Evening Star Newspaper, July 17, 1929, Page 5

WICKERSHAM PLAN Governors txpress Varied Views on Law Enforcement Division by States. By the Associated Press. NEW LONDON, Conn., July 17.—The suggestion of George W. Wickersham, head of President Hoover's law en- forcement commission, that enforce- ment of the prohibition law be divided between Federal and State agencies, provoked varied comment from State governors assembled here today. ! Such of the State executives as ex- pressed an opinion gave little support | fo Mr. Wickersham's suggestion that an adequate division of enforgement. authority might lead to modification of national and State ll’?wt to make them “reasonably enforcable.” Gov. Ritchie of Maryland said he would have comprehensive comment. ¥ Squarely Before Governor. “The prohibition question came square- 1y before the governors’ conference yes- terday when Gov. Franklin D. Roose- velt of New York, principal speaker at the crime session, read the Wicker- sl letter. £ h‘;‘rl’?e letter described prohibition as “5 most serious subject,” and suggested a division of authority under which the Federal Government would under- take to prevent importation and trans- portation of illicit liquor in interstate commerce. while the States assumed responsibility for suppression of sale, saloons and speakeasies and other local oblems. er‘:\\'. Roosevelt, after reading the Ie(-1 ter. said: 9 | “The proposal and the discussion of it bv Mr. Wickersham are pgl‘!l,v spec- ulative. Beyond that I don’t want to say anything.” Other comment was: Gov. Gardner of North Carolina think the letter expressed the law en- forcement situation clearly in regard to modification. My opinion is that the last election expressed the sentiments of the country.” Gov. Case. Rhode Island: “The sub- fect, is one cn which I have no opinion to offer " Forward-Stepping Move. | Gov. Hammill, Towa: “The suggested | division of authority is a forward-step- ping move. The mention of modifica- tion denotes weakness. We should edu-~ cate and build sentiment among our citizens so that all will co-operate in the enforcement of all our laws. Modi- fication then would not be necessary.” Gov. George Dern, Utah: “The sug- gestion of division of authority sounds logical. It will be of great aid in dcing away with the passing of the law en- forcement buck. In my opinion there never will be modification in Utah.” Gov. Richards, South Cafolina: “In my opinion, modification is necessary, | but it will never take place in my State.” Gov. Byrd, Virginia: “The proposal is very interesting. I want to study more of it before I comment on it.” Gov. Caulfield, Missouri: “Interesting, eonstructive.” Gov. Conley, West Virginia: “We en- force all th ws in West Virginia, and %0 far as we are concerned we don't need modification of the prohibition law in our State.” Gov. Trumbull, Connecticut: “We are intent on enforcing our own laws in our own way in our own State.” Gov. Ritchie, Maryland: “I have nothing to say about Mr. Wickersham's ideas. Whatever I will say will be said a: the conference, because I want to make a comprehensive comment. I am not going to make myself foolish by saying such things as ‘speculative’ or ‘interesting’ or some such silly things.” Gov. Shafer, North Dakota: “Mr. Wickersham's suggestion that the States and Federal Government adopt a co-operative program of pro- ‘hibition enforcement to displace the program of duplication of effort is a | gestions. | WICKERSHAM GIVES CONFERENCE OF STATE EXECUTIVES SURPRISE (Continued From First Page.) the Wickersham letter in his speech rather put the drys on their guard. be- cause they felt the lette~ would be given an_interpretation hostile to their caus The comments of the governors them selves were very guarded, but Gov. Ritchie, a pronounced advocate of modification in the prohibition situa- tion, is planning to discuss the subject fully and frankly at the round table on the last day of the conference—Gov. Roosevelt suggested in executive session, arguing that what the governors said is usually quoted at such length by the newspapers that governors themselves might unconsciously be influenced in their statements by the knowledge that they were