Evening star., 1924-03-10
HOUSE FIREARMS
HEARING OPENED
Police Officials CalIed-Ageni
Who Shot Senator Pres
ent at Inquiry.

Inquiry into the carrying anu use
of firearms and of bootlegging in the
District of Columbia was started to-
day by special subcommittee of the
House District committee, with Rep
Iesentative Rathbone of Illinois as
chairman.
Police officials and Otis l.. Fisher,
the prohibition enforcement agent
who is accused of having shot down
senator Frank l.. Greene of Vermont
while attempting to apprehend a
bootIegger. were present when the
hearing started \ suggestion was
made that Mr.. Fisher be called as a
witness. Representative Thomas l..
Blanton democrat, of Texas advised
Mr.. Fisher that the committee could
not compel him to make statement;
If he wished to make a voluntary
statement that would be his priv
ilege, but he could not claim any i'm
munity on any statement that he
might make.
1t was decided and emphasized in
statements by Representative Blanton
and by Representative Rathbone that
the investigation shall proceed along
lines of illegal use of firearms and
liquor. and not trial of the Green
shooting case. The Green shooting
Will only be brought in far enough
10 throw light on the other two lines
of investigation.
Shelby Questioned.
Inspector W.. S. Shelby, administra-
tive assistant to the superintendent of
metropolitan police, questioned the
advisability of the Rathbone commit
tee taking any action which might be
considered an investigation of the
shooting of Senator Green. This is a
subject of investigation by the grand
jury, he said.
The federal prohibition officer is
under a grave charge and statements
whether under oath or not. should
not influence the minds of the grand
jury. Shelby said. Ii is improper
for legislators to make any investi-
CATION at this time, because they
would be interfering with the spe-
cial functions of the district attor-
ney's office. Shelby added
Representative Blanton raised the
point of order that the committee did
not ask Inspector Shelby to come be-
fore it to deliver lecture. This is
an investigation to determine the
need for change in legislation" he
said
Representative Beers of Pennsyi-
Vanfa thought the committee would
ing prohibition enforcement.
Says Probe Demanded.
Representative Blanton reminded
his colleagues that the House Dis
trict committee had authorized this
subcommittee to press an investiga
tion, and I'VE have no alternative but
to make the investigation" he said.
Representative Gibson, republican,
of Vermont, who introduced the orig
inal resolution for an investigation,
expressed the opinion that the sub
fommtttee should not nves.igase
sentative Blanton said that the truth
cannot injure any one.
Repr esentative Rathbone, author of
the resolution, and chairman of the
tempt to try any suit. We should not
investigate Prohibition Agent Fisher
and should not develop any major
points of his testimony. This investf-
cation should proceed to determine
whether there were violations of the
use of firearms and illicit use of
liquor at that time. Beyond that, the
subcommittee should not go. There
should be an inquiry into those two
sources Of lawlessness; that is the
province of this committee.
Grant Answers Blanton.
inspector CllIOEQ GTdnl, CHlei VI
detectives, suggested to the commit
tee that I'VE are going to have trouble
getting witnesses" Representative
Blanton engaged in a crosS-fire diA-
logue with the inspector regarding
statements that had been taken. In
spector Grant said they had been
taken by the grand jury. I'VE want
to take them again." said Representa-
tive Blanton. Representative Blanton
asked that witnesses be sworn.
Inspector Shelby, in reply to a let
ter from Representative Rathbone,
placed in the record a long list show
ing the arrests for drunkenness each
year for ten years, and also lists
Sheppard act and the national prohi-
bition act
Representative Blanton questioned
the procedure by the police in the
handling of drunks. He asked if a
deposit of $25 collateral would not
force them into court, where they
are let off at $40. He pointed out
that booteggerS who get drunk can
pay $40 and secure release. You
should fine the man who sold the
liquor and punish him." Representa-
tive Blanton asserted.
Representative Rathbone question
ed whether greater power and author
ity should not be given to the police
IN this enforcement. Inspector Shell
by thought that the police should not
be given authority to search vehicles
on a mere whim. Representative
Blanton in an exchange with Inspec-
tor Shelby said that if he had a
bottle of gin in his pocket the police
would seize him and that they should