Abstract

The National Commission on Law Observance and Enforcement A Review of Its Work GEORGE W. WICKERSHAM Chairman, National Commission on Law Observance and Law Enforcement ^pH E COMMISSION wound up its which was composed of ten men and one A undertakings at the end of the last woman, embraced three federal judges, fiscal year, June 30, 1931, after two years a dean of a law school, a college presi- of activity, leaving in the hands of the dent, two former Cabinet officers, a for- President of the United States a number mer state Supreme Court judge and three of volumes of reports, covering a wide practising lawyers. They were drawn range of subjects and containing a num- from ten states—from Massachusetts to ber of recommendations for the improve- California and Washington. They served ment of our system of criminal law and without compensation. procedure. These reports, it is assumed, The two reports made by the Commis- will be transmitted by the President to sion on the problem of enforcing the the Congress when it assembles in De- national prohibition law have been much cember, together with his recommenda- discussed. Very little attention has been tions regarding the matters involved.