talking to the public. Mr. Roosevelt’s idea was to erase any im- pression that he brought up the subject for political purposes. Seek Co-operation Formula. By an executive session it would be apparent that the purpose of the debate was not to make individual orations on prohibition, but to work out a formula for co-operation between the States and the Federal Government. Executive sessions, however, are just as theoretical in the minds of some governors as are similar affairs in the United States Senate. It is hardly likely that any secret sessions will be held, for another reason, which is that the purpose of the governors’ conference is to provide a forum for consideration of current questions without legislative power. The constitution of the gov- ernors’ conference requires. that no resolutions be adopted on contentious subjects, and the only executive sessions held are to nominate committees for the ensuing year's conference. Mr. Wickersham'’s proposal neverthe: less will have all the force that he in-| tended it to acquire, because the gov- ernors have had a question put up to them which they will have to discuss in detail when they get back home. Indeed, Mr. Wickersham, chairman of the President's commission, has ask- ed the States for co-operation and sug- His idea that authority be divided and that the States should sub- q | mit & proposal of that kind to the Fed- | j eral Government carries the whole pro- hibition controversy back about 20 years to the days when Congress was attempt- ing to stop the importation of intoxi- cants into States which by their own laws and become dry. Indeed, the chief reason why the drys advocated an amendment to the Federal Constitution was that the States were either unablc or unwilling to co-operate in stopping interstate shipments of liquor. Modification Necessary. Broadly speaking, the Wickersham suggestion is more significant of a crit- ical attitude toward existing machinery and its supposed inadequacy, rathcr than any indication that the idea of dividing the authority will be accepted as a solution, except in States like New York and Wisconsin, which have de- clined to keep their enforcement laws. To carry out Mr. Wickersham's sug- gestion it would be necessary for Con- gress either to modify the Volstead act or to allow those appropriations now made for administering the law to hec so changed that the burden of enforce- ment would be transferred to the State and local police. The advocates of the eighteenta amendment originally thought that the States by reason of the ‘“‘concurrent jurisdiction” imposed by the amend- ment would in effect feel a concurrent obligation. If Mr. Wickersham's letter results in an assumption by the States of such an obligation really to enforce prohibition, the drys will be among_the first to permit amendments to the Vol- stead act to bring that about. Any modification, however, which means weakening the laws will never win their approval. And there are some governors here who think that any change is a sign of weakness. (Copyright, 1929.) +SKULL FACTl.JRE FATAL TO ROOMER AFTER FALL ATCHEWTHHOLDS DRYLAW CONENT Postpones Speech on Wick- ersham Proposal for Formal Conference. (Continued From Pirst Page.) property tax which should have been ) discarded years ago still is in general | use in most of the States of the Union. State rates are generally low in the general property tax plan, the governor explained, but when local levies are laid upon the same property the rates always are high and when the local rates are applied to intangible personal | '[:‘lroper!y they are found to be confisca- ory. “The reason for this is that real estate is grossly underassessed in almost every State in the Union,” he con- tinued, “whereas intangible personal property, such as bonds and notes, is not equally underassessed, if it is assessed at all, but such intangible per- sonal property is assessed at its actual worth.” Intangibles are not declared for tax- atlon by many people, he declared, be- cause they cannot afford to return them and tax authorities find it impossible to enforce unjust laws. In face cf such evils, Gov. Byrd said, some States are substituting the classified property fax