Evening star., 1932-09-12
Text of Mitchell's Report B. E. F. Eviction

HARBORED MANY CRIMINALS.

ceptionally dangerous character Of sucf
condition as this is obvious.
There was no time during thu
weeks that the bonus army was hert
when its presence, under the condition.
that existed was not an extreme men.
ace to the public health, as soiled anC
bedding, exposed gar
bage. open latrines and inadequate IA.
cities for the preparation Of food snc
the disposition Of waste inevitably lead
to the development and spread Of con-
tagious and infectious diseases
Notwithstanding all these conditions
they were tolerated and gently deali
with by the community in the hope
that they would see the futility of re.
manning and would consent to return tt
their homes. Before adjournment Con-
gress had provided for loans by the
Veterans Bureau to those holding bonui
certificates to enable them to leave. The
Secretary Of War conferred with theil
leaders and urged them to disband ant
made definite offer to furnish them
with Army trucks for part of the trans
portation and to arrange with Nationa
Guard units to transport them across
the States, and still they declined tc
leave.
In the latter part OF June the Treas.
ury Department commenced to press fol
possession Of some of the property oc.
cupied by the bonus marchers and
which was urgently needed by the Gov.
eminent to carry on its program OF
public improvements, one purpose OF
which was to furnish employment. The
bonHs marchsrs were obstructing and
delaying this program. I attach here
with, as exhibit B. a report from the
Assistant Secretary of the Treasury
dated August 3, giving the particulars
respecting this situation.
Occupied by B. Eff.
"One Of the tracts occupied by the
bonus army and at which the riot OF
July 28 later commenced is known as
Reservations A and B. bounded by
Third and Sixth streets and Pennsyl-
vania and Missouri avenues. Part OF
this was vacant and part occupied by
partially dismantled buildings. The
property was occupied by the bonus
army. A contract had previously beer
let for the demolishing of these old
buildings and the contractor was de-
possession. The demolition oi
the buildings was necessary to the ex-
tension of Constitution avenue and
the further development Of the Mall
area. On May Is, 1882, the Treasury
had awarded a contract
for the completion Of the Department
of Agriculture Extensible Building
which included, as a part Of its site
the tract within Twelfth and Four
teenth and b and c streets southwest
Tn Ntg t.al \
without permission. seized and occu-
pied some buildings and open areas
from which it was necessary to exca-
vate earth TO fill and level of Reserva-
tionS A and b Subcontracts had been
let for the wrecking of the buildings,
but the -subcontractor could not pro-
coed and only limited excavation was
possible. Request was made by the
Treasury. through the superintendent
OF police. on July 20, that these build
ings be eXcavated The superintendent
OF police reported that he had con-
ferred with Comdr. Waters of the
bonus army, who objected that he
would not move his men into the open
and insisted that he intended to hold
together a number of veterans in the
District of Columbia to accomplish the
object for which they had assembled
the adjournment OF
Congress.
There are statutes In the District
OF Columbia authorizing the summary
removal by its officers OF any person
or forcibly withholding the
possession Of Government property. On
July % the Treasury Department served
notice on the bonus army occupants of
these several areas to .vacate. On July
Is attorneys for the bonus army con-
ferred with the Treasury officials. who
granted 24-hour extension of its order
Of vacation to July &c. On July 26
the attorney, Mr. Herbert S. Ward. and
Capt. Doak Carter, one of the leaders
Of the bonus army, presented a proposal
merely of the statement that
the veterans were willing to withdraw
from the Government areas and retire
to some private property which they
were permitted to occupy, but that they
required tentage and equipment. and
demanded the assistance Of the Treas
ury in procuring such equipment. with
a view to their permanent encampment
in the city. They requested what the
Treasury had no power or authority to
grant. This proposal was only repe-
tition of former statements made by
SSi2SA llOttlltis WAS
accomplished. On July 26 further let
ter was written by the Treasury to the
Commissioners of the District. stating
that the Treasury planned to begin work
in the area between Third and Sixth
streets and Pennsylvania and Missouri
avenues on the morning Of July 81. and
requested that sufficient detail of
police be on hand to prevent any inter-
ference with the contractor or his
workmen. On the 27th the pro-
posed resumption Of possession by
the Treasury was again postponed to
July 28. and on the morning of Thurs
day July 20, a small portion Of the old
National Guard Armory on the space
referred to. including an area about 25
yards in all directions surrounding it,
was occupied by Treasury representa-
tiveS under police protection. 1t was at
this point that the serious disorder COM
Riot Events Outlined
u. The riot and the use OF troops.
AT the time Of resuming possession
OF the small area on PENNSYLVANIA ave-
nue. on July % 1t was not planned i'm
to attemp. to regain posses
sion by the Government of any OF the
other tracts occupied by the bonus army.
1t was hoped tina: their evacuation
could be gradually accomplished. The
small number of bonus marchers oc-
this building vacated it. forcible
resistance haviny been offered only by
two or three. No one was hurt by this
and the persons evicted were
given ample opportunity to pack and
leave. However, while this was taking
place, speeches of an incendiary nature
were being made at Camp Marks. an
open area across the Anacostia River
on which large bonus camp had been
About noon, when the situa-
ton on Pennsylvania avenue was well
in hand and entirely peaceful, the bonus
marchers from Camp Marks started
across the Anacostia River to the Penn
sylvania avenue tract In large numbers
by trucks and other means. They
gathered in the street area near the
then in the possession of the
Treasury Department, which was being
guarded by IS policemen, and their
number increased to 1000 or 5000.
Suddenly, during the noon hour. the
mob that had come from Camp Marks
rushed the policemen and attacked