Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-15
CRIME COMMISSION.
TASK NEARS FINISH.
Eight Wickersham Reports
Still to Be Made Before
July /.

Though IL stiIl has reports to make
on eight major crime investigations and
only is days remaining before its ofn-
ciai life expires the Wick0rshan Com"
mission will be able 10 show clear
slate by July /, 1t was predicted TO-DAY
BY commission members.
The commission Is racing against
time to complete the most extensive
single survey of crime ever undertaken.
Though the eight reports still remain
In the commissions hands, after q
months and 10 days of work. 1t was said
authoritatively that all would be de-
livered to President Hoover or the Gov
eminent printer by July l, on which
date the commission of1cially ceases TO
exist.
Purse Not Empty.
II was predicted, too, that the COM
missions purse would not be turned
back to the Government empty. 1t
could not be estimated how much OF
the 100000 appropriation Will remain.
however. since expenses for future
printing remain to be deducted.
The opinion gathered today repre-
aented a considerable change from the
consensus as to conditions q month or
more ago. At that tine-wtth only the
prohibition report out Of its hands
it was the private view Of more than
one member that their calendar would
be almost hopelessly jammed as July l
approached.
Even with this danger apparently
averted, however, it was pointed out
today, there remained small possibility
that more than three Of the pending
crime reports can be delivered to the
white House before the commission as
a,lch Is automatically abolished.
It was explained that arrangements
had been made whereby-f the re-
manning reports are deposited at the
Government Printing once by July i
fhev can be paid for out Of commits
sion appropriations. Under this plan
the reports could be laid piece by piece
before the President, even though the
commission had ceased to exist.
Washington Awaits Reports.
WASHINGTON offcials have been await
snr with considerable interest the con-
tents of some of the remaining reports
one In particular will discuss govern
mental iawlessness," Investigations into
which have been in progress for months
by the commissions private investi-
gators. ,
Others Of the eight reports will deal
with such subjects as crime among
the foreign born" the causes and cost
: Of crime, the work Of the police ana
J the conditions Of the Nations prisons.
Chairman Wickersham acknowledges,
however, that the studies initiated by
tKe commission will not be finally COM
Melted for years. He named particu-
farly the study of the courts, upon
which the commission will make only
a "procress" report. This will be car
ried on by an independent group.
Thus far, after "a months OF work,
the commission has delivered to Presi-
dent Hoover four reports, upon one o.
which, the prohibition report. 1t spent
the greater part Of 20 months, ana
around which it erected q wall Of Sc
crecy seldom paralleled in ofhcial Wash
1ngton.
Report Praise Qualified.
Since it was laid before Congress
last January 1t has been claimed as
a victory by both sides Of the con-
troversy. Even President Hoover re-
ceived it with qualified praise.
In his message to Congress ne sald
he was in accord with the commission
ia opposing repeal of the Amendment.
but saw serious objections to and
therefore must not be understood as
recommending the commissions pro-
posed revision Of the eighteenth amend
nnent."
Members Of the commission recently
have been willing to discuss this phase
Of its report more freely.
In the summary Of the report, after
declarations against repeal. Government
sale of LIQUOR the saloon and light wines
and beer. this phrase was used:
Some of the commission are not
convinced that prohibition under the
eighteenth Amendment is unenforce-
able"
IT was pointed out that the four
members favoring further trial under
this clause employed the double mega
tive, while those favoring repeal or
revision-seven of the eleven ccmmls-
ioners-said they believed the law I'M
enforceable.
Recommended Greater Force.
IN other of Its recommendations the
commission said it believed there was
"yet no adequate observance or en-
forcement" and recommended that the
enforcement organization be built up TO
greater strength.
The first report of the commission. a
preliminary statement on prohibition
submitted in January, 1880. urged the
since completed transfer Of the Prohibi-
ton Bureau from the Treasury TO the
Justice Department, the creation OF
unified border patrol, a strengthened
paddock procedure and the broadening
of the powers of United States COM
MissionerS.
A third report, which appeared last
April, dealt with criminal statistics. 1t
condemned as inadequate and often
misleading the present methods Of gath
ering statistics and asserted some Gov
eminent departments used this method
Of making "the most favorable showing
possible"
The most recently published report
one on prosecutions, aroused a storm Of
protest from the Senate. 1t asserted
there was political interference in ap-
pointing Federal district attorneys and
said the using of this office 'as a re-
ward for political activity is q serious
v-.anara IN an forceynant of law -