for the general property tax. Segregation always in- volves classification, he explained, which provides for the setting apart of certain subjects of taxation for State taxation exclusively and of certain sub- Jects for exclusive local taxation. The rock upon which segregation | rests is the setting apart of real estate for local taxation exclusively. This is the fundamental idea, and most of the rest naturally and normally follows. Under Virginia's classified property tax plan, he said, there is a complete separation of the sources of State and local revenue. Real estate, capital of merchants, machinery and tools used in mining or manufacturing, and all tax- able tangible personal property other | than the rolling stock of corporations operating steam railroads are subject to local taxation only. = All other subjects of taxation. with some exceptions are segregated for State taxation only. ‘The adoption of segregation in Vir- ginia has benefited all the people, he said, but in some States the plan would not be reasonably possible under ex- isting conditions. Guggenheim, . speaking on “the im- portance of States function in avia- tion” discussed the latest developments in flying from the standpoint of safety, speed, cost and comfort. He made five specific recommenda- luans anent State and Federal avaition aws: That the Federal Government pro- vide a comprehensive intensive weather service for aviation throughout the country, that the Federal Government regulate operation of airplanes and movements of visitors at airports, that every State pass aviation legislation conforming with Federal laws, that | every State take the initiative in de- veloping a network of landing flelds within their limits at 10-mile intervals and that every community, with a pop- | ulation of between 1,000 and 50,000 in habitants, should mark its name on at | least one of its most prominent roofs. Popular belief in England that after a man and wife have not lived together for seven years the man is free is caus- ing many cases of bigamy, declares of Surrey. OW Prices Highest Quality \ Quick Service | At This Reliable Lumber House Lumber i | ‘William H. Thompson, a roomer IE; Hardware WASHINGTON, PO, WICKERSHAM VIEW 1S HELD PLEASING Both Wets and Drys See Something to Liking in Leader’s Statement. By the Associated Press. Proponents of both the wet and the dry viewpoints have found something to their liking in the suggestions bear- ing on prohibition contained in the let- ter of George W. Wickersham, chairman of President Hoover's Law Enforcement Commission, as read to the governors’ conference at New London, Conn. Comment was withheld in some quar- ters pending a clearer interpretation of his remarks on the subject. Among the dry spokesmen who did comment, the suggestion that prohibition enforcement responsibility be divided betv.een the State and Federal governments received the greater emphasis, while the wets apparently were more impressed by his remark about the possibility of modi- fication. Pleasing Sentence. The sentence in his letter which thus proved at least partially pleasing to both groups read: “If the National Government were to attend to preventing importation, manufacture and shipment in interstate commerce of intoxicants, the States un- dertaking internal police regulations to prevent sale, saloons, speakeasies and so forth, the National and State laws might be modified so as to become rea- sonably enforceable, and one great source of demoralizing and pecuniarily profitable crime removed." The sentiment contained in that and preceding sentences favoring more co- operation in enforcement efforts by the | States brought prompt expressions of approval from Assistant Secretary Low- man of .the Treasury, and Commission- er Doran of the Prohibition Bureau, but they declined to comment on other as- pects of the letter without further ex- amination, At the same time the letter was hailed by Senator Walsh, Democrat, tel Massachusetts, a wet, i - | the annual el 1Edlwrlll Association. ing sign.” that “a new leadership may arise which will substitute a sane rather than an unreasonable and purblind at- | titude toward the prohibtion question.” He described it as the