Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-03

retain nine judges permanently, that
can be arranged at the appropriate
time.
Il cannot lay too much emphasis on
the effect Of congestion in the courts
on enforcement of the criminal laws,
including prohibition. The District Of
Columbia is not the only place where
such conditions exist. There are four
main cogs in the machinery for the
enforcement of criminal laws: first,
the agencies authorized to discover Of
lenses and obtain evidence: second, the
prosecuting attorneys who use the evil
dence thus prepared for them and try
the cases in court; third. the courts and
judicial machinery for the trial OF the
cases, and finally, the prison system, IN
Guiding probations and controls.
All OF these agencies, especially the
first three, must be adequate. If any
one of them Is overloaded and clogged,
1t slows down the others. The United
States attorneys charged with the duty
OF prosecuting the cases in court cam
not be effective II the courts are not
able promptly to dispose of the cases
Likewise, the police of the District and
the agents of the prohibition unit Of
the Treasury, whose duty it is to detect
offenders, collect the evidence and lay it
DtlOlC Vic OhllcO oIdCcS hJJOTuey, are
not encouraged by delay of year OF
more in the trial Of the cases after they
are prepared.
1T is for these reasons I suggest
that every doubt be resolved in favor
of any step which tends to expedite the
business Of the court. With respect to
the matter of quarters for two addi-
tional judges, I am informed that one
court room already. has been provided
and there Is space in the present court
house which could Immediately be ar
ranged to accommodate a second Judge
In that connection I am incloSing .
report from the chairman of a COM
mittee of the local bar association.
believe bills authorizing additional
judges have already been drawn and
introduced.
Documents Sent Along.
II am inclosing documents showing
the extent Of the business transacted
by the Municipal and Police Counts of
the District Of Columbia. The Police
Court OF the District, operating under
great difficulties, is diSposing of a vast
amount OF business, including many mi
nor cases arising under the national
prohibition act. The great need of the
Police Court is for enlarged quarters.
Those now provided are inadequate and
all corridors and offices to which the
public has access are badly congeSted
when the court Is in session.
II am informed that the plan for q
municipal center in the District. as
part of the District development, will
care for this, and that legislation has
been enacted authorizing the acquisi-
ton of sites and that some appropria-
tons have been made for that purpose
but none yet for the building which
is to house the Police Court, and tina,
the present plans do not contemplate
appropriation for building to house
the Police Court until the fiscal year
1882. On this basis, 1t may be four OF
five years before adequate quarters are
provided for the Police Court.
There Is not much use considering
any enlargement OF personnel in that
court before additional space becomes
available. Possibly the District Com
miSsioners can arrange for additional
space to relieve the congestion pending
| construction Of the permanent build
ing"
The Attorney General in closing his
letter made the following reference to
the need for legislation TO regulate the
sale of securities:
While that is not a matter directly
within the provinces Of the depart
ment we touch 1t indirectly. This de-
partment Is at times required to in
VeStigate and prosecute, and the courts
of the District to consider transactions
OF this nature alleged to violate the
statutes relating to use of the mails
and other Federal penal acts. Pre-
vention Is better than prosecution, and
1t would tend to relieve the burdens OF
ri IF ho nj ~
the District If legislation were enacted
similar to that adopted in many States
for the supervision OF such business"
Could Issue Warrants.
The proposed local dry law would
give the judges OF the Police Court as
well as United States Commissioners the
authority TO issue arrest warrants for
violations either of this new bill, the
national prohibition law, or any other
Federal law affecting the liquor traffic
1t also authorizes any police officer OF
the District or any Federal prohibition
agent to. serve warrants OF arrest and
search issued under this proposed bill
and provides that any officers may ar
rest offenders without a warrant
where such arrests are sanctioned by
law" that is for an otfenSe committed
in the presence of the officer or where
lie HAS IcdSOIldUIC CAUSE W OClLCNC IAldl
felony had been committed.
The memorandum of the Attorney
General explains that the department
has left out of the draft of the bill sub
mitted today proposed section which
would have permitted procurement of a
warrant to search a private dwelling
where "a still or diStilling apparatus is
unlawfully set up or being used within,
or intoxicating liquor is unlawfully de-
livered thereto or removed therefrom."
The memorandum explains that this
has been omitted because such an eX-
tension Of the search warrant provisions
Of existing law would, it is believed. meet
with general public disfavor, would re-
suit in the search of homes of persons
not commercially engaged in dealing in
liquor, and subject the homes in the
District of Columbia to searches not
sanctioned elsewhere"
Another section of the bill author ICES
the Treasury to turn over to the Dis
trict Commissioners vessels or vehicles
forfeited for violations of the National
Prohibition law. to be used locally in
the enforcement of the new bill.
The bill fixes special penalties for fur
nishing liquor to a minor in the Dis
trict. for a first offense, from $500 to
81 ZOO and imprisonment for not less
than 80 days or more than three
months. Heavier penalties are specified
for second and subsequent offenSes.