Evening star., 1928-03-05
Commissioners Plan Probe.

The Commissioners decided to make
their probe at a brief and informal
meeting at 10 o'clock this morning pre-
ceding their appearance before the Sen
ate subcommittee on appropriations.
which has the District appropriation
bill under consideration.
Friends OF the police superintendent.
their faith apparently unshaken IN IN
accusations, are rallylng to his SuppU.t {
Chief among them is Rev. William A
AbeInethy. pastor OF Calvary bApy...
Church and president OF the Cit.z- M
Service League for Law and O.uu..
which was organized primarily to aid
the Police Department IN the enforce
, ment OF the prohibition law. Maj,
HeSSe'S loyal SuDordinatcS in the Police
/ Department also actively prepared 10
aid hin III his defense
Maj. HesSe declined Ia comment on
the proposed Investigations or TO add
anything further to the statement he Is
sued Saturday afternoon announcing
that he welcomed iar and impartial
probe OF the Police Department under
his administration ana calling upon
B!anton 10 submit his charges to the
Commissioners.
The police superintendent. however,
has told friends that he had been in the
deliCateSScn store at Fifth and East
Capitol streets, where Blanton accused
him OF drinking, for the purpose of buy
ing cigarettes and sandwiches but that
the only liquid he drank In the place
vas soda pop
Regard Charges aS Serious.
The Commissioners regard the charges
against Maj. HeSSe as serious and an
nounced that they propose 10 "sift TO
the very bottom OF them" Preliminary
to tneir Investigation. they wrote 70
Blanton and Representative Gibson
chairman Of the subcommittee Of the
House District committee. asking them
for all information. atlidavitS, etc.
relating To the accusations at their
earliest convenience
The investigation OF the Commits
sioncts 1t was said probably will lake
the form OF trial at which Blatiion
VIII be invited TO renew his charges
and submit any evidence he n4ay lave
10 support them. An act Of Congress.
IL was pointed out. gives the Commits
SionerS authority to >it as trial board
TO ear charges against sub>r l:n'te
The letter sent by the CommHSluntr rs
10 Mr.. Gibson reaQ:
AT The session of your subcommittee
on The nitofnoo nMarch .. 1923, Ger
tain statements were made by Hon
orabie Thomas l.. Blunton. In re-
spect To testimony heretofore given by
witnesses before Your subcommittee re-
gafdlnB Illegal liquor traffic In the Dis
lfiCt oi Columbia. Al the conclusion
OF ms statement, which was made In
the presence OF two Of the Commits
sioncrs OF the District and the major
and superintendent OF police. the re-
quest was made that The Commission
eIs DC furnished with copy OF the
record Of such testimony and all intor~
nation which Your committee might
have IN respect TO the matters referred
To. We were advised that such iniorma~
tion would be furnished
According to the press. Representa-
tive Blanton ON March 5. 1923. made.
upon the floor OF the House. state
mcnts OF specific and grave nature
regarding the conduct OF the ma lor
and superintendent Of police. and also
statements regarding places III the Dis
trict or Columbia where, IL was alleged
Intoxicating liquors had been sold
Whether or not the matters referred
10 In Mr.. l;lanton's speech have been
presented To your subcommittee / am
not advised
Upon behalf of the Board Of Com
nilsaioileis ot Tie District of Columbia. !
respectfully request that there be tur-
nished to The Commissioners. ut thr
earliest convenience Of your committee
fnli transcript of the record OF the
testimony touching the matters herein
referred TO. IN we'll as copies Of any
hilidhFlta or other data or informal Ion
Wliich may De III Tie possession OF your
committee ms request Is made IN
order that the Commissioners may In
tnlilgently and promptly consider what
course may DE deemed proper IN the
premises"
The Commissioners made a similar
request of blantOn, but asked also that
| II either Information or data bearing on
The case reaches him THIS, too be
furnished them promptly
Just how hnon The Commissioners viii
! undertake their investigation could not
| be aaceiihIlicd. m they expect To sprnd
| the major portion of the week before
| the .ienate subcommittee on approptia &.
| tlols.
iiessc 10 Cite Records.
Mai ilcsse. 1t Was Indicated viii
| liHe iic records nf the department
under Hip administration To anAWcf the
| fhaiee oi tiiantnn that srtiuus rtIoft
| iias not bcun iundr 10 enforce the ptu~
| hibitiun law, Statistics already have
been complied by Lieut.. L. / A. Ed
wards giving tninlai ihon ut The ar
| rests for various otftnsea from 1898 to
| 1897 Inclusive,
Ihesa Aiatietics show that there we're
40 .aH more arrests III lD2n aud 100
during tbs administration Of Mai. Aeaas