Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-30
BILLS FOR WOMAN'S BUREAU.
DORMANT IN CONGRESS, DEFINED
Lieut. Nina C.. Van Wrinkle, Director In
Metropolitan Police Department,
Tells of Work.

expressed unanimous and hearty sup"
port of the measure, and, together
with all the friends of the bill, urged
It's speedy passage az 1t la now amend.
ed by the Senate District committee.
Insurance Against Trouble.
THE passage OF the policewoman's
bill will give the community assurance
that the Woman's Bureau, which has
proven of service to women and chill
dren who come into the custody of the
police. will not be destroyed, or Its ac-
tivittes hampered at some future time
at the will OF unsympathetic or unin-
formed officials.
The framing of the policewoman's
bin was originally the result of advice
from the late Chief of Police Daniel
Sullivan and his successor. Chief Ed.
win b. Hcsse. who knew the dangers
and urged the necessity of such a
measure.
Under the bin there would be a
change in n condition of affairs where
the director OF the Woman's Bureau Is
rated along with privates from the
ranks detailed to the Detective Bureau.
Today these men receive the same sal
airy as the director of the Woman's
Bureau. who is responsible for her
staff of % policewomen. for the House
OF Detention's civilian staff Of % per
sons and for the policemen detailed
to the House of Detention for duty.
Furthermore. 1t is obviously unjust to
impose the responsibilities of super
vision on privates who are allowed no
additional compensation for the extra
duties thus involved. But such Is the
status of affairs in the Woman's
Bureau. Congress has been appealed
TO as the only recourse for this unfair
discrimination.
Blanton Father Of Bill.
"In 1924 the policewomen intro
duced as amendment to the police
salary bill. a rider which was looked
upon favorably by Representative
Blanton of Texas, father Of the salary
bill. The policewomen. however, with
drew this amendment on the ground
that, If the salary bill was lost. the
men of the department, in their dis
tress, might hold the women respOn-
sible. 1t was not until the year after
the salary bill passed that the first
Woman's Bureau bill was introduced
in the Senate by Senator Smoot and
in the House by Representative Blan-
ton. This bill was voted favorably In
both District committees Of Congress
and was on the consent calendars.
However. although a canvass of the
House indicated an overwhelmingly
Maryland. as the sole objector, held
1t up. This was the end of the session
and Congress adjourned without TAX
ing further action.
Undaunted by this disbursement
friends of the bill did not cease their
efforts AT the next session of Con
gress. in December, 1925, they prompt
y re-introduced the measure with few
changes suggested by local judges and
lawyers. Senator Arthur Capper in.
troduced 1t in the Senate and Repre-
sentative Ernest r. Gibson of Yer.
mont in the House. The bill itself was
written by the Senate legislative
counsel, lawyers who draft most of
the Senate bills in order. to facilitate
the work of the Senators, and who
act as legal advisers. They were given
the manual OF the Metropolitan Police
Department, the District regulations,
the District Code and other documents
which would enable them to formulate
the principles Of law that would make
possible the functioning of the
Woman Bureau, both within the Pc
lice Department and the community,
without conflict Of function or All.
thority.
Functions i'm Manual.
THE minimum standards in the
bill for the admission OF women to
police service are those already Of
record with the United States Civil
Service Commission, and the func-
tons prescribed for the policewomen
| are those set forth in the police man.
| ual. These standards and functions
| were adopted in 1922 by the police
chiefs at their San Francisco con.
ference az the minimum beIovv which