Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-21
LAW ENFORCEMENT
BOARD IS URGED
Institute for Government Re-
search Asks Capitalization
of Responsibility.

In advocating a department of law
enforcement as one of the most import
ant changes in the District government
made in It's recommendation, the Insti-
tute for Government Research of the
Brookings Institute says that Gin the
case of no general function of govern
ment is the matter of departmental Or
ganization more important than in that
of law enforcement"
The report, just published. emphasizes
that not only is performance Of this
function the most fundamental task
confronting a government but it is one
in regard to which it is peculiarly de-
sirable that responsibility for it's per-
Torrance shall be definitely located
In the government of the District OF
Columbia this primary requisite OF
efficient organization and administration
is violated says the report. written by
Laurence F. Schmeckebier and William
F. Willoughby.
Responsibility Here Divided.
"There is no one officer or agency
which can be held responsible for the
manner in which the laws are en-
forced" the report explains: this re-
sponsibility is divided among four Off
GERS or agencies-the United States dis
trict attorney, the corporation counsel,
the coroner and the police-each Of
whom has an independent status and
is responsible for but part of the work
to be performed in insuring a proper
enforcement of the law.
The correction of this condition of
affairs" the report continues, rs to be
found in the creation of a department
of law enforcement, which will be CO.
ordinate in rank and importance with
the other departments of the District
Government and have at its head di-
rector, who will exercise superior au-
thority over all law enforcement
agencies and be responsible for the
manner in which they perform their
duties"
The set-up of the proposed depart
ment follows:
/. Office proper Of the director.
2. Bureau of civil affairs: (a) Off1ceI
proper of the chief solicitor or cor
poration counseD, (b) division OF
claims, Co division of land cases (ex-
animation of title. condemnation pro-
ceedings, leases. etc.; cd division Of
miscellaneous affairs.
3. Bureau of criminal affairs: (a)
Office proper Of the chief prosecuting
attorney, tb) division of medical ex-
aminationS (medical examiner, (c) di-
vision of criminal records and statistics
I'D division of police, (e) division OF
traffic. 10 division Of weights anc
measures.
Compares With Justice Department.
ut will be seen from this outline,
says the report, that the proposal fol
creation of this department 'contem.
plates giving to the District government
q general service of law enforcement
analogous In some respects to that pos
seSsed by the Federal Government in it,
Department of Justice. This depart
ment, in addition to the Office proper
of the head of the department, will EN-
brace two major bureaus, one dealing
with civil matters and the other with
criminal matters, with the present cor
poration counsel as chief of the bureau
of civil affairs and relieved of all re.
sponsibility for the handling of crimi
nal cases. The new officer to be created
would be known as prosecuting attor'
ney, who will be the head Of the bureal
of criminal affairs"
The duties of the bureau OF civil al
fairs would not differ, materially from
those now discharged in part by thu
corporation counsel.
Relief of the United States distric
attorney Of all duties and responsible
ties concerned with law enforcement II
the District, except those constituting
a part Of the duties of United States
district attorney in other jurisdictions
is an essential requirement OF thi