first suggestion | from a member of the commission that | the question is “likely to be considered without fear and apart from the views of prohibition fanatics,” and welcomed it as suggesting a return to the States’ rights principle in administration of the dry laws. Britten's Interpretation. Representative Britten, Republican, Dlinois, another wet, interpreted the | letter as publicly suggesting “to a con- | ference of governors from all parts of the United States the modification of | the Volstead act” and praised it as Temperance, opini have ersham’s proposal went on, United States Wife Asks Divorce As Husband Fails To Keep Down Fa \ By the Associated Press. NEW YORK, July 17.—Donald L. Samuels, age 28, weight, 332, member of the New York Stock Exchange, is being sued for a 8¢, on because, his wife says, he falled to keep his ante-nuptial promise to reduce. Pretending he was foregoing breakfast she avers, he used to go out hungry mornings and eat at a restaurant, The husband avers that his wife has a baffling psychosis be- cause she reads romantic novels and that at times her conduct has so perturbed him that he has Jain on the bed and cried. They have been married six years. The wife says the husband earns $60,000 a year and up. the WEDNESDAY, “the biggest constructive step toward real temperance” from an authorita- | tive source since the World War. Henry R. Curran, president of the Association Against Amendment, withheld an expression of opinion because he “did not under- stand exactly what Mr. Wickersham means,” but hoped he would “expand and elucidate his statement.” Prohibition very interesting Dr. Clarence True Wilson, general ERE - Will Address Postmasters. 1i: C. Deming, president of the a8 CwllK Sgrvlce Commis- sion, will address the Tristate Po!%n‘:l:- 0, | while en route to Cheyenne, Wyo., for which he left here yesterday to attend 1 convention of the National rs’ Convention in Columbus, Fish Exhibit Planned. secretary of the Methodist Board of Prohibition _and Public Morals, was absent, but Deets Pickett of that organization said, “Our own ion for years nnd‘ o\:{hmawcxvm:s eement Wi g2 - D that the detailed police work should be done by the States and the municipalities.” “I would not be in favor of any mod- ification of the Volstead act to ‘!.ake any powers from the Government,” he “but would merely permit them to assume the task if they would. ‘Where they would not, the Government should do so.” { RICHMOND. Va., July 17 (®).—An, GINGER TIGER <4 NONE BETTER A. G. HERRMANN 750 Tenth St. Southeast Phone Lincoln 1981-1982 extensive exhibit of fish is planned in | the wild life section of the Virginia To Run Every Beginning Leave Washington Effective Monday, July 22, the throi Returning, it will leave Bar Harbor July 23. directly Kennebunk, Old Orchard, Portl Telephone National 9140. Week ljay BAR HARBOR SLEEPER July 22 Week Days 1.00 P.M. ugh sleeping car from Washington | to Mount Desert Ferry (Bar Harbor), Me.. now running Mondays, Wednes- days and Fridays, will be changed to leave Washington every week day. dally, except Saturdays, beginning This through sleeping car over the Hell Gate Bridge Route serves and, Waterville, Bangor and Elis- worth and connects for Rockland, Belgrade, Mount Kineo, etc. For reservations apply to A. B. Smith, General Passenger Agent, Pennsylvania Building, 613 Fourteenth Street N.W. Washington D. C. PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD | { i | { | | | r {TARIFF COMMISSION JULY 17, 1929. AMERICAN LEGION POST ELECTS D. C. DELEGATES Representatives Instructed to Vote for Maj. L. E. Atkins for Commander. Delegates and alternates to the Con- vention of the District of Columbia De- partment of the American Legion next month, were elected by the Vincent Cos- tello Post last night. The post instruct- ed the delegates to vote solid for Maj. L. E. Atkins for department commander, ‘The delegates are: Ma). Atkins, ‘Thomas Mason, R. A. O'Brien, Dan J. Donovan, C. A. Jackson, W. E. Spicer, T. D. Walsh, W. F. Franklin, Henry Jett, H, E. Smith, J. N. Halper, Charles Kohen, T. A. Costello, E. P. McCabe, W. J. Nicholson and J. H. O’'Connell. The alternates are: