Evening star., 1932-10-11
Repule..,ons for Petitioners.

Whine 1t might be argued that the
Commissioners and the superintendent
of police, whom they appoint. have
ample authority under existing laws and
regulations to deal with bodies OF
"marchers" who visit Washington
ostensibly to present claims or COM
plants to Congress, the realities OF the
recent past add strength to Gen Glass
ford's recommendation that Congress
consider more specific legislation to deal
with such situations.
While there are laws against va
srancy, neither the Commissioners nor
the superintendent Of police can lndict
several thousand citizens as vagrants,
and treat them thereafter as vagrants'
Ia the lack of positive evidence that
they do not have means OF supporting
themselves. While the practicabillty
of presenting a petition to Congress
may be open to serious doubt, neither
the chief of police nor the Commls-
sioners have the authority to prevent
the presentation of a petition. Wnlle
there are adequate regulations against
parading without a permit, practical
expediency often makes the grant Oh
a hermit the sensible method OF ham
ding marchers, for the grant OF the
permit offers some guarantee, at least,
that the paraders will conform to regu-
lations governing parade. And once
marchers have assembled in the Capt.
tai given the right to parade and
petition Congress, there is the problem
of providing them with place to stay
and seeing to their physical wants
while at the same time protecting the
community from dangers Of disease
and disorder before they leave town.
The length of time they are to be per-
mitted to remain Is another unsettled
question.
The Commissioners face an immedi-
ate difficulty owing to divided control
over areas in the Capital City. The
parks do not come under their juris-
diction, nor do the Capitol Grounds.
Federally controlled areas, as distinct
from municipality controlled areas. are
about the only spaces in Washington
available for housing or provision OF
temporary camp sites. As Congress re-
serves the exclusive right of legislating
and otherwise governing the Capital,
the matter of handling petitioners or
marchers while in the Capital on mis-
sions manifestly concerning the Ma
tion-and not the local community-be-
comes one involving national policy. 1t
Is a. much a question Of what this
policy should be as it is a question Of
how the policy should be applied.
The Commissioners and Superintend-
ent Of Police Glassford may have been
unwise in certain aspects Of their han
ding the bonus marchers. But any
one who takes that point OF view must
be in the position to offer an alterna-
tive suggestion and to say what could
have been done. During the stay OF
the bonus marchers there were no al
Tentative suggestions offered, as far as
A1lOWil, dl1O, II5Ale Va "Ao1o' VAN ~o~>~
missioners and General Glassford bore
= responsibility that nobody seemed
willing to share.
Congress, in its exclusive jurisdiction
over TIE District of Columbia, could
enact legislation specifically relating to
the presentation of petitions and to the
conduct of those who present petitions.
Whether such regulations would serve
to invite marchers, anxious either to
test them or to abide by them, is an
other question. But the agents of Con-
Rress and of the President in governing
this municipality should not be left un-
certain over what course to pursue in
the face Of another emergency such as
they had to deal with last Spring and
Summer.