Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-22
ORGANIZED CRIME
HELD AIDED BY US.
Speaker Tells Commission
How Taxes and Fines Are
Systematized.

BY the Associated Press.
CHICAGO, May 22.-David Robinson.
public defender OF Oregon, assailed what
he called Government connivance with
organized crime" yesterday before the
American Crime Study Commission in
session here.
Mr. Robinson spoke specifically of the
practice of the United States Treasury
Department in demanding income tax
returns from vice resorts and their Wom-
an inmates
THE Internal Revenue Service is now
making a careful survey Of prostitutes
and landladies," he said. This check
is not for the purpose of terminating
their disease spreading activities. They
merely want to know how long the wom-
en- have been in business, whether they
have filed income tax returns. and if not
to demand a tax. If settlement is made
and the tax, plus interest, Is paid, the
Government assures these women that
no publicity of their method of liveli
hood will follow.
Threat Of Exposure.
Should woman resist this arbitrary
demand, however, which may amount
to extortion, she Is threatened with eX-
posture. If the woman is without money
to pay the whole sum at once, our
beneficial Government will permit her to
pay it in installments from current re-
ceipts.
LAS a lawyer, wish to comment
briefly on the relationship between a
certain type of attorney and the Incl
dence of crime. In nearly every large
city there are lawyers who are merely
business representatives of commercial
lied vice and crime. They are associated
with professional bondSmen in bust
ness venture to encourage and perpetu-
ate the existence Of crime for their
personal gain. They work hand in glove
with the police.
Let us follow a typical example Of
the way the system works:
"A bootlegger who has not yet bought
immunity from arrest will be taken
into custody. We will assume that the
evidence is of an actual sale of moon
shine. A large quantity of liquor is
discovered and destroyed or otherwise
disposed of. The arresting officer will
suggest to the defendant that so and
so is a good bondsman and that so and
so is lawyer who is successful with
his cases in court.
Fine Equivalent to License.
"If his suggestion is acted upon the
case is disposed of by agreement be-
tween the police, prosecuting attorney
and defense counsel by the payment of
an agreed f1ne, winch Is equivalent 10
license.
IF the sanction of the court is re-
quired, the arresting officer suffers a
strange loss of memory. Instead of a
large quantity of liquor and an actual
sale, the case becomes one of possession
only, and the evidence will be limited
to small bottle kept to be introduced
as an exhibit The culprit may have a
long record, but the policeman oblig-
ingly informs the court that he has
never heard of the defendant before.
THE result is the court imposes a
modest fine. The case is not ended
here. The policeman is entitled to his
split, which is paid by the lawyer. who
enjoys the reputation Of being success
full with his cases in that particular
court.
Should the suggestion of the ar
resting officer not be needed differ
ent state of facts is presented to the
court. All available evidence is intro
duced; the defendant is given SEN
tence in Jail, and the newspapers pub
fish this as an example of the efficiency
Of the police and court.