Evening star., 1928-04-03
GANG FENCES HIT
IN HOUSE MEASURE
Interstate Law to Recover
Stolen Goods Needed. Com
mittee Told.

A drive on Congress Tor the passage
OF bill to prohibit the sending and
receipt Of stolen property through in-
terState and foreign commerce was be-
gun today before the House judiciary
committee by prominent lawyers.
Newton D. Baker, former Secretary
of War. acting chairman OF the Ma
tional Crime Commission, opened the
teStalnoslp OF hackers of the measure,
which was introduced by Representative
La Guar0ia of New York He ex-
planned that the commission is CO.
ordination of crime preventing agencies.
Mr. Baker informed the committee that
this measure is the only bill now before
Congress which the commission actively
favcrS
Aimed az Fence"
Aimed particularly at the fence" ="
the receiver Of stolen goods, Mr., Baker
asid the bill. If enacted, would pSnalize
interstate trsffic in stolen Sooos. ne
called attention 10 the extent to which
the fence" is the minister to and
breeder Of stolen goods. addins that
with the advance of rapid transporta-
ton the activities of the fence" have
grown and that il is with relative safety
that stolen goods are disposed OF in
areas other than that OF the seat OF
the crime.
Nr. Baker explained that in the use
Of an interstate agency the Federal
Government became involved ana II
there is Federal penalty that VIII
greatly increase the reduction OF these
setting rid of stolen booty
Chairman Dyer of Missouri, pointed
cut that there is . growing tendency
among the people to oppose the Great
ins OF felonies by Congress. and that
complaints have been received from
the Federal judiciary that we are load
ing them I'd with work that ought 70
b. dealt with in the State courts.
Representative La Guardis pointed
cut that the local prosecutor is faced
Eith difficulties in obtaining evidence
In a distant section of the country and
II there is no local plaintiff pressing the
claim.
Some Of the members Of the commit
tee took exception 10 section OF the
bill which they said would make 1t pos
kiSie for one 10 be prosecuted in KAN
kss where goods have been stolen In
New York and transported through
Kansas to California. Representative
Stobhs of Massachusetts, suggested the
difhculty that an innocent man might
be epprehen6ed.
Has Wide support.
This bin has the widest support Of
any piece of like legislation, MFR. Baker
told the commiSt Ste He read telegram
from william Allen White. the Kansas
editor. who said that he never saw
such unanimity Of opinion in favor OF
. piece Of legislation.
Mr. Bakers evidence was taken up
hy J. Weston Allen, former attorney
the American Bar Association. He had
placed in the record $50 editorials from
newspapers over the country favoring
the legislation. as well as letters from
editors, city prosecuting attorneys AND
some attorneys general OF the States
william Green, president OF the
American Federation of Labor. said that
his organization is deeply interested IN
this legislation and called attention to
the goinf that the trafhc in stolen
goods has grown to alarming proper
aions and has reached half billion
dollars and this Is only the beginning.
Mai. Richard Sylvester, representing
The international Association Of Police
Chiefs. for 81 years head Of the Wash
1nston Police Department declared that
the automobile affords a great oppor-
tlnify for the transportation OF stolen
Goods and that through this legislation
the police would like 20 have assistance
m bringing the people who knowingly
receive stolen goods 20 justice
The committee next heard Lev Hahn.
national director Of the National Dry
goods Association. who asserted that
the legitimate retailer Is called upon
n compete with the man who pays next
10 nothing for stolen goods.
This bill can't injure any one who
Eets goods honestly" Mr.. LaGuardia
E1sisted. Almost all stolen goods
transactions are on a spot cash basis. "