Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-19
RECORD Of HESSE
PRAISED At DINNER
Confidence Voiced by City
Leaders Despite Attacks
by Personal Critics.

Maj. Edwin B. Hesse can retire as SUI
perintendent of police with the assur-
ance that the citizens of Washington
recognize 1.-The ability, fidelity, efficiency
and courage" that marked his 35-year
career as a public servant, prominent
officials and civic leaders declared last
night at a testimonial rendered by the
public order committee of the Board
of Trade.
Maj. Hesse was told that despite the
attacks by some personal critics during
his administration of the Police De-
partment he will carry with him into
retirement the confidence, respect and
appreciation of the citizens of Wash
ington, whose faith in him was not
shaken by the 'unjustified" attacks by
those "traducers who hid behind their
immunity"
Coupled with the tributes that were
heaped upon Maj. Hesse were under
currents of resentment voiced against
the practice OF one or more members
of Congress who now and again laid
charges at the door of the police chief,
charges which members of the commit
tee asserted he had faced and wealth
cred.
Speakers denounced the "halo grab
| bers, character assassins and traducers"
who lent their official prestige to I'M
proved charges against the police chief
and his department.
Join in Paying Honors.
District Commissioners Dougherty and
Taliaferro, the three Assistant Engineer
Commissioners, Edgar Snyder, United
States marshal for the District, and
numerous prominent figures in trade
association activities, joined in paying
honors to Maj. Hesse.
Commissioner Dougherty said that his
| close association with the police chief
had demonstrated his worthiness. He
praised the full cooperation and good
advice" which Maj. Hesse had extended
to him and pointed out that Congress,
itself, had demonstrated confidence in
him by making him an assistant super
intendent of police at the time when he
served as chief clerk and property Of
f1cer of the department.
He spoke also of the many letters Of
confidence received by Maj HeSse,
many Of which are contained in book
let called words of Praise" which his
friends compiled Mr. Dougherty read
the statement which he had made to
the Gibson subcommittee of the House
as chairman of the Board of Commits
sionerS at the time when Maj. Hesse
was under congressional investigation.
this statement reads: 1.-THE position of
superintendent of police in Washington
is not an easy one and calls for ability,
fidelity and courage. It Is the opinion
of the Commissioners that Maj. Hesse
possesses these" Commissioner Dough-
erty added that the Commissioners have
no reason to change their opinions to-
day.
Commissioner Taliaferro in a brief
address said he was happy to attend the
testimonial rendered to Maj. Hesse.
Called Martyr to Attacks.
Joseph A. Burkart, vice chairman of
the committee and a former president
of the District Bar Association, charac-
terized Maj. Hesse as martyr" to re-
peated attacks
ANY man who has served the public
for IS years with the fidelity, efficiency
and success and for the comparatively
nominal salary that Maj. Hesse has"
he said, lis martyr. And when he is
subjected to the calumny and viliflca-
ton by traducers while hiding behind
immunity, it makes the martyrdom the
more outstanding" ~
Mr. Snyder told Of the cooperation
WAAASA1 was CAtEiiuC0 W tilC o
Office by the local police department
and declared Maj. Hesse was deserving
of all the tributes that he had received
what we need to do" he asserted,
is to sell our hammers and stop the
anvil chorus and, instead, applaud the
services of our police officers. The
office of the chief of police has become
a graveyard Of blasted hopes due to the
succession of recurring and unjustified
attacks made on the department. Chiefs
of police go out of Office with ideals and
hopes shattered due to the lack OF
appreciation for their services"
Others Pay Tributes.
Tributes were paid to Maj. Hesse also
by w. w. Everett, president Of the
| Board Of Trade; Ben T. Webster, presi-
dent OF the Washington Real Estate
| Board and secretary of the Board OF
| Trade; z. j. Murphy and George Pitt,
| first and second vice presidents of the
trade body; Matthew O'Brien, lawyer
and member Of the public order COM
mittee; the Assistant Engineer Commits
| sioners, Mai. Donald A. Dawson, MAI.
L. z. Atkins and Capt. II. G. White
hurst; Luther Linkins, Charles Morris,
Odell S. Smith, chairman OF the pubic
order committee; George Offutt, Official
of the American Automobile Association;
| John Saul, Rufus Pearson and DR..
Frank z. Gibson.
The committee presented Maj. Hesse
| with travelling bag and rendered MIS-
HesSe a large box OF flowers.