Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-24
RILEY CASE STARTS
CAPPER STUDY OF
D. c. CHILD LAWS
Senate District Committee
Head Determining Need
for New Legislation.
KANSAN URGES STRICTER
FIREARMS RESTRICTIONS
Faulty Enforcement" of Liquor
and Gambling Laws Also to Be
Acted On, He Says.

Revelations in the case of little Edith
Riley, alleged to have been incarcerated
In closet in her hcme for long pc
RODS, have started Senator Arthur
Capper, chairman of the Senate Dis
trict Committee, studying the laws Of
the District to determine whether any
new legislation relating to child well
ware is needed.
He said today:
Il have kept myself informed through
the newspapers concerning the case of
little Edith Riley, who is said to have
been locked in a dark closet in her
home for several years until rescued
by a representative of the Woman's
Bureau of the Police Department.
VIII Act on Information.
There has been some discussion of
the part played by agents of the Board
OF Public Welfare in this case I do
not pretend to know at this time all
the details of the sordid story but
II there has been any negligence on
the part of any worker, am sure the
Welfare Board will deal summarily with
the offender. If further legislation is
required to protect the helpless of the
City of Washington from cowardly and
devilish cruelty, want to know it.
shall certainly make inquiries in this
direction and shall act on the informa-
ton I obtain"
The committee chairman said he
was glad the number of portable school
buildings Is diminishing as new perna-
nent buildings are completed, but he
added:
I'm my opinion one portable is lust
one too many Washington. Further
more, in the construction of modern,
well lighted school buildings, the Dis
tr1ct government should exercise every
care. Last Spring there were two ac-
cidents in school construction work,
when certain parts of uncompleted
structures collapsed. Those accidents,
I hope, will be the last we hear of in
the building of our schools"
Urges Firearms Regulation.
Urging the Importance of a law plac-
ing closer check on the sale of fire.
arms, Senator Capper said that earlier
this year he printed story in one of
his publications on the subject which
produced an immediate and widespread
response OF letters, some commencing
the proposal. some suggesting changes
and others opposing the movement.
1T Is my honest conviction, however,"
he said, that the District would be
greatly benefited by law regulating
adequately the sale of firearms
1T is not my purpose to drive the
firearms dealers out of business. It IL
not my intention to cause any incon-
venience to law-abiding citizens, but
do mean to introduce a bill to stop this
unrestricted traffic in small arms, and
I will urge its enactment at the COM
ing session."
Senator Capper declared that, in his
opinion, another condition open to cor
rection sis the faulty enforcement Of
the laws relating to prohibition and
gambling"
Speaks on Howell Bin.
During the Seventy-first Congress
the District Committee considered SEN
ator Howell's bill to provide for suitable
legal machinery for the enforcement of
prohibition" Chairman Capper OBJ
served.
II understand Senator Howell will re-
introduce his bill. AS for gambling,
there were two bills introduced by
favorably by the committee which
failed of enactment at the last Con-
gress. As these bills were carefully
drafted after consultation with the
District Attorney, the corporation coun-
sci and the Police Department, I be-
lieve they should be reintroduced and
enacted"
Renewing his belief in the advisa-
bility of street railway merger, pro-
vided the terms are fair to the public,
Senator Capper expressed hope of
favorable action, but does not know at
this time what proposal may come to
the committee.
Referring to the reappointment Of
Harleigh H. Hartman for another term
on the Public Utilities Commission,
Senator Capper said:
Hartman to Have Hearing.
Certain serious charges have been
made regarding Mr.. Hartman's record
as public servant. Before the Senate
can confirm this nomination, it will
probably be necessary for the District
Committee to hold fair and impartial
hearing on these allegations. Mr.. Hart
man will be given full opportunity to
answer the charges"
Senator Capper also mentioned the
credit union and the smal1-loanS bill
as measures to be considered by the
committee again at the coming session.
The Senator also announced he would
cooperate in putting forward legisla-
ton to eliminate alley dwellings, de-
claring that "the time has come when
Congress should take a hand in help
ing the District to rid itself of these
undesirable homes"