Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-09-29
CHARGES HACKERS
THRIVE IN TRAFFIC
IN WOMEN AND RUM
BootIegging Rampant Among
Chauffeurs, Speaker Tells
City Club Chairmen.

White slave enterprises and boot
Logging are rampant among the pub
lie hackers of this city. according to
charges made last night at the City
Club at meeting of the chairmen
of the various groups of that organi-
cation.
The hacking situation in this city,"
said W. Pearce Rayner, chairman of
the public safety group. sis outra-
geous. Many of the automobile hack
ers around town are just about three
days this side of the penitentiary.
1t is a menacing situation that ap-
parently the people are afraid to ex-
pose and tackle"
Investigations conducted to find out
the extent of the activities along
these lines have been conducted by
individual members of the public
safety group: On one occasion man
had parked his car in the middle of
the street, near a hackers stand. He
was besieged by several hackers, all
OF whom tried to persuade him to
get into their cars. with the promise
TO show him good time"
1t is expected that active steps
along corrective lines will be taken
by the group in the near future.
In regard to the investigation of
st. EliZabeth's, Mr.. Rayner, chairman
of the group. said:
The public safety group, which
has been investigating the large num-
Der Of escapes from ST. Elizabeth's. is
convinced that there is lack of disci-
pine and management at the insti-
tuition, partly caused by insufficient
appropriations of money by Con-
. gress, and doubtless will make rec
concentrations at it's regular monthly
meeting next week.
Says Shake-Up Has Resulted.
"As a result of the groups investi-
CATION, shake-up already has oc-
Cured in the organization at ST.
El1zabeth's. One gate has been closed
and guardhouse has been establish
ed at another for sixteen hours of the
day
1T is expected that the group will
ask Congress for sufficient appro-
priation to erect fence around the
seven-eighths of a mile of the asy-
lum boundary line now unguarded
and also will recommend that the
asylum appoint a chief of police who
VIII have charge of guarding the pa
tlents. and no other duties.
The group will also take UP the
matter of centralized traffic squad
of the police department and the es.
taphshment of a traffic court. At
present policemen have to patrol their
beats, serve subpoenas and in their
spare moments arrest traffic violators.
AS a ihdttcI ol idCt, many OF them
are not anxious to arrest any great
number of violators, for policemen
are required to take their own time,
which should be devoted to sleep, to
appearing in court against the de-
PENDANTS. With a traffic court con-
venient hours could be arranged for
the policemen so that making an ar
rest would not work a hardship on
them.
while the city now has a traffic
squad. it is without the proper power.
Decisions of the traffic chief at pres
emit can be overruled by the captains
of the eleven precincts, and the traf-
fic laws are interpreted differently by
each policeman in each precinct
Will Urge Representation.
National representation for Wash
1ngton will be strenuously urged by
the suffrage group of the club. ac-
cording to Chairman Roy l.. Nehauser.
The group will give it's active support
to the Burroughs bill providing for
representation of the, District in the
House and Senate and in the electoral
college. The group will strive to get
the support of all the citizens associa :.
tions and other civic organizations, so
that solid representation Of citizens,
intent only on the one issue, can be
brought together. An immense DEM
onstration will be staged after fur
Their plans are worked out. TO show
Congress how the citizens of the city
feel. Prior to the demonstration four
minute speakers will be sent through
out the city to explain the bill to
the various organizations. Arguments
for the speakers are now being pre-
pared and will be compiled by an edu-
cational committee.
Alexander Wolf. chairman of the
law and legislation group, declared
that the group would make an exam
ination of every bill affecting the
: District. The group also will strive
to remedy certain existing defects in
the Districts legal code. Soon after
Congress convenes the group will give
banquet to the members of the
House and Senate District committees,