Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-20
COMMISSION REPORT
AGAINST REPEAL; SIGNERS
LEAN TO MODIFICATION
Continued From Fifth page)

Federal enforcement of a law of this
sort, the attempt to enforce the ma
tional prohibition act as something on
another plane from the law generally,
an assumption that it was of paramount
Importance and that constitutional
guarantees must yield to its enforce
ment, the influence of politics in OBJ
tanning appointment to enforcement Of
fees.
The report admits frankly that the
state OF public opinion, certainly in
many important portions of the country,
presents a serious obstacle to the OBJ
servance and enforcement of the ma
tional prohibition laws"
Attention is called to a Significant
change in the social attitude toward
drinking" and the report continues: 1T
is evident that taking the country as a
whole, people of wealth, business men
and professional men and their families
are drinking il large numbers in quite
FRANK disregard of the declared policy Of
the national prohibition act.''
The importation of Illicit liquor. the
report says, is chiefly from Canada.
Mention was made, too, of the importa-
and that brandy and wine are imported
from France and gin from Holland.
The diversion of industrial alcohol to
the bootleg trade, the report says, has
been cut down, but still provides
great source OF supply to the bootleg
trade. 1t is held, however, that Illicit
distillng has become the chief source of
supply. No longer are small stills used,
but the plants are comparable in size to
the ole distilleries before national pro-
hibition. The business is well organized
and the locations of the stills are
changed from time to time. Much of
the whisky put in circulation from these
illicit stills, according to the report, is
good whisky" The prices charged for
it are an indication of the ineffective
ness of enforcement against this source
of supply.
The commission reports that necessity
seems to compel the abandonment of
efforts to prevent the making of beer
and wine in the homes. 1t recommends
that the law be changed so as to class
home making of wine illegal Just as is
the homemade beer.
Backing Up its recommendation that
the limit placed upon the prescription of
liquor by physicians be abandoned the
commission says: I'VE are satisfied that
in several particulars the causes of re-
sentiment on the part of the medical
profession operate against a favorable
public opinion to such an extent as to
outweigh the advantages of enforce
ment"
Enforcement Failure Hit.
The failure of the enforcement agen-
cles to bring to justice the leaders in
the bootleg business is severely criticised
by the commission, which says:
IL is common knowledge and a gen.
eral source OF dissatisfaction with the
enforcement of the prohibition laws
that the big operators, or teadmen. In
the traffic are rarely caught. Those
Who are caught distilling, or transport
ing, or selling are merely employees. Be
hind them are the heads of the organi-
zation, supplying the capital. making
the plans and reaping the large
profits"
The commission is divided over the
advisability of whether the purchasers
OF illicit liquor should be punished
along with the seller, but a majority
OF the commission held that it would
increase rather than lessen the diff
culties of enforcement.
The commission devotes four pages
to discussion of the benefits of pro-
hibition" and subdivides them as eco
nomic and social. Among the economic
Dement'S it lists increase in production,
greater efficiency of labor, elimination
OF blue Mondays" decrease in indus
trial accidents, increase in savings and
social agencies. 1t admits that there
is some doubt as to whether the better
conditions are due entirely to prohi-
bition.
There is general agreement among
social workers that there has been a
distinct improvement in standards Of
living" the report says, turning to So
cial benefits.
Against Present Rigiditv.
The report concluded:
'If there is to be revision Of the
eighteenth amendment, the following
requirements should be met:
"O The revision should be such as
to do away with the absolute rigidity
Of the amendment as it stands. 1t
should give scope for trying out further
plans honestly with some margin for
adjustment to local situations and the
settled views of particular communi-
| ties. 1t should admit of different modes
of types of prohibition or control in
different localities in case Congress ap-
proves. 1t should aim at keeping con-
troll in the Nation and committing de-
tails and initiative to the States.
"(2) 1t should be such as to con-
serve the benefits of the present situa-
ton by national and State repression
of saloons and open drinking places,
and yet permit, where demanded by
public opinion, an honest. general or
local control of manufacture or i'm
portation and distribution, consistent
with the minimum demand which otn-
erwise, in very many localities at least.
will tend to bring about regime of
notification or defiance of law.
"(3) 1t should allow of attempts by
general or nationally approved local
systems of control to do away with the
enormous margin of profit which is at
the bottom of widespread corruption
and general lawlessness.
Wants Saloons Barred.
go 1t should allow of allaying the
sources of resentment and irritation di-
rectly and in accord with the spirit of
the law, instead of impelling to courses
inconsistent with the spirit, If not also
the letter of the law, and inviting dis
respect for the legal ordering OF society.
"(5) 1t should allow OF adjustment
to local opinion, so as to do away with
the strain on courts and prosecuting
machinery involved in the attempt to
force an extreme measure OF universal
total abstinence in communities where
public opinion is strongly opposed
thereto while subjecting the means OF
adjustment to national approval and
so tnsuring against the return OF the
saloon anywhere.
"(6) 1t should involve minimum Of
interference with the existing system
and a possibility of retaining it or re-
turning to it as communities are or
become ready for or reconciled to 1t.
"It would seem wise to eliminate the
provision for concurrent State and ma
tional Jurisdiction over enforcement
contained in the second section as the
amendment stands. This provision has
,,o& accommodated Uhat WaS eYnartad IF
it and there are no signs that it will
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