LIQUOR LAWS

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 10 January 1925, Page 5

LIQUOR LAWS

MORE SCANDALS IN AMERICA. DIFFICULTY OF ENFORCEMENT. 1 STRENUOUS EFFORTS MADE. CABLE - PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT. WASHINGTON, Jan. 8. Intensification of the Administration's efforts tot secure the enforcement of prohibition will, it is believed, be the outcome of the conference of President Coolidge to-day with the Gary Committee. Mr J. D. Rockefeller, junr., wfio is also a member of the committee, emphasised the necessity of obedience to the law without distinction concerning class, and other members expressed the hope that those who are now wilfully violating the prohibitory statutes will accept Mr Coolidge’s leadership in conduct and endorse in practice his fidelity to the supremacy of the law. A series of resolutions has been presented to Mr Coolidge asking the people of the United States and their official representatives to obey the provisions of the eighteenth amendment. These resolutions will he presented to all State Governors. ' , A Senatorial Committee, under the chairmanship of Mr Couzens, to-day opened an investigation of affairs in the Prohibition Enforcement Department. Mr Couzens, who has been a bitter opponent of Mr A. Mellon (Secretary of the Treasury), whose department also controls prohibition enforcement, was largely responsible for the initiation of the- investigation committee. which is conducting its healings in camera and is meeting much opposition to its refusal, to. permit the publication of the testimony, which, it is believed, may disclose; the existence or another scandal, It is understood the first day was consumed with the hearing of lirief preliminary statements by prohibition officials. A Senate judiciary committee at the same time opened hearings upon a proposal which seeks to divorce the prohibition enforcement bureau and the creation of a separate unit to aid better enforcement of the law. The Senate Judiciary Committee, in the meantime, has been asked to investigate charges made by the Wholesale Druggists’ Association that largo Quantities of smuggled alcohol have been sold free of tax. ___