DRY LAW FAILURE

Hokitika Guardian, 21 January 1931, Page 6

DRY LAW FAILURE

RESULT OF INQUIRY’

[United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.]

AY ASHING TON, January 19

The final Wiekersliam report on the dry law, the first of which was cabled on November loth, is a ninety thousand word document, and it lias been placed in the hands of Congress. The report opposes the repeal of the Eighteenth Amendment, although some members of the Commission believe the law is not enforceable, and that it should be revised. The Commission, recognising that the process of revision would require some time, therefore advocates an increased Federal appropriation for the enforcement oi the law. so as to determine whether any improvement- can be affected. The report opposed the restoration in any manner of legislation regarding saloons. It opposes the sale of liquors b.v the Federal or State Governments Tt also opposes the manufacture and sale of light wines and beer. It asks for the co-operation ol Ihe States in the enforromnt of the law. and comments upon the inadequacy of the measures thus far taken for its enforcement , The -report indicates there is much difference of opinion among the Commissioners on many points, and at least one Commissioner lias failed to sign the document.

Seven out of the eleven Commissioners have issued separate reports, some of them advocating a modified form of the Swedish State liquor control in such American Slates ns desired to utilise that plan.

The Commissioner, as a whole, found there is general disregard of prohibition in many quarters, and a section of the Commission admitted scepticism as to many of the benefits claimed. The Commission voiced its concern over the public indifference, but at the same time it found difficulty in suggesting any remedies.

“If is evident.” the report states, “taking the country ns a whole, that the people of wealth, the business and professional men. their families and the higher paid working men and their families are drinking in large numbers

ill frank disregard of the Prohibition Act.”

18TH AMENDMENT. FURTHER PARTICULARS (Received 8.80 a.m.) WASHINGTON. January 20. Mr Hoover sent to Congress to-dav with qualified praise, a report from Wiekersliam Commission which declared against the repeal of the Eighteenth Amendment, but put forward a plan for possible revision. The President concurred in the Commission’s finding that the Amendment should stay, and did not recommend an.v present effort to, amend it. He made no direct reference to the fact that six of the eleven commissioners asked lor i\ repeal or modification, or to the declaration oi the whole commission that a revision of the clause giving concurrent power to State and National Courts, would be wise.

In Congress the report immediately became the centre ol attention and inspiration of many projected proposals for modification or strengthening of the dry States. Mr Hoover emphasised the recommendation for better enforcement.

One outstanding proposal of the Commission wa s that the number of prohibition agents, now about, fourteen hundred, be doubled, along with similar extensive increases. Another proposal was that the clans > restricting medical liquor, should be liberalised. A third contemplated action to define more clearly the legal status of home-made wine.

Ihe Commission which i,s known as a, ‘'National" Commission on law observance and enforcement, reported that its members were unable to agree whether prohibition could he enforced. Some thought the Eighteenth Amend-

ment should immediately be revised. Some favoured a further trial with increased enforcement.

Alter eleven years of prohibition the Commission is of opinion there is yet no adequate observance or enforcement. The Commission as a whole is opposed to the appeal of the amend-

ment and is opposed to Federal or State Governments as such going into the liquor business, and is opposed to any modification, of the National Prohibition Act to permit the sale of light wines and beer.