Evening star., 1925-06-21
BLANTON warning
ON FEDERAL POLICE
Makes Yelled Charges on
Park Force in Asking
Sheriff. for Report.

Ired at statements attributed TO
certain officials opposing merger of
the park police with the municipal
force and criticizing his own activi-
lies in connection with the park
police. Representative Thomas l..
Elanton yesterday declared war on
lbs Federal police administration,
opening the offensive with barrage
OF yelled charges.
The Texas Representative, in a let
ter to Col. &. q. Sheriff.. director of
public buildings and public parks.
begins by denying a newspaper
statement attributed 10 Col. Sheriff.
that "Blanton has always believed in
Il consolidation OF the police SyS-
TENS" and then launches broadside
of questions as To the accuracy OF
reports" rejecting on the law en-
forCement methods of the park po-
lice.
since some one in your office
Representative Blantun writes, has
been so active and emphatic in attrib-
uting to me certain plans concerning
the park police, | will frankly state
that my attention was specifically dl-
rected TO Il study of Your organiZa-
lion through press reports about 1t.
occurring from time to time during
the past year. apprising me of the
following alleged circumstances:
Asks for Information.
"u) That one of your men was
reprimanded because when off duty
he assisted metropolitan police. after
being so requested, i'll making an ar
rest, and enforcing the law. This
was officer Rainey, whom ! don't know
and 10 whom | have not spoken about
II. Since | was a member of the sub
committee on law enforcement, l Will
appreciate it if YOU will kindly send
me a copy of the charges sent Rainey
about his action, a copy of his reply.
and what punishment, if any, was in
tliCted on him.
''(2l That the general order issued
by Capt. McNorris on March q, 1925,
made your police guards of the prop
erty of private ConCeSSlOnarleS, as
well as OF Government property. and
was calculated to impress upon them
that they We're not to be active law
enforCerS.
ia, That the general order issued
Ivy Capt. McMorriS on May 16, 1928,
was calculated to decrease the eff
tfciency OF your police as law en-
forcers, and make them ineffective
law enforcers. and calculated to intim-
idate them and make them worth
less except as guards of property.
Wants Documents Furnished.
90 That the QUESTIONABLE which
Capt. McMorris required your police
10 answer in writing, setting forth in
detail all fraternal organizations to
which they belonged. was calculated
TO interfere with their free choice and
exercise of religious rights. l will
ask you to kindly send me copy each
of the documents mentioned in t2), 90
and "a.
"(5) That an offender violating traffic
provisions in any of our numerous
parks cannot be prosecuted in our
new traffic courts by our corporation
counsel, but must be prosecuted by a
Government prosecutor. Please ad-
wise me as to this.
"(6) That whenever an Army Of
ficer or naval officer. is arrested by
one of your park police in any of the
parks, special consideration must be
shown them, and should they be treat
ed like any other offender, such police
man himself is punished. Is this true?
If not, will you kindly give me the
names of any and all Army officers
and naval officers who have been ar
rested by park police and punished
lile lie" u dillC Id" "SltL
effect, and their respective punish
ments?
Calls for Explanation.
''(7) That under orders issued by
Capt. McMorris with respect to park
police using discretion in making ar
rests for traffic violations, % miles per
hour may be permitted under certain
circumstances. 80 miles per hour may
be permitted under other circum-
stances, and even 80 miles per hour
may be permitted under some circuln-
stances. Is this true? If not, just
what is meant by the term must use
discretion?
''(S) That the order of Capt. Nc
Morris threatening your police with
charges if they lay in wait to ap-
prehend offenders, or if they attempt
TO get a line on offenders in order
TO warrant making an arrest. is calcu-
lated to destroy their morale, and
make them not have the proper re-
spect for their superior police officer
that they must have to render the
best service.
Il recognize that I have no author
ity TO require you to give me the in
formation requested above, but since
the Investigations l am making for the
purpose of gathering information,
upon which | may base recommends
tionS to the District committee when
Congress meets, are within the scope
of my official duties, | assume that
you will be glad to furnish same"