Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-12-22
DIVIDED
/. ON DEATH PENALTY
Proposal to Suspend Hanging
as Crime Curb Five Years
StirS Press.

special Dispatch to The Star.
LONDON, December 22.-Britain u
upset-not that 1t is a new experience,
but it is certainly odd these days-for
1t is proposed that hemp ropes are no
longer the orthodox way of ending the
careers of any Of the murderers the
country may produce. Following the
report of the Select Committee on Cap
ital Punishment of the House of Com.
mons to public here began to show its
true temper-the hanging of murderers
still was wanted, 1t was evident-for
each important paper mirroring public
opinion Immediately showed its SYM
pathy with the six Conservative menu
bers who, revolving from the majority's
opinion, withdrew from the group try
ing to ascertain the facts on capital
punishment.
Just what effect the highly exagger-
ated cables from America describing the
hectic life of alien gangs In New York
and Chicago had on English life would
be hard to say, but 1t Is quite safe to
declare that conditions in the States
had at least some effect on the decision
OF the committee. Britishers, however,
do not seem to feel any fear of hanging
as the best method Of curbing violent
crime, and If the report Of the commit
tee is any indication, otherwise urge
long solitary imprisonment for the rest
of the natural life" as the best method
of cooling of criminal tendencies of
the homicidal percentage Of the popula-
ton.
Offers Substitute for Hanging.
The committee seems to think the best
way OF ending the increasing toll of
murders IN the United Kingdom Is 10
sentence the perpatrator to life irnpris-
onment and hard labor rather than
hanging, believing the former sentence
Is really more drastic than the latter.
Under the British prison system many
murderers would prefer the shorter drop
70 oblivion, for hard labor in this coun-
try is not so soft al all.
The most significant thing about
Inns report, however. Is the cool recep-
tlon OF the press, which, when taking
the trouble to editorialize at all. seems
10 advance sour attitude that is all
wrong. However, although much oppo-
sltlon Is being developed against the
non-party bill, there is definite feel
ing in the lobby of the House of Com
mons that 1t will pass, for many mem
bers OF the House, regardless Of party
productions, seem to favor the bill.
The real clash on the committees
recommendations is on the suggestion
that the death penalty of hanging for
murder should be suspended for a Pc
Rod OF five years. With an exagger.
ated sense Of national security Britain
has accepted this premise-with reser-
vatlons. The committee wants Britain
to abolish the death penalty for five
years just as an experiment. The judg-
ment seems to be that Parliament ac-
cepts the idea without superfluous COM
ment: 1t Is an experiment to human
lie the British people" Nevertheless,
it must be admitted that the commit
tees report is one of the most surpris-
ing, as well as the most unusual, reports
ever collated here.
Predicts Halt in Hanging.
Since the report was only actually
carried out by the casting of the vote
by the chairman, Rev. James Barr,
M. P. for Motherwell, and there Is q
great deal Of dissatisfaction as a result,
yet there is good ground for saying
that nobody will be hanged in England
in the next five years. On the other
hand, while 1t is safe to say there is
wide dissatisfaction - ostensibly - it Is
equally safe to say that England is
looking for a new criminal code the
nature of which is not yet known, but
which the so-called progressive" MEM
bers of Parliament, irrespective of party,
include in their innumerable series q
programs.
While deriding the so-called pro-
gressives, the great London papers do
not find anything better than blue pen
ellis for demolishing the work of those
who have tried to ascertain what should
be done with criminals
Newspapers Say Little.
Most of the papers cannot even find
room for a leader on a subject. Yet
they all support the death penalty as
it seems to be a more or less standard
lied part of European psychology.
Therefore, at least so far as the com
mission is concerned, it seems the
House is called on to vote-ostsnsibly
favorahly-upon the physical relation
ship which is positive. This is unusual,
to say the least. Yet more and more 1t
seems to become q constructive phase
of the ever-changing British race.
(Copyright, 1930)