon publication of a United
Press story quoting a high official
source as confirming that President
Hoover had intervened at the last
moment to induce alteration of an
immediate revision recommendation
in the report.
Want Wickersham Quizzed
This story met denial from Chair
man Wickersham of the commits
sion today, and silence at the White
House.
WickerSham refused to explain
the fact that some of the separate
reports referred to a recommends
tlon In the general report for i'm
mediate revision-a recommends
ton not actually contained in the
published version. The White
House was equally reticent
NeWSpapermen seeking elucida-
ton from commissioner were given
at the commission headquarters an
explanation which they encountered
with the suggestion it did not ex-
plain. They were thereupon greeted
with the comment, 'imbeciles" as
the commissioner Stalked from the
conference room
Iydlng's resolution would author
lze the senate judiciary committee
to summon Chairman Wickersham
to testify regarding the report, and
particularly whether suggestions
were received and acted on by the
commission from persons who were
not members of i.
Congressman Confused
The senator explained the recon-
mendations of the commission were
so confused that they puzzled mem
berS OF congress who might be called
on to base legislation upon the re-
port.
Judge William 1. Grubb, in his
separate report, said he concurred
IN all of the commissions conclu-
sions except that recommending
that the amendment be revised i'm
mediately without waiting further
trial"
Judge Paul j. Mccormick also
dissented, using almost identical
language.
However, the commissions report
as it finally appeared made no such
recommendation either for action
now or at any other time.
1t merely suggested that IF" any
thing is done the amendment should
be revised to permit congress to
regulate as we'll as prohibit the
liquor traffic.
Explains Discrepancies
All duG1lOIlIGIlEe source, close TO
the President informed the United
Press the discrepancies resulted
when the commission changed an
original intention to recommend
revision of the eighteenth amend
ment, after discussions between Mr..
Hoover and Chairman Wickersham.
The commission has refused to
explain the mysterious delay which
occurred between Jan. Z, the date
signed to the report, and to all sep
arate statements and Jan. 10, the
date on which it was sent to the
President.
Fess Defends Report
Senator Simeon D. Fess chairman
Of the national Republican commit
tee said today President Hoover's
stand for continuation of the pres
ent prohibition system forecast the
position he will take in the next
Republican campaign.
Fess made this statement after
a call at the White House but en-
phasized his remarks were not ir-
spired by anything that had trar--
pired in his interview r-it.- a.
President.
The Republican chairman took
his stand along with President Hoo
yer in opposing revision of the