Evening star., 1926-03-11
WOMAN'S BUREAU
BILL ADVOCATED
House District Committee
Hears Supporters of Plan.
Foes to Get Chance Also.


reau in the Police Department.
| Announcement was made that an
other hearing will be set at an early
| date for those opposed to this leglsla-
| ion as q number of persons attending
| the hearings had notified the subcom-
mittee, of which Representative Rath-
bone, Republican, OF Illinois is chair
| man, that they wished an opportunity
| to present their views.
A special hearing has been set for
| Saturday morning at 10 o'clock Tor
| Judge Katherine Sellers Of the JuVe-
nile Court in order that the hearing
may not interfere with the court cal
endar. Judge Sellers was present at
| the hearing today. and said she would
gladly submit a statement in writing
Of her objections to this measure.
Bill Is Defended.
Mrs Jerome O. Berliner, represent
ing Mrs. Nina Van Wrinkle, lieutenant
in charge Of the present policeWomen
bureau, told the subcommittee that
the bureau as now organized is handl-
capped by lack of sufficient torce.
Questioned by Representative Ham
mer. Democrat, of North Carolina, as
to the duties of the policewomen ana
whether they make arrests or go
about a. good Samaritans, MRS. Ber-
liner said that they did both.
Repeatedly during the hearing Mr,
Hammer stated plainly that the only
reason he is opposed TO polce-
woman's bureau is the attitude, as ne
sees it. Of Mrs. Van Wrinkle, ana sald
that he intends to question her furtner
before the hearings are closed.
Mrs, Virginia White Speel, president
If the District Federation of Women 5
Republican Clubs, was questioned at
length by Representative RathDone'
She said that women in other States
desire the law passed here as soon as
possible to set a precedent ana exam
pie for other parts Of the country She
said that New York is now waiting to
see what Congress passes in the way
of a law for the National Capital.
With a population of 100000 in
Washington. 80 policewomen are not
at all sufficient, Mrs. Speel said.
Says Bureau Needs 100.
Questioned by Mr.. Hammer, she ad-
mitted that the desire is to put police
women on an equal footing with man
policemen, and that they should ne
trained and drilled and instructed IN
law the same as the men. In a gen
eral way, she said, welfare work IS a
function of policeWomen in the DIS
trict of Columbia.
Miss Rhoda Milliken, a sergeant in
the women's bureau, said that the
pending measure would legalize the
bureau and enlarge the staff, both
of which are exceedingly necessary
Specialized duty, she explained, cuts
down the field staff. They are al
lowed % policewomen now and have
o. They should have at least 100, she
explained, pointing out that 1t is not
advisable for one woman to work
alone at night in certain parts of the
town and on certain assignments.
In reply to questions, Miss Mill
ken estimated that at the present
time the field could be covered fairly
we'll with so policewomen. but that
the full quota of "a authorized in the
bill should be allowed to carry on the
work adequately.
695 Arrests Made.
Questioned by Representative Blan-
ton, Democrat, Of Texas, one of the
most ardent workers for legislation
legalizing the women's bureau, it was
developed that the conditions in the
House of Detention are very salts
factory and that efficiency marks the
administration of Mrs. Van Wrinkle.
1t was emphasized by Mr.. Blanton
that there are 13 police stations now
in operation and another one to be
opened, and that there are no women
at any of these stations, so that
women who are taken into custody
are without matron service. which,
she said, is absolutely essential. 1t was
pointed out that 625 arrests had been
made by policewomen last year, and
more than 900 cases investigated.
When Sergt. Milliken mentioned
censorship Of places Of amusement as
part of the policewomens duty, Mr..
Hammer asked specifically about
several recent shows, and why the
Mutual Theater had been closed and
Miss Milliken said that the police
women's bureau had not closed the
Mutual Theater, but had arrested
some Of its people for police violations,
including the use of indecent language.
In reply to questions, Sergt. Milli-
ken said that there are occasional
shows that the policeWomen do not
consider proper exhibitions, but they
have no authority to order them stop
ped under police regulations.
Hits Slur on Cowboys"
Mr.. Hammer also closely questioned
Miss Milliken about children detained
at the House of Detention, saying re-
ports had come to him that parents
had been unable to get children re-
leased. Miss AIilliken denied the
truth Of these reports.
Representative Gilbert, Democrat,
Of Kentucky, said that without com
mitting himself as to numbers, he felt
that there was a field for the work
being done by the policewomen,' and
especially mentioned that women on
the street are not secure from
affronts. He happened to mention
drugstore cowboys" and Mr.. Blan-
ton rose in defense of cowboys as the
most chivalrous class of men in the
protection of women and said they
should not be mentioned In the same
breath with drug store clerks.
Mr.. Blanton moved for a favorable
report. but action was stopped when
Mr.. Hammer stated that while he
was not against the bill he thought
the hearings should be continued, as
number of persons desire to be
heard in opposition.
Mr.. Gibson, author of the bill. paid
tribute to the value of Judge Gil
bert's advice, based on his wide ax-
perienCe as a judge.
Mr.. Gibson emphasized that this
legislation would put the Woman's 8
Bureau on a permanent basis and on
the same basis with the Traffic Bu-
reau, the Detective Bureau and other
co-ordinated bureaus in the Police De
partment. He asked Miss Milliken If
the present force was sufficient for the
protection of women on the streets,
as had been mentioned by Mr.. Gill
bert, and whether the force was suffi-
cient to allow proper censoring of
public entertainments. He was told
that with the present force the bureau
was doing the best it could, but that
the force was not sufficient to properly
carry on these various duties.