Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-09-09

5000 600 900. To this must be added
the cost of private police employed by
railroads. express companies. banks,
Industrial corporations, estates. etc.
The American Bankers Association
estimates that its members alone
spend 81 400 900 a year for guards
needed because of the abnormal crime
situation.
While lacking in definite and spe-
cific terms, several estimates of the
loss due to the diversion of man power
from productive pursuits to criminal
activities reflect stupendous total.
One expert has calculated that 1900
900 persons in this country are en-
gagged in crime. crime protection, crime
apprehension, punishment and social
reha Utilization work. He also estimates
that each of these represents a poten-
tioal productive earning capacity Of
s. 500 annually. On this basis the an
nual loss to the country approXimateS
$3.50 900 900.
War Explanation Doubted.
Many experts have put forth the
view that the degenerating effects of
the World War are largely responsible
for the unparalleled increase OF pro
feSSional criminals in this country. 4
study made by a committee of the
American Bar Assoc iation takes issue
with this diagnosis, however.
Some students suggest that the sol
der who became accustomed to killing
on the field of battle returned to
peace life with mind so conditioned
that the idea of murder presented
mono Of the horrors which it did in
preWar days. Attempts to collect sta
tistics which might prove this have
thus far failed. as many of the eH-
soldiers who have been accused of
murder and crimes of violence never
saw active fighting.
One important consideration is that.
although the beliigerent countries of
Europe were in the war twice $ long
as America and became much more
accustomed to the sight of blood and
violence, there is. no crime situation
abroad to parallel that Of the United
States.
Clergymen, social workers and
sociologists generally agree that
American life today is pervaded by a
sense of social and moral irresponsi-
bility. This Is assigned as one of the
chief causes for the crime outbreak.
Connected with this attitude, which
implies a, contempt for authority, is
the mass of laws which are unenforce-
able or difficult to enforce.
Dry Effects at Issue.
The effect of prohibition on the
social attitude Of the population is
stressed by various authorities. The
dry element maintains that prohiti-
ton has had good effect.
Leaders Of wet sentiment. such As
President Nicholas Murray Butler Of
Columbia University. advance the
theory that contempt for the prohi-
bition law has led to contempt for
law in general, 80 that crime has lost
its old horror and such lawbreaking
as bootleggtng has become an adven-
ture, II not a respectable occupation.
The effect on the future outlook OF
children who now play revenue agent
and bootlegger instead of cops-and-
robbers Is pointed to as 6. danger.
The bootlegger is always the hero. and
the revenue agent is viewed with con
tempt.
A whole array of what may be
either minor causes or merely symp-
toms Of the general condition is pre-
scented as a result of the scores Of
studies made throughout the country.
The ease with which pistols. burglars
tools and automobiles for quick get
away may be obtained is named both
as a cause and a symptom.
Living Customs a Factor.
The decrease in church attendance
is stressed by the clergy. who say that
the crime problem waits on 4 religious
revival for real solution TO the