Evening star., 1932-02-10
SENATORS T0STUDY.
HOWELL BILL DATA.
Favor and Opposition Ex-
pressed for Proposed Dry
;
Law for Capital.
After a parade of witnesses had

After parade of witnesses had
passed before the Senate District Com
mittee yesterday, some praising and
others condemning the Howell prohibi-
ton enforcement bill for Washington,
Chairman Capper announced commit
tee members would be given time to
study the testimony before action is
taken.
Leading the supporters of the meas
ure, Senator Howell. Republican, of
Nebraska. described Washington as "a
sanctuary for the storage of liquor"
Explaining why he prepared the bill
two years ago. the Nebraskan said he
found that of the 1900 policemen in
Washington, 1852, or 81 per cent, had
no particular duties regarding dry en-
forcement except to arrest Intoxicated
motorists and pedestrians; that only
four policemen were assigned to watch
the many highways entering the Dis
trict for liquor violators; that only
three or four dry agents were working
here, and that hotels were hotbeds of
liquor violations"
Scores Diplomatic Liquor.
Senator Howell vigorously attacked
the shipment of large quantities Of
liquo- to Washington under diplomatic
).
preston here that prohibition is for
the masses. declaring professional high
class bootleggers seemed to lead a
charmed life"
The bill was strenuously opposed by
Rufus S. Lusk, executive vice COM
mander of the Washington battalion
Of the Crusaders; Miss Elizabeth Harris
of the District council, Woman's Or
ganization for Prohibition Reform, and
c. F. Browning Of the District depart
ment of the American Legion.
Among those who supported Senator
Howell, praising prohibition in general,
were: Rev. o. R. Miller, president Of
the National Civic League, and former
Representative William D. Upshaw of
Georgia. Albert Stabler also indorsed
the bill.
John B. Hammond, secretary of the
National Civic League advocated strict
dry laws, but told the committee that
instead of enacting the Howell bill,
Congress should pass a joint resolu-
tion directing authorities to recognize
and enforce the Sheppard act, which
made Washington dry before national
prohibition. Hammond took the view
the Sheppard law contains number
Of provisions not covered in the Howell
bill.
Protracted Debate Starts.
The provision Of the bill extending
the search warrant authority to permit
raids on dwellings where liquor is
, manufactured for sale or stored for
sale, led to protracted debate between
Senator Howell ard Senator Iydings
Democrat, of Maryland.
Senator Howell contended officers
oh fafr
dwellings unless an agent can make a
purchase of liquor on the premises,
and. that therefore dwelling properties
NAV be used as storage places. Senator
Tydings challenged the necessity for q
new search warrant provision, con-
tending that II officers knew liquor was
being manufactured or unlawfully
stored in dwelling, application should
be made for q warrant OF arrest rather
| than a search warrant.
Senator Carey, Republican, OF Wyo-
ming, asked Howell If he did not think
| the search warrant provisions OF the
Vo,stead act were ample to meet the
situation, but the Nebraskan said nc
! had found they were not in Washing
, ton.
Model Law Advocated.
Mr.. Hammond, who said his home is
Iowa. advocated model law, "and that
law should begin in the National Capt.
tai" He said Congress should restore
the effectiveness Of the Sheppard act
| In washington and then bring the na-
tional law up to It.
Senator Tydings asked the witness Il
he did not think the people Of the
District were competent to decide on
the kind of enforcement law they want.
The Maryland Senator also declared
the Wickersham report showed prohi-
bition enforcement was bad in Iowa.
Opponents of the bill protested
against it in principle and also objected
to extending prohibition enforcement
| authority to all members of tie police
| force.