A. A. Stern, J. W. Purks, J. H. Allen, J. W. Scott, J. Mein- berg, F. G. Thomas, 8. J. Olsheski, Dan 8. Ring, J. M. Lynch, Maurice Mc- Donald, H. K. Bhotis, G. Ciprioni, E. Talbert, A. A. O'Leary, Norman Grant, | J. A. Long and C. N. Emmons. The post _has arranged an all-day air | meet to be held at Hoover Field July 27. LEATHER EXPERT DIES Stricken with heart desease last eve-| ning as he sat at a table in the Olm-| stead Grill, 1336 G street, William D. | McKissick, 60-year-old leather expert employed by the Tariff Commission, died shortly afterward at Emergency | Hospital. When he became ill, he fell and cut his head on a radiator. He was taken to the hospital in the third precinct patrol. He is thought by police to have but | one surviving relative, a daughter, Dorothy. who is b:lieved to be in Boston or Cambridge, Mass. Efforts are being made to communicate with her. Mec- Kissick lived 1101 Fifteenth stree N ex Eves E a DR. CLAUDE S. SEMONES Eyesight Specialist Bright’s Disease {Due to Neglect | “Neglect of the kidneys before fifty means Bright's Disease after”—is the statement of & prominent med- | ical authority. Accept it as a warn- ing. Co-operate with Nature to| protect your kidneys from overwork | and disorders. Give them the tonic ! benefits and natural assistance of | Mountain _Valley Mineral Water | gs. Ark. Physicians | ears have prescribed | it as an aid in the prevention snd | treatment of kidney disorders. Do | not inflict yourself with Ilifelong | misery. Phone Metropolitan 1062 | for further information. i MOUNTAIN VALLEY WATER CO., | 215 District National Bank Bldg. Annduncing Improved Service 90 MINUTES to New York Ships leave Washington Aire port daily at 9:30 A. M. Fare, one way, $25.00; round trip, $10.00. For Reservations Call Metro. 0534. CITY NEWS IN BRIE! ‘TODAY. National Tent, No, 1, the Maccabees, will hold its “old timers’ rally” this eve- ning at Odd Fellows’ Hall, 419 Seventh street northwest, when Col. M. F. Elkin, supreme lecturer, will present silver service pins to all veterans who have been members of the tent 25 years or more. Maccabees and their families in- vited. FUTURE. Alpha Delta Phi luncheon will be held Friday at Hotel Gordon, 12:30 o’clock. Cathedral Heights-Cleveland Citizens’ tion will hold a meeting Friday evening in St. Parish Hall promptly at 8 o'clock. tion will be taken with reference to the pmeed playground at Thirty-fourth and Macomb street. 'k 1 ban’s Ac- Rev. F. Bundy. pastor of the Morning Star Baptist Church will preach a spe- cial sermon at the Vermont Avenue tist Church tomorrow evening, July at 8 o'clock, under the auspices of Willing and Ready Club, the B. Y. Proceeds 18, the. P. U. and the Sunday school. | for the benefit of the church. Joseph H. Milans Lodge Chapter. No. 41, O. E. 8., will hold a lawn party Sat- | urday evening at Eighth and H streets northeast. Mrs. Emma Dawson, chair- man. Young Women’s Council of the Na- tional Woman'’s Party will hold a garden party at national headquarters, 21 First street northeast, Tuesday evening, July 23, at 8:15 o'clock. A farce, “It Might DO YOU at a time? $9.85 formerly $18 50 of students of Miss Kathryn Dunkorst. ‘The Kiwanis Club will hold & “hobby meeting” at the Washington Hotel at 12:30 o'clock tomorrow. John J. Boobar will be in charge of the program. STILL IN COMA. LYNCHBURG, Va., July 17 (Special). —dJean Viar, 6, who was rendered un- conscious here the night of July 10 when she was struck by an automobile, fi;tllnuu in coma at Memorial Hos- An X-ray negative showed the chil did not-suffer a fracture of the l||§ull.d e — Motion picture theaters in land now number approximately 7: Only a few thousand pairs remain. shopping is suggested. RTC | Organized Responsibility Use Yellow:' Cabs Black and White Cabs Owned and Operated by | Brown Bro: WONDER WHY So many women select six, eight or ten pairs of Artcraft Creations Simply deduct 6, 8 or 10 dollars from their original price and you will have the reason. TWICE-YEARLY CLEARANCE $11.85 formerly $27.50 ALL SALES FINAL Early morning good one, not only from the standpoint 1BIlFS of the practicability of the idea, but also T. from the standpoint of duty.” Gov. Christianson, Minnesota: “There is nothing new or startling