Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-29
Information Also Sought by
Representatives Simmons
and UnderhilI.
SMOKE SCREEN BATTLES
ANOTHER POLICE PURSUIT
Fumes Belched From Exhaust Of
Car Aid Suspect Early Today
to Elude Officer.

A few hours after an automobile
smoke screen saved another suspected
bootlegger from capture by pursuing
police, Maj Henry G. Pratt. superin-
tendent of police. today isued special
verbal order for a comprehensive sur
vey to determine the number Of casual
ties and accidents resulting from the
chase of rum runners in the last three
years.
The order directed the various pre-
cinct and bureau comma nders to COM
pile all statistics available on the police
pursuit of bootleggers and forwarded
to police headquarters as soon as is
practicable. The statistics are to cover
the three-year period. beginning with
May /, 1925.
Requests From Legislators.
While Mai. Pratt did not state in
the order. which was transmitted to
the precinct commanders via telephone.
the reason for the survey. it was learned
that Chairman Simmons. of the SUBJ
committee on District appropriations
and Representative Underhill, Repub-
lican of Massachusetts. member of
the House District committee, have
made separate requests of the Police
Department for detailed information re-
garding the number of policemen and
Of citizens vino have been killed or in
jlred as the result of police efforts to
enforce the prohibition law.
Both Representative Simmons and
Representative Underhill declined TO-DAY
to divulge the use to which tiley in
tend to put this information.
Representative Simmons asked for
the report on the number of policemen
killed or wounded in the performance of
duty the last five years and for a report
On the use OF smoke screens by Law vio-
lstors. both prior to and subsequent to
the recent killing of bootlegeer by .
policeman which caused discussion in
the House last Friday.
Representative Simmons request in
dlcates desire to be informed on the
necessity for policemen being equipped
with firearms and authority to Use tfer,
in self-defenss during the performances
OF their duties.
Representative Underhiirs reoues,
was for report on the number Of no-
llcenef1 and other citizens who have
oeen killed or injured by bootlesgers.
Smoke Screen Aides Escape.
The latest -chasing episode was
reported by Policeman c. y. Ripper
berger of the eleventh precinct who.
while on duty early this morning gave
chase to suspected whisky.laden car
and was forced TO abandon the pursuit
when it belched murky fumes from its
exhaust, forcing number of motorists
along the route to halt when the smoke
screen obScured their vision.
Ripperberger said he was riding in
a police machine near Benninr road
and Minnesota avenue when he sighted
a car containing three white men. THE
car was riding light when il went east
in the direction of Maryland" he said.
and when it returned 80 minutes later
the body was sagging on the springs.
suggesting 1t was laden with LIQUOR.
As soon as the suspected rum car
passed Benning road and Minnesots
avenue Ripperberger said he started II,
pursuit. but the opening Of the smoke
screen made 1t impossible for him to get
close to the machine and ne was forced
to abandon the chase at Twenty-sixth
street and Benning road.
Would Omit Record Of Applause,
An attempt to have expunsed from
the Congressional Record all references
TO applause in connection with last
weeks debate over the killing by
Policeman Clyde r. Rouse of Ottomer
Herman Fleming. liquor car driver,
failed today in the House.
Representative La Gusrdia. Repuhli-
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