Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-15

If the cost to the American people
of two phenomena of their civilliza-
ton could be saved, the amount Of
that cost for single year would pay
OF the National debt with a healthy
balance left over. These two phenom-
ena are crime and disease.
The question Of the degree of pre-
Variability Of crime and disease is open
to debate. Some students hold that
crime in many of its aspects is q
modern civilization, while others de-
clare that it is abnormal and is mark
of failure of civilization. There Is,
perhaps. more difference of opinion on
the preventability of crime than Of
disease. Modern medical science, and
especially the development of SANTA
ton, seems to indicate that much dis
ease Is preventable.
The total cost of crime is practically
incalculable. Crime has indirect ef-
fects, reaching oftentimes far into the
future. The immediate cost in damage
to persons and property may be eStt-
mated, but no table has been compiled
which can assess the full ultimate cost
Indeed, it might be considered as
infinite
Take the cost of murder, for example
A murderous assault may destroy the
life of some individual of tremendous
potential value. There is difference Of
opinion concerning the aSsaSSinatio
Of President Lincoln, for instance. Some
diSpaSsionate observers of his career
have suggested that the Great Emanci-
pator achieved his greatest human
value as a symbol by having been cut
of at the apparent zenith of his career
Another view is that had his life been
spared the huge damage and loss re-
Sulting from the muddled period of
the reconstruction could have been
saved. His leadership, it is asserted
would have resolved the discordant
elements of the postwar days. fore
stalled the organization of the Ku Klux
Khan, prevented the wholesale confisca-
ton and often wanton destruction
of property in the Southern States.
No man can be certain that either
estimate of the event is the true one.
1t Is certain, however. that in the nor
NAL course Mr.. Lincoln would have sur
vived for many years Of public useful
ness.
The Baumes Commission Of New York
State has sought to make an estimate
of the immediate cost of crime in the
United States. The estimate covers
crimes Of violence to life and property
and not financial crime. The commits.
sion places a figure Of $4,000, 000, 900 a
year on this cost for recent years. AS
the population increases the cost adj
vances, because the number Of crimes
increases.
Losses Through Dishonesty.
Surety companies figures furnish one
good index to the extent Of losses aris-
ing from financial crime. Such COM
panies put up bonds for persons
charged with financial responsibility.
Such persons include bank tellers, CASH
iers, postmasters, fiduciaries, trustees
and many types of contractors. It is
honesty insurance. The employee usually
pays the premium, although sometimes
the employing company pays. At any
rate, If the employe defaults or en-
beetles the surety company pays the
loss up to the amount covered in the
contract. Frequently, too, the insurance
company takes charge of the prosecu-
ton of the defaulter.
Losses due to embezZlement run to
SIPS 100000 a year. OF course, there
are many cases in which an employee
intrusted with funds Is not covered by
insurance Of this type. Partnership en-
beZzlements are numerous and it is the
exception for one partner to require an