Evening star., 1932-05-13
CONGRESS TO ACT
/. ON KIDNAPPING LAW
Officials Fired by Lindbergh
Crime-Washington Shock
ed by News.

News Of the finding of the body of
the Lindbergh baby yesterday loosed
Washington's sympathies for its be-
reaved parents and fired official de-
mands for strict anti-kidnaping legisla-
ton.
While thousands of citizens, headed
by the President himself sought news
papers for details of the gruesome
finale to the 72-day quest for the son
of Col. and Mrs. Lindbergh. both houses
Of Congress resounded with forecasts of
the pending Federal legislation designed
to curb this kind of crime, and the
Department Of Justice pledged its aid
in tracking the murderer of the baby.
And this all within an hour or two
Of the time newspapers and radio sta
tions blanketed the city with the tragic
news they had to serve.
President Saddened.
President Hoover was among the first
persons in Washington to receive the
news. He learned Of the finding of the
dead baby from the White House COR
respondents and he was yisipiy shocked.
He had displayed deep eonce;nufar. the
safety Of the child throughout the lorg
period which followed the actual kid
naping, and when the first fash of the
tragic end OF the story reached his Offices
yesterday afternoon, he pressed the cor
respondents there for further news.
After waiting with the reporters for
some time, during which news was slow
IN coming he returned 20 the White
House itself. where Mrs Hoover shared
with him the shock which was poignant
to every parent.
Vice President Curtis, plainly show
ing his feelings, expressed deep SYM
pathy for Col. and Mrs. Lindbergn. He
said:
They have my deepest sympathy and
my most heartfelt condolences 20 out
to the bereaved mother and Col. Lind
bergh and to their families in their
sorrow. 1t Is most shocking thing"
Congress Aroused.
In Congress, the recation was vigor-
Gus. Chairman Norris of the Senate
Judiciary Committee said the legisla-
ton pending before his group to make
kidnapping subject to Federal iurisdic-
ton. would pass.
1T Is too awful to talk about" the
Nebraskan said with reference to the
finding of the slain baby.
Representative Cochran of Missouri
duLllOI Va a Jill w AlldhC Vic VI dIlSDOI I'd
ton Of abducted persons across State
lines a capital offense said there was
no doubt but that his bill would receive
speedy approval. The House Judiciary
Committee, before which the measure
is pending, he said, had been reluctant
to press the legislation as long as there
remained vestige of hope that little
Charles Lindbergh could be recovered
1t was feared, he explained, that such
legislation would frighten the baby's
captors into the very murder which
wrote hnis to the famous hunt. But
now, he said, every legislative move
will be taken to crush kidnapping.
THE mothers of this country" he
declared, will never be satisfied until
they know the United States Govern
ment is soldily behind the protection
Of their children!"
A second kidnapping control bill,
sponsored by Representative Cochran,
which would outlaw the sending of
threatening letters through the mails
was passed by the House and is before
the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Justice Department Stands Ready.
]. Edgar Hoover, chief Of the Bureau
of Investigation in the Department of
Justice, was quick in promising his
agencys facilities.
"It is quite possible" Mr.. Hoover
said, that now the police may have
definite clues as to the kidnapers. It
is quite certain that they will go after
them hard, and We, of course, will
help in any way We can"
While these pronouncements were be-
ing made in official Washington, the
news spread like wildfire throughout
the city's homes. Extra editions Of
newspapers carried word through the
streets and radio receiving sets mouthed
stark bulletins The Evening Star broke
out three special editions as more COM
plete news of the tragedy tapped into
washington over the wires.
Unwilling to accept the truth of the
early bare announcements OF the find
ing of the dead baby. uncounted thou
sands of men and women seized their
telephones to besiege newspaper Offices
for additional word. So heavy was this
traffic that the telephone company an
nounced a half hour after the news
broke that the congestion in its ex-
changes was beyond control" In
order to pull the communication sys-
tenn out Of its jam. the regular day
staffs of operators, already augmented
by additional personnel because of the
Masonic visitors, we're held overtime
through the evening. Gradually, as
the city accepted the truth of the
tragedy, the calls lessened.
Capt. Dollar Restless"