Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-05
POLICE FUND RAISE.
WILL GET SUPPORT
Senator Capper Favors Sum
Officials Hold Is Needed.
Against Gas Tax.

Chairman Capper of the Senate Dis
trict committee announced last night
that he would support whatever in
crease in appropriations for police pro-
lection that District officials deemed
necessary shortly after Representative
Holiday, Republican, of Illinois had
declared that the Police Department
had information indicating that per-
sons other than rum runners are using
cars equipped with smoke screens. Rep
resentative Holiday, in speech in the
House last week, defended Policeman
Clyde o. Rouse of the eleventh precinct,
/ who was held to the action of the grand
Jury for killing the driver of a liquor
car.
Senator Capper also announced his
vigorous opposition to the suggestion OF
higher gasoline tax.
washington is the Capital of the
worlds greatest Nation and should be
maintained as SUCH" Senator Capper
said. "Its highways and its police de-
uartment should be maintained or
brought to a point equaling the best IN
the world, If further funds are needed,
the Federal Government should con-
tribute its fair and equitable share OF
the cost"
The Senator said that whether the
District should have 100 additional po-
licemen and 30 additional detectives as
lust recommended by Maj. Pratt lis, of
course. a matter that will have to be de-
termined by the Commissioners and the
members of the House and Senate ap-
propriations committee. after careful
consideration"
Favors More Funds, II Needed.
However" he continued, Il believe
that those who are in charge OF the
Police Department and in daily contact
with its work and problems are in the
best position to advise as to the make
up and size of the force required to
give the Nations Capital adequate po-
lice protection"
If more money is required for better
police protection it should be given
promptly at the regular session in De-
cember, said the chairman Of the Dis
trict committee
But, in no event." he added, should
the necessity for additional expendi-
lures on this account from the general
funds of the District be made an excuse
for increasing the gasoline tax and
thus. saving part of the general fund
now spent for street repairs and main
tenance. The motorists of the District
are now paying all that they justly can
be charged for street work. .
Through the present gas tax Of 2
cents gallon, they paid to the District
more than 1,142, 900 during the last
fiscal year. Total street expenditures
were less than So 5000, 900, including the
grading and paving of new streets,
repair and maintenance work. Through
the operation of the Borland act, the
property owners of the District paid an
additional sum last year of $260,OO0 Tor
street work, and many of such taxpay-
ers are also contributors through the
gas tax to street upkeep expenditures.
There is no Justification in theory or
fact for increasing the gas tax, what
ever the needs of the general fund may
be for increased police protection"
Need for Protection Increased.
Referring again to police problems,
Senator Capper pointed out that 1t is
easier to prevent criminal elements OF
the country from gaining footnold
here than to eradicate that class after
il has been permitted to establish 1tselI.
I'VE should move vigorously now 10
keep Washington from becoming a
haven for criminals" he went on, "and
if more police are needed for that pur-
pose, we can well afford to spend tne
money required for their salaries. WASH
ington has been growing at tremend-
GUS rate. 1t is a city of wealth and
easy of access. Therefore its need for
police protection has increased greatly
in recent years. / am especially i'm
pressed with Mai. Pratt's plan for bet
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