Evening star., 1926-09-07
1Continued from First Page.)

and the development of agencies sup
ported by paid allies in the official
service and among members Of the
generally honorable profession OF
legal Jurisprudence.
Society, through reform of the Grim
inal laws in various parts of the coun
try and the setting up of independent
anti-crime organizations, is now pre-
pairing to meet this counter offensive
of organized crime.
That Mr.. Taft's characterization OF
the criminal situation ip the country
was and is wholly justified by existing
conditions is clearly revealed by facts
and figures easily obtainable. 1t is
these facts and figures in the most
concrete form.
Cost Proves Truth.
The money cost of crime alone
shows that Mr.. Taft is right. 1t is
the largest single bill paid by the peo
pie of the country at the present time
The loss of life resulting from acts
of violence and predatory aggressions
also is annually greater in the United
States than it is in England, France
Germany, the Scandinavian countries
Italy and Canada combined.
That Mr.. Taft is right is further
established by the fact that a very
large percentage of hardened criminals
escapes the meshes of the law as now
administered.
The present chronicle will reveal ir
specific terms the reasons that pre-
sumably prompted Mr.. Taft to make
SO scathing a criticism of the legal
system of the country as it touches
crimes OF violence and fraud.
Officials Are Questioned.
To secure the fullest and most ac
curate information regarding crimina
conditions throughout the country
three questions We're submitted tc
police, prosecuting, judicial, penal
welfare and administrative officials
ana recognized independent author
tiles conversant with the subject.
These three questions were:
u) What are the basic causes fo]
the recent unparalleled spread Of
crime in this country?
G) What individual or legal agencies
are responsible for the failure of the
present system of curbing it?
~ What permanent correctives are
needed?
Almost without exception the re
plies to these questions and informa
ton collected from official agencies
established beyond cavil the existence
of widespread and abnormal crime
conditions. Marked differences OF
opinion were reflected, however, by
the comments of authorities regard
ing cause, responsibility and reform.
admitted to be vitally needed.
In this and other articles to be pre-
sented a comprehensive and impartia
analysis will be made Of police ant
prosecuting officials methods in deal
ing with professional killers, burglars
pickpockets. fences, swindlers, forgers
narcotic peddlers and drug addicts.
Politics Is Factor.
Examples of the manner in which
the representatives of the law dea
with professional criminals and of tn
extent to which politics and favorit
ism are practiced will be cited t.
show that the Chief Justice of tn,
United States Is correct.
The faults of the criminal laws a.
revealed to persons not directly con
nected with the administration o.
them, technical evasions, the tricks o
resourceful lawyers, defects ant
abuses Of the bail system and appea
privilege will be described and com
mented on by public officials or rec
ognized authorities whose views have
been obtained.
Concerning the causes for the IN
crease of professional and organized
criminal activities, there is a wide di
vision of opinion. Attempts to fix re
sponsibility for the license enjoyed by
predatory and murderous felons re
veal acute points of-controversy. The
tho anfiY(
range of administrative activities from
the police to the final court of ap
peals.
Each separate official agency dealing
with crime conditions defends th'
methods it employs. and seeks t
place the responsibility elsewhere.
Controversy Concerning Blame.
The police blame the man who il
robbed. The magistrate blames th'
police for inadequacy of the evidence
offered.
The grand jury blames the distric
attorney for insufficient or uncon
vincing information.
The trial court blames the police
the magistrate, the grand jury ant
the prosecutor.
The district attorney puts tn
OlaI16 OI1 Tic poi1SO, SAAS J~A y
and tricky lawyers.
The appeal tribunals blame tn
lower courts for errors in procedure
that are actually only technical.
The prison officials blame the judge
for indefiniteness, favoritism and un
warranted indulgence of the criminal
The welfare workers, sociologlsts
psvchiatrists and criminologists dis
Germ faults in almost every cog OF TN
legal machine.
In the end. almost every officia
from the patrolman to the appeal
Judge blames Congress and stat
legislatures for passing too many ba'
or conflicting laws and leaving s.
many loorhoes through which tn
criminal may escape.
Sporadic efforts made by Congres
and legislatures to plug up the loop
holes of the law have to date provel
generally ineffective. Some progress
was recently made as the result o
nonular demand in New York and
few other States. Judges also haV'
displaved tendency to impos'
heavier sentences on profess!ona
criminals for acts of violence which
have outraged the entire country.
dissatisfaction with prevailing con
ditioris has inspired the creation o
crimp commissions of National. State
and municipal scope in various part'
of the country. These organizations
are now conducting a systematic
inquiry into criminal activities ant
deyising means for checking them
In some respects these volunteer
crime commissions resemble the vigi
lante organizations which successfull,
hattled with the criminal elements be
fore the law came to the undevelopet
West.
In the meantime the professiona
killer and bandit continues TO ply hi
trade with a minimum risk of eve
paving the penalty provided by th'
criminal law. The armored car /:
even found necessary to frustratt
audacious bandits who shoot dowl
and coerce merchants of the grea