Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-12
BRIDE ASKS SPECIAL
D. c. PROBE BOARD
OF SIX MEMBERS
Group Would Work Under
Commissioners Su-
perviSOn.

! Creation of a special investig ting
i force independent of any department of
i the municipal government and operat-
ing directly under the District Com
missioners was urged today by Corpo-
ration Counsel William W. Bride.
The proposed force, Bride said. would
! relieve the Department of Justice of
making independent Investigations for
! the District. such as the present in
| quiry into alleged third-degree prac-
tees of the Police Department The
force, he declared, should be composed
of not less than six men trained in the
work and should conduct all inquiries.
! thus assuring Investigations free of
/ the interest and bias which might exist
if the investigators were attached to
any one department Of the municipal
government Bride declared there is a
serious need fer such a force.
| The existing police trial board pro-
cedure also was condemned by Bride
as almost partial" To correct this
condition, ne urged the Commissioners
to seek legislation at the forthcoming
| session of Congress to increase the pow
ers of both the police and fire depart
ment trial boards
Boards Lack Authority.
These trial boards now. Bride point
ed out are without authority to compel
the attendance and testimony of wit
nesses. He said it is absolutely neces-
sary to clothe the boards with power
to require the attendance and testimony
OF witnesses before such boards under
penalty of contempt If these bodies are
to have public respect.
Mr.. Brides recommendations are
contained in his annual report, which
he submitted TO the Commissioners
| while they were at work on plans for
the creation of a special civilian board
to consider an act on the recent grand
jury report recommending the REIN
statement of former Policeman OrVille
Staples and punishment of those re-
sponsible for his removal from the force
in 1923.
Under the cumbersome procedure
! required under existing law. trial
boards are without authority to compel
the attendance and testimony of wit
! nesses." Bride declared. 1T is true
that on appeal by the head of the de-
! partment involved subpoena issued
out of the Police Court can be OBJ
tanned and the attendance of the party
can be secured. but there is grave doubt
whether the giving Of testimony can
be compelled. 1t is almost partial
procedure.
Trained Personnel Urged.
And while am upon this subject 1
strongly urge the establishment Of an
investigating body with trained inveSti-
gators independent Of any department
of the local government. to operate
under the direction of the Commits
sioners It is highly unfortunate that
it is absolutely necessary under our
present set-up and appropriations 10
| be required to go outside the local gov
eminent to have these Investigations
made by the Department OF Justice.
This department does not relish such
requests 1t comes only on rare oc-
casions and then with great reluctance.
feeling, and properly so, that our local
government should conduct its own In
Iestigations.
Congress should be asked to give us
a body of not less than six men, trained
in the work. who will operate under
the direction of the Commissioners.
Thus the Commissioners will be able
! to conduct all inquiries, free from the
interest and bias which might exist
if their Investigations were attached to
any one department of the municipal
government. There is very much and
serious need for such body. If it is
used for no other purpose than for in
vestigations in condemnation matters,
the expense would be amply JUSTIFIED
but that would only be an incident IN
their actual use and value to the local
| government"