Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-12
Board Chairman Surprised
Over Vehement Criticism
Coming From Ants.
DECLARES STUDY COST
LESS THAN 100000
Conflict of Boards Conclusions and
Recommendations Denied in
Boston Address.

BY the Associated Press
TON, March 12.-Chairman
Wickersham Of the Law Enforcement
Commission today interpreted the COM
MISSIONS prohibition report as holding
more comfort for the "wets" than the
"drys."
He expressed surprise that "the most
vehement criticism" had come from
anti-prohibition sources, adding he
thought the vets would have derived
more encouragement from the report
and the separate statements of the COM
missioners attached to it than the
'drys'''
The 72-year-old commission chairman
included this statement in a luncheon
address before the Boston Chamber OF
Commerce.
Hitting out at various criticisms Of
the prohibition report, Wickersham
asserted it was untrue that the COM
missions conclusions and recommends
tons were utterly at variance with the
report
100000 Cost Denied.
He denied fatty statements that the
dry law study had cost $500, 900 or ''up-
ward of SIS word" The total amount
expended upon it, he said, was $56.-
$3.50, addition of overhead expenses
leaving the cost below s10O, 600.
The time spent upon it, he said, has
left US with too short period in which
to complete with satisfaction the ade-
quate consideration of the reports of
experts upon other matters, which are
either now before us or in preparation"
The commission technically ceases TO
exist after July /.
Discussing reactions to the commisL
sion report, Wickersham said comments
OF the dry press and of dry organiza-
tons had been friendly.
They SEEM" he continued, ito have
taken to heart the criticisms of the
methods adopted by prohibition advo-
Gates in the past, and to have realized
from the description Of existing con-
ditlons the need Of rallJing their forces
and reconsidering their plans in the
nght OF tie facts set forth,
In the. past there has been much
well founded complaint of the extreme
intolerance of the prohibitionists. Their
peculiar characteristics of late appear
10 have been appropriated by their OPP
ponents. Apparently large body of
anti-proh ibitioniSts expected the conn
mission to find way for them to secure
liquor with ease and were enraged
when we failed to do So"
Differences" Discussed.
WipkavcI,at1a
the reported differences between the
individual reports of the IL commits
sloners and their brief conclusions. He
contended the differences mainly were
confined to remedies suggested for recog-
nized ills.
THE report frankly recognizes the
evils which have developed in the
course of 10 years of the administration
OF the national prohibition act, but
nevertheless points out that the great
achievement OF the act has been the
abolition of the legalized saloon" he
said.
The commission chairman acknowl-
edged differences of opinion among the
members especially over the proposal to
revise the eighteenth amendment, but
gave no figures on how the commission
ers had divided.
The question of alternatives to the
~SNA1NA4A5 OAAC4 gave Oh LIE
commission great concern" he said.
Some OF US, of whom am one, feared
that any Of the notifications proposed
would inevitably lead to the restoration
OF the licensed saloon, with all the evils
OF this institution in the past, and
therefore were unwilling at this time to
abandon all further efforts to bring
about general observance of the eight
zenith amendment"
Lists Experts Preparing Report.
Wickersham listed the experts who
are preparing reports upon various
phases of crime, including data show.
ing much rank maladministration" re-
garding the deportation of aliens, a
study OF lawlesSnesS of governmental Of
flcials and an inquiry into Federal and
State prisons and approximately $4,000
jails.
Despite the broadnesS of the field he
said, the commission ON March /, had
on hand $172,600 of the 100000 ap-
propriated to it. This was due he as
serted, to work done without compensa-
ton by both commission members and
experts.
Il cannot but think" Wickersham
concluded, 1T will be a misfortune If
in the development of our political con-
ditionS the only reward of such efforts
should come to be misunderstanding,
Misrepresentation and abuse"