Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-01-14
LIEUT.. VAN Wrinkle
/ TO STICK BY BILL
viii Fight for Woman's b.
reau, She Says, Following
| UnfavoTabIe Report.

TndiSmaYed by the crushing blow
given the proposed bill to increase the
powers of the Woman'S Bureau of the
Police Department and firmly eStab-
fish it in law in lieu of its present
status as an administrative bureau
OF the Police Department. Lieut.. Nina
l. Van Wrinkle, director. announced
today that she would stick by the
measure until it wins
The commissioners described the
hill as unnecessary and unwarranted
IN an unfaVorable report submitted to
senator tapper, chairman of the
senate District committee, but Mrs
Van Wrinkle says they have given up
the best argument for its enactment.
IT Is not my bill she said 1T Is
the Women'S bill and womens
movement bill. and it should be pass
Ell tor the good of my women ane
the good of the community 1t is
Tor their interest and not mine, but
VIII stay with it until it wins.
Report Opposes Bill.
The report was written by Commits
sloner Frederick \. Fenning, who has
rhar%e of the Police Department.. or
the recommendation of Mai. Edwin
T. iitN>e. superintendent Of police
j follows:
No reason is apparent why any
particular branch Of the Police De
paftmcnt should be covered by ey
press legislative action" said the 70
port 1t may safely be assumed that
hii branches and bureaus of the Police
department are conducted because of
Tue necessities incident TO the general
scope of police duties If no s1Icb
necessity should exist. manifestIv r.
would be unfair to the District Govern
neut, TO the Police Department and
10 TIE taxpayers TO continue such an
unnecessary bureau because il had heen
organized under express legislative en-.
actment. 1t should be understood
however, and remembered that the
noLlidn bureau IS functioning salts
ldctorly and Is regarded by the Com
missioner at present in charge of the
toIce Department and by the nresent
moor and superintendent of police as
q valuable adjunct to the department
t'Hd there IS no thought of discontinue
M such bureau SO long as il is moss
l"!e 10 secure competent persons 70
perform service therein.
Thinks Program Unwise.
The proposed bin undertakes 70
specify the number and grade Of tho
oflcers and privates attached to the
w oman'S Bureau. This, in the onin-
ION OF the Commissioner is unwise
and should be left TO the Commits.
sloners, who, in acting in such a
matter, VIII of necessity be Guided
by such recommended as NAV he
mace from time to time by the major
and superintendent of police. Az
present the officer in charge of the
W oman'S Bureau has the rank of
lieutenant; the nature and extent of
the work performed by the Woman's
Bureau would not warrant. in the
opinion OF the Commissioners. that it
be placed in charge of an officer of
the rank of assistant Superintendent.
as contemplated in the bill
Section Ca of the bill provides
method of appointment and pro-
motion. This already is covered by
existing laws with respect to all of
hcers of the Metropolitan Police De-
partment.
Section > CD Of the bill specifies
the qualifications for the director of
the bureau. In the opinion Of the
Commissioners such qualifications
need not he set out in an act of
Congress and the commissioners, act
ing with the major and superintend-
ent Of police, may reasonably be
trusted in making such future ap-
polntmentS as may be necessary. II
may be added that the present salts
I'''''iS director WIS selected IN the
latter manner and not because she
was measured 10y any hand and fast
rul" of legislative enactment
As to all other provisions of the
proposed bill III" commissioners are
OF the opinion that the woman's bu-
leau as at present constituted and
as 1t is at present functioning and
The laws governing the Metropolitan
Police Department and the police
manual are sufficient. and that
further legislation along any of the
lines as proposed is unnecessary"