Evening star., 1929-12-03
Sees Conditions
HereFarFrOm
Perfect.
UNITY ADVISED
TO CURB CRIME
Advocates Enlarge.
ment of Building
Program.

1.-THE District of Columbia should
be the model of city law enforce
ment in the Nation" President
Hoover informed the Congress in
his annual message to that body
today.
The President took occasion to
make recommendations for legis-
lation for the District which he
regards as necessary to an i'm
provement in conditions here. He
made no reference to the criticisms
leveled at the District by several
members of the Senate, who have
recently charged laxity in the en-
forcement of the prohibition laws
in Washington. Among the critics
of the National Capital law en-
forcement have been Senators
Brookhart of Iowa, Blease OF
South Carolina and Howell of
Nebraska.
President Hoover declared that, while
conditions here are much better than
in many other cities, they are far from
perfect"
Enlarged Police Powers Advised.
Among the remedies for the District
which the President proposes through
legislation are sharper definition and
an enlargement of the powers of the
District Commissioners and the police
of the District and legislation supple
menting the national prohibition act in
the Capital. He also refers to the con-
gestion OF criminal cases in the Supreme
Court Of the District and urges greater
cooperation between the District off,
cials and the prohibition officers of the
Federal Government.
The Presidents discussion Of the sit
uation in the District was part and
parcel of that section Of his message
dealing with prohibition and law en-
forcemente He said:
The District of Columbia should be
the model OF city law enforcement in
the Nation. While conditions here are
much better than in many other cities,
they are far from perfect, and this is
due in part TO the congestion of GRIM
inal cases in the Supreme Court of the
District, resulting In long delays. Fur
thermore, there is need for legislation
in the District supplementing the ma
tional prohibition act, more sharply de-
flning and enlarging the duties and
powers OF the District Commissioners
and the police OF the District, and OPEN
ing the way for better cooperation in
the enforcement of prohibition between
the District officials and the prohibition
officers Of the Federal Government. 1t
is urgent that these conditions be
remedied."
This portion of the Presidents mes
sage, referring to law enforcement con-
ditions in Washington, will be given
consideration, 1t is expected, by the Dis
trict of Columbia and judiciary COM
mittees of the House and Senate. The
probabilities are that bills will be draft
ed for introduction covering these mat
ters.
Wants Building Program Enlarged.
The President also urged that Con-
greSS provide IAN expedition and en-
largement of the program" of public
building in the District.
In the opinion of the President, the
SIS, 100000 now allotted by the Gov
ernment for erection of public buildings
in the District is not sufficient. Fur
ther he proposed that Congress author
ize earlier construction of the building
projects in the District. pointing out
that it would not only save the Gov
ernment much money in rents, but also
that the completion of the program
would add dignity to the celebration in
1882 of the bicentenuial of George
Washingtons birth.
Under the provisions of the various
acts of Congress" said President Hoover,
$500. 900 900 has been authorized for
public buildings and the land upon
which to construct them, being SIS, ,0O0-
600 for the District Of Columbia and
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