Evening star., 1931-12-15
TRADE BOARD ASKS
DRASTIC ARMS LAW
Bill Providing 48.Hour Delay
Before Completing Weapon
Sale Urged.

Enactment of new and more string
ent law for the District regulating the
sale and possession of dangerous
weapons, as drafted by spokesmen for
various interested groups, was urged
last night by the Public Order Com
mittee of the Washington Board Of
Trade
BY unanimous vote, the committee
Recommended that the trade body ap-
prove the new draft of the measure and
seek support of the District Commis-
SlOnerS for its enactment at this session
of Congress
Rufus Pearson, chairman of a special
group which has had the matter under
study reported that spokesmen for the
National Rifle Association, the Police
Department, the District Corporation
COunselS office and his committee all
favored provisions of the new draft.
License and Sale Fixed.
The bill provides for the licensing of
the sale and possession of weapons;
delay of 48 hours before delivery of
weapons purchased, SO that police may
investigate the records of prospective
purchasers; and imposition of increased
penalties for persons convicted Of
crimes while armed.
After final action on this matter, the
meeting WAS Lullleu 4llJO dl lllSplI d.
tional session, with members and guests
voicing unstinted praise of the manner
in which the police of Washington
handled the recent demonstration Of
tha army of 1900 sclf-Styled hung
marchers."
William Tyler Page. former clerk OF
the House of Representatives, who wit
messed the arrival of the agitators from
n window of the Capitol, declared the
work of the police force was won
derful demonstration of efficiency" He
was struck, he said, by the precision and
order in which the marchers were cor
rallied by the police into space on the
Capital grounds where they could be
easily handled
Asserting that such organizations are
aided and abetted by the Soviet of
Russia and ARE enemies of our form
of Democracy and American Ideals he
bespoke enactment of a bill, which he
and Representative Fish of New York
have just drafted, providing for action
by the Department of Justice against
any unlawful activities of communists
in this country
Frank Morrison, secretary of the
American Federation of Labor. said he
was satisfied the recent march of the
hundreds Of agitatorS upon Washington
was initiated by the Russian Commun-
lists concluding that when the depres-
sion is over the ranks Of the radicals
will be greatly thinned
Maj Gen Herbert B. Crosby, police
commissioner, said Washington always
has had a police force of high quality
but that he was glad it had effectively
demonstrated its merit
Executives Praised
Gen. Pelham D. Glassford, superin-
tendent of police planned the re
ception" for the marchers, in consulta-
tion with Inspectors Frank S. w. Burke,
E w. Brown, Albert Headley and
others, but it was success because Of
the intelligent action of each of the
hundreds of policemen, Gen. Crosby
said
One wrong move on the part of one
policeman" said Gen. Crosby, might
easily have precipitated the rumpus
that the crowd of demonstrators were
seeking here"
Praise for the work of the police also
came from Odell S Smith, chairman
of the public order committee; George
w. Offutt, president of the Board of
dent; J. Harry Cunningham, treasurer;
E. c. Snyder, United States marshal;
Gen. John A. Johnston, former Dis
trict commissioner; and Charles Bates,
who presented resolution of COM
mendation which was adopted.
The committee presented to Capt.
Taylor Branson, leader CT the United
States Marine Band, a silk American
flag in appreciation for the services
Of tie band ct the annual Firemen-
Police benefit base ball game on Labor
day
Reports were submitted by Harry H.
R. Helwig on the Forthcoming Mid
winter dinner of the trade body and
by Milton F. SchWab on the member
ship committee work.