The Washington times., 1924-09-10
Congress to Tighten Up on
BOotlegging in the District
By BILL PRICE.

The report Of the Congressional subcommittee which in
vesgated liquor activities in the District settles beyond doubt
that attempt will be made the winter session Congress
to legislation that will have real punch in it and
materially aid in essenng the bootleggng and general
criminal menace arousng serious thought Of
the best citizens Of this city.
Congressman RATHBoNE chairman of that subcommittee
is member Of the District Committee Of the House. He is
earnest able and is in position to push antbootleg
gng legislation if the short session of Congress will permit
anything be done outside of the passage Of appropriation
bills
The subcommittee realizes that additional police
court judge is badly needed in this city It wonder that
such capable upon the police bench of
Washington would remain there under the stress Of work i'm
posed upon them and the criticisms which they subjected
The better way for Congress to do things would be
Traffic Court the judge of which will devote himself wholly
to traffic and parking violations and have two police
Judges with the various which they now
have jurisdiction
Assisted by competent prosecuting staff cooperating with
the police force Of Washington Traffic Court Judge giving
his time to nothing ee would be able vastly improve
dons The dangerous traffic oatOrs in this city every
where the speeders the whkey drivers and the
careless manpuaors Of wheels With Judge giving close
attention these classes all the time and being position to
drasca punish those who continue to be voators in spite
Of fines and forures of collateral there would be
wholesome respect for law This class Of violations does
now come under one judge all the time, and many law
defying driver fails to get what is due him.
Congress should the committee recommends make it
felony operate an automobile equipped with smoke or
other devices intended to make capture difficult So long
noous may be thrown from automobiles and punish
ment therefor is merely nominal their will continue
the criminals who these gases however understand that
conviction would send them to the penenary long terms
the practice will cease
Gasequpped machines prma face evidence of criminal
intent No awabidng needs wants such an equip
ment on his car.
The committee also right in proposing to make it
felony to transport sell manufacture liquor while armed
with deadly The violaor Of prohibition laws who
goes armed does so for purpose. With pistol or other
dangerous in his possession he double volator Of
the laws Of his country and Of his city He is potential
easy the carrying Of pistols under circumstances named
were punishable by sure term in prison.
The subcommittee crticises the light fines imposed upon
whlskey vioators in the District compared the average
lines imposed elsewhere in the country Fault also found
mat the local judges have not used other provisions Of the
law to make the way Of the bootlegger hard
There question that the District Judges have had hard
nes IN handling the liquor submitted to them Some of
the prohibition enforcement agents in Washington over mum
Der years have been of type not be fully trusted
or believed They little any, better than the voators
OF tie laws they sought to punish They failed to present
strong cases and have often been shifted elsewhere after
cases or been discharged from their positions leaving
things up in the air.
With the police force of Washington taking over the rough
work police enforcement in the District the outlook is for
VAL result In heavier fines and drastic punishment
generally.
Our police court judges good thinking citizens Of the
Dsr1c They have sympathy with volators of law and
oee TO see an Improvement in conditions As Judges thew do
nslS though that offenders shall be proven guilty by due
processes of law g" - ~