Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-20
PRATT'S REQUEST
PROVES PUZZLE TO
LIEUT.. VAN Wrinkle
Declares She Has Received
No Communication From
Police Chief.
DENIES CRITICIZING
BUREAU OR SIMMONS
Major, in Memorandum, Refuses to
Reveal Kind of Explanation
He Is Seeking,

Declaring that she had received no
communication from Maj. Henry G..
Pratt, superintendent of police, asking
her to explain why she had violated
police regulations in addressing COM
munication to Chairman Simmons Of
the House subcommittee on District
communications without sending it
Nina Van Wrinkle, head of the Wom-
ems Bureau, was puzzled over the sit
uation today.
Meanwhile, Mai. Pratt declined to
reveal Just what kind of an explanation
he was seeking from Lieut. Van Wrinkle
in a memorandum dispatched last
night, declaring that it was the bust
ness of no one but the Commissioners.
It was learned that Representative
Simmons and Mai. pratt had conferred
concerning the letter written to the
former by Mrs. Van Wrinkle and an
other letter written to Mai. Pratt by
Representative Simmons following its
receipt.
Mrs. Van Wrinkle asserted she had
written Simmons on stationary of the
International Association of Policewom-
en- and not as member of the Police
Department.
Il didn't criticize Mr.. Simmons" she
declared. 81 merely offered him the
facts. Why should have any hard
feelings against the House sub-com-
Mittee because feel If they for once
had the facts they would be our friends.
have every reason to expect them to
be our friends.
Aimed at Certain Agents.
81 was not criticizing the Bureau
Of its officials. myself believe fact
finding group Is necessary. However,
was criticizing some of the methods of
persons in the bureau who used un-
ethical means through intellectual dis
honesty to attack my personal, official
and professional work and try to poison
the minds of my subordinates by brow
beating them. OF this have the evil
dence and the names Of those involved"
Mai. Pratt intimated this morning
there was nothing more for him to say
or do about the matter until Lieut.. Van
Wrinkle had made a formal reply to his
demand for written explanation.
1.-THE request was only sent last night,
%, naturally, it is too early yet for me
to hear from her" he said. when
her reply is received 1t will be given due
consideration, of course, and its nature
probably viii determine what action, If
any, Is to be taken"
Mai Pratt reiterated his contention
that he was concerned with the reg
ulations In the police manual forbid
ding members of the department to go
over the head of the department to
Congress with formal recommendation
or complaints. He so explained the
matter to Lieut.. Van Wrinkle late yes
terday at a conference In the District
Building. Mai. Pratt would not other
wise discuss what took place at the con-
ference, although Lieut.. Van Wrinkle Is
understood to have explained that the
letter to Mr.. Simmons became public
Inadvertently. Maj. Pratt also expressed
this same belief.
Cites Department Rules.
Referring to the letter which may or
may not result in disciplinary action
Maj. Pratt said that Mrs. Van Wrinkle
Is entitled to whatever opinion she may
have as are other members Of the de-
partsnent within the proper limits.
II am not concerned with any defense
OF the Bureau Of Efficiency" he said.
II am not concerned with any defense
OF the committee headed by Mr.. Eim-
mons. am not concerned with any
EFFORT TO punish Mrs Van Wrinkle be-
cause she had the tenerity to criticize
either or both the Bureau Of Efnciency
or the House subcommittee on appro-
pI11Clons. Every American citizen Is
fully entitled to express any criticism he
may feel Of any agency Of his Govern
nnent. There Is no gag rule in the
Police Department.
"The rules Of the department, how
ever, prescribe the manner in which
certain things are to be done. The
Police Department does not want to be
IN position where it is publicly pic
tured as attacking the committee Of
Congress headed by Mr.. Simmons. The
department does not feel that that COM
mittee has been antagonistic to it.
"As head of the Police Department,
feel that the committee has given
unequivocal expression of its sentiments
toward the department and its opinion
Of the police force in the appropriations
bill 1t reported to the House. From
what have been told Informally be-
lieve that the whole matter will be
settled without much more ado"