The Washington times., 1921-10-11
Al
IS UTOPIA
FOR THUGS
Cong. Fitzgerald Says Crime
Conditions Here intolerable.
Demands House Probe.

4 A sweeping investigation Of
Washington's police force was de-
manded today in resolution in
troduced in the House by Con-
sressman Roy G. Fitzgerald, OF
Ohio. ~
Under the terms Of the resolu-
tion = committee Of five members
lof the House will be. appointed by
tae Speaker with authority to ''see
why Washington, the Capital Of
our Nation, is the chief crime
center" ~
Lead All in Crime.
Conditions in Washington from a
matter Of police protection seem to be
going from bad to worse" declared
Congressman Fitzgerald. I'VE have
here the most beautiful city in the
world, but according to the policies
own records, 1t is the hotbed Of crime"
In substan tiation of his declaration
that Washington IL the chief center
OF crime in the country, Congressman
Fitzgerald cited figures, complied by
the police department, which shows
that in the matter of crimes commit
ted and escaped criminals that Wash
ington heads them all"
Protection Lack Is WOeful.
"It is not only a disgrace to the citi-
xens Of Washington, but Is sad COM
mentary on the Nations Capital" F"
Fitzgerald declared, 'in urging prompt
action on his resolution.
Washington had forty-four murders
for the fiscal year ending June 80,
which compared with other cities OF
similar size shows a woeful lack OF
IN "a nffQDS Ctfi-
zens.
Buffalo, a city larger than Wash
ington, had only one-third as many
murders; Pittsburgh had only one
fourth as many, and Baltimore, which
is a great deal larger than Washing
ton, had but two more murders.
Is Underworld Utopia.
zone glance at the assault and bat
terry records of Washington by thugs
and thieves, leaves one with the un-
pleasant impression that Washington,
our nations Capital, is the acme Of
underworld possibilities and a po-
tential hunting ground, where crime
and criminals may go unhampered,"
said Mr.. Fitzgerald.
This fair Capital of ours pushed
New York city hard for first place in
the matter OF assaults and batteries.
IN Ine WnOLe CITY VI lNtW tVth With
it's teeming millions, there were but
3.Ss6 assault and battery cases, while
in Washington, according to published
police statistics, there were 2,05% as
saults on citizens.
Liquor Traffic Heavy.
other figures cited by Congressman
Fitzgerald, taken from police records,
show that more than 1905 arrests
In ohtn 0fnr for Vt0la-
ton of the liquor law, compared with
] 500 in Detroit, just across the border
from Canada.
Congressman Fitzgerald will Insist
on prompt action on his resolution, he
stated.
1--WE shall soon have with us
| thousands of foreigners attending the
limitation of armament conference in
November. II things continue as they
are. with these foreign guests of this
Government at the mercy of crime and
criminals, they will have unsavory
Impressions OF this Government, and
washington.
1--WE propose 70 go 70 the bottom OF
the police situation here and fix the
blame where II should be placed with
a view of remedying the situation at
once, and remove the stigma from
washington's record, that the Capital
Is The chief center of crime" Mr.. Fitz-
gerald declared.
Submits Resolution.
Following is the text Of the reso-
luton, demanding the investigation:
Resolved, That a special commit
tee OF five members OF the House
OF Representatives be appointed by
the Speaker and authorized and di-
Continual on Page q. Column ~