in the division of enforcement authority suggested by Mr. Wickersham. It was suggested by Commissioner Doran a year ago and by myself at a law en- forcement conference in my State a vear ago. Too much should not be ex- pected from such a plan, however, as 200 B street, died late yesterday in| Gallinger Hospital as a result of a| fractured skull sustained earlier in the ! afternoon when he fell down a flight of stairs at the B street address. William Rix, 70 years old, who was below Thompson, tried to catch the falling man, but was himself knocked down and cut and bruised. He was treated at Emergency Hospital. Washington-New York Airline e Hecat Co. “F Street at Seventh” States have local attitudes toward en- forcement, which are much different from the national attitude.” VOLSTEAD GIVES VIEWS. Declares Wickersham Suggestion Would Repeal Law in Sections. ST. PAUL, Minn, July 17 (#).— Andrew J. Volstead, thor of the pro- hibition enforcement act, in a statement Jast night criticized suggestions by George W. Wickersham, head of Presi- dent Hoover's law enforcement commis- sion, for strengthening the enforcement of the dry law. Mr. Volstead sald the suggestions, which were made public at the gov- ernor’s conference at New London, Conn., “would in effect, repeal the eighteenth amendment in wet locali- ties.” Mr. Wickersham declared that some feasible means should be found for dividing the burden of enforcement between States and the National Gov- ernment. Mr. Volstead asserted that “the sug- gestions of dividing the responsibility for law enforcement cannot appeal to any one who has had much practical experience. It is perfectly evident that you could not expect to strengthen Pprohibition by making the division sug-~ gested by Mr. Wickersham, GRUELICK TO RETURN. ‘Will Relieve Comdr. Broadfoot in Navigation Bureau. Lieut. Comdr. Richard W. Gruelick, well known to Washington’s newspaper fraternity, who ‘‘covered” the Navy De- partment a few years ago, by virtue of his duty there as press officer, is coming back to Washington in a dif- ferent capacity. Official orders made public today at the department show that Comdr. Gruelick, who has just completed a tour of duty in the Orient, aboard the U. S. S. Pittsburgh, will be detached from the 13th Naval District, at Seattle, Wash., about July 30, when he reaches the United States from the Far East, and stationed at the Bureau of Navigation. Comdr. Gruelick Is slated to relieve Lieut. Comdr. Henry B. Broadfoot in the discipline division of the Bureau of Navigation. Comdr. Gruelick was on duty at the Navy press room in 1925 and 1926. yio SRR 8 July FURNITURE CLEARANCE Drastic Price Reductions in All Departments Petér Grogan & Sons Co. ROGAN'S $17-823 Scventh St.N.W. Homefurnishers Since 1866 Closed Saturday July & August Is Your Hair Cut New M. DE has just come to us direct from the Smart, Fifth Avenue, New York Shops. Let him give you hi should have your hair individualized and, by all means, let him give you a Finger Wave Know the delight — the pleasure — the satisfaction of his remarkable artistry. Powder Box, Fifth Floor est Style? the LANNE s version of how you Annual Sale! 500 pairs Men’: Linen Knickers were $2.95 200 pairs were $3.95 100 pairs were $5.00 These are made from pre-shrunk imported linens in oyster white and plaids. Made in plus-four style, with separate w aistbands and deep roomy pockets. Sizes 28 to 42 waist. (Main Floor, Sports 8hop.) Companion Sale of 400 Pairs of Imported Golf Hose 125 pairs were $2.50 e Hecar Co. F Street at Seventh 150 pairs were $3.95 125 pairs were $5.00 -Diamond argyle patterns in_soft wool hose. Plain colors in pastel shades. Neat designs in imported Belgian and Scotch yarns. Sizes 10 to 12. (Main Floor, Sports Shop.) SI0 Delivers This New RCA Radiola(No.33)with DYNAMIC SPEAKER (e e 1 e W May be purchased on The Hecht Co. Budget Plan Hooked up to your aerial FREE “F Street at Seventh” 100 What You Get 7 tubes Single Control [lluminated Dial Electro Dynamic Speaker Full, Clear Tone Beautiful Walnut Veneer Cabinet, hand rubbed What You Save Tubes ...... $14.75 Cabinet ..... $35.00 Regular price, $149.25 Sale priced, $100.00 You save . $49.25 Redio Store, Main Floor