The Washington times., 1930-03-26
REPORT
ASKS POLICE
SHAKE-UP
CONTINUED From PAGE -

existing crime conditions"
Sometime ago." continued
Representative Gibson, I'VE pre-
sented information to the police
department, citing various
gam b ling establishments in
Washington, and we even made
out a map showing their IOca-
ton. 1t is true that some of
these gamblers were closed up,
but they merely moved around
the corner or in the same pre-
cinct, and the situation today
seems little improved, 80 far as
gambling is concerned.
Every police department needs
reorganization at some time, and
this statement Is not in itself 6
criticism of the local police de.
partment. Crime in this country,
as well as in this city. is ram.
pant. 1t is more or less or.
ganized. I admit that it takes
some time to build up an efficient
police department-there was an
evolution spreading over about
100 years affecting Scotland Yard
in London. But this city has SO
to so murders annually with a
population Of around 100000.
London with population OF
approximately 100000 taking in
all its territory, has a murder
average Of 18 a year, and most
Of them are punished. Paris
and Berlin, cities OF far more
population than Washington, have
about so a year each"
Preventive Work Needed
THE number Of arrests does
not spell the efficiency of any
police department in Washington
or elsewhere. Efficiency in Lon
don comes through ability in pre-
ventive work, and for that reason
1 think that a woman's police
force in Washington is a good
thing, because I think that is
preventive.
"On the whole, I think we are
getting a little better results. We
are going to have a new board
of District Commissioners.
think I am safe in saying that
President Hoover Is determined
to have an honest and efficient
government in the National
Capital. He knows conditions
here.
Without mentioning, but re-
verting to the three-year investi-
CATION of the District government
by the District subcommittee,
Representative Gibson said:
I'VE did find that one mem
Der Of the Board Of Commission
ers was selling hardware from a
store in which he was Interested
to the District government in
large quantities. He is no longer
a Commissioner.
Points to Past Conditions
I'VE also found that another
then District Commissioner had
SO organized things that he was
being appointed as guardian Of
various wards in the Government
hospital for the insane and had
received fees running into some
thing like 100000, as I recall.
He has resigned long ago.
I'VE also found that there
were certain things in the traffic
bureau that needed correction,
and the then traffic director was
denoted. On the whole, I think
that things are getting better in
the District, but there are many
improvements that this new
District committee may bring
about, and I recommend them
to YOU"
Representative carver Of
Georgia, interjected a criticism
that judges in the District seem
to him doling out entirely too
lenlent sentences to bootleggers
here. Representative Gibson had
Just said that only SO members
OF the Police Department are in.
vested with full prohibition en-.
torcement powers, and recon.
mended that every member of
the police force be made a full,
tledged prohibition agent.
I don't see what good it does"
said Representative Tarver, to
give all this additional authority
to police, If the judges are going
to let bootleggers off with sus,
pended jail sentences and small
fines, and that is my observation
OF the practice in WASHINGTON.
In this view Representative
TarVer was supported by Repre-
sentative McClintock of Ohio,
who said he thought the District
Committee should sponsor legis-
lation to give every local police
man full authority to raid in
prohibition cases.
80 Typewriter Pages
Included in the mass of data
turned over to the District Com
mittee by the former Gibson sub
committee was a brief of nearly
80 typewriter pages prepared by
Superintendent Hecry G. Pratt
and Assistant Superintendent w.
S. Shelby covering every function
of the Metropolitan police and
entitled Recommendations for
Additions and improvements