Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-07
@andering Washington.

IL Is rat1er unfortunate that in con-
nection with the proposal to name a
military officer soon to retire from ac-
tive duty, as Commissioner of the Dis
tr1ct the statement was made that it
was deemed desirable to appoint such a
man, as a guarantee that the Capital
Of the Nation shall be free of organized
crime. This statement has gone forth to
spread the impression that Washington
is today the scene of an exceptional de-
gree Of crime Of all sorts, that lawless-
ness is openly prevalent.
Yesterday in the Senate, when this
matter was under without
the slightest reference to the subject
matter of the debate-the following
language was used:
There are more murders, more crimes
Of rape and the like, more heinouS Of
lenses that have been committed in this
city which are still in the dark and I'M
solved. and more of those who have
committed the crimes who have never
been apprehended, than believe is the
situation in any other city in America
Why should not the President of the
United States have 2 military man here
IN charge OF the police affairs of the
District and try at least to give us de-
cent city in which we may live?
One of the easiest things in the world
Is to- make a sweeping comparative
statement, without the slightest basis
in fact. One of the most difficult things
is to cite comparative crime and punish
ment statistics. In the first place there
is mo such critter'' as statistics of
crime and punishment in the United
States The National Crime Commission
discovered that fact a couple of years
ago when 1t undertook to make a
Nationwide survey of lawbreaking and
its causes and penalties. In not one of
the forty-eight States is an accurate
record kept Of court proceedings. The
city figures of crime and punishments
are loose and susceptible of miSinter-
probation.
To say that Washington has more un-
solved and unpublished crime than any
other city in the United States is simply
TO make a gesture of condemnation
without the slightest proof. Perhaps the
memories of present-day critics of the.
Districts police organization and courts
do not run back to the time of Dorsey
Foultz the slayer, who many years ago
escaped justice by flight and who was
never found. So unusual was such a
happening that Dorsey Foultz became a
by-word, protracted, horrible. isolated
example of the failure of justice. In
later times, with a much-increased
population and a relatively diminished
police force, and likewise relatively
diminished court facilities, crime has
somewhat increased, and there has been
perhaps slightly larger number of I'M
solved crime mysteries and unpublished
violations of the law. The blame for
such condition, if blame must be
placed, lies upon Congress for its fail
ure to make adequate provision for the
necessary increase in both police force
and courts.
Washington does not relish the repute
that for forensic display or for personal
exploitation is given to it of being the
most debased, most criminal, most un-
safe city in the United States. Yet it
has no power to prevent this sort of
abuse. 1t can enter its protest, can con-
tinue to plead for more peacekeeping
agencies, more means for the prompt
administration of justice. 1t wants to
be the cleanest, safest city in the United
States. 1t cheerfully pays far more
than its equitable share of the cost of
administration to the end Of a faithful
enforcement of the laws. And it hopes
that the loose talk Of its critics, such as
that quoted from the Senate debate,
will not be accepted by the country as
gospel truth