Evening star., 1932-04-05
Rr the Associated Press.

| reCJlng law enforcement CoAluAIiuiiS III
Hawaii, which he termed an invitation
| to the commission of crime.
Richardson's report on crime and en-
! forcement on the islands was submitted
to the Senate yesterday, just as the
Fortescue case, which inspired the re-
quest for his investigation, was coming
| to trial in Honolulu.
! The Justice official advocated aSSunp-
ton Of closer responsibility for law and
order by the Federal Government
! through placing appointment Of high
officials In the hands Of the President,
increasing the power Of the Hawaii
governor "a presidential appointee) to
remove officials under him and reor-
ganizing the court system.
Bingham Offers Bills.
Senator Bingham, Republican, Of
Connecticut, chairman OF the Senate
Insular Affairs Committee, introduced
seven bills to carry out the recommeda-
! tions. He praised the report, but said
he did not agree with all the conclu-
sions.
In the House, Chairman Summers of
| the Judiciary Committee dtsapproved
tentatively of the recommendations on
the theory that any capacity of a
people for government should be
| u.
ment. however, to later study Of the
report.
Richardson, himself, based his argu-
ment for the changes partly on the
presence of the military and naval bases
on the islands, partly on racial conol-
tions and other aspects making advS-
able higher degree Of Law Enforcement
there.
While the Justice official said he
| found in Hawaii no organized crime, no
| 'racketS" or crime wave, he held the
laxity In administration of justice had
largely destroyed public confidence. He
charged police and other officials with
engaging principally in playing politics
Hits Honolulu Police.
The report said Honolulu's police ad-
ministration was ''impotent, undlscl-
plined, neglectful and unintelllgent
| with its chief concern political activity.
! Bingham said he would ask his com
mittee to consider the bills as soon
| as the departments report has been
! printed. He characterized the report
as "a very extraordinary piece OF
| work"
1T shows, to my mind" he said,
''the advantage Of having mvestiga-
| tions carried out by departments
trained in the particular subject, rather
| than by overworked Senators"
The bills introduced by Bingham
provide for appointment b ythe PreSi-
dent of a thigh sheriff" for the
| islands to have control of all police
forces; presidential appointment OF the
| attorney general; reorganization OF the
| court system and other judicial
changes. The sheriff and attorney
| general would have to be American
citizens, but not citizens OF Hawaii, as
at present.
| he abolished and its duties trans
| ferred to the Circuit Courts. Juris-
diction of the Ninth Circuit Court
| would be transferred to the Hawaiian
| Supreme Court.
The Governor of Hawaii would be
! given authority to remove his ap-
pointees without consent OF the senate.
! The present law, providing that two
Jury disagreements constitute acquit-
tai. would be repealed. /.
Judges would be empowered TO
comment on evidence and express tne
opinion of the court on facts.
Finally. a reapportionment OF the
Hawaiian House prior to January l.
| 1888, would be provided.
Summary of Report.
The full report contained nearly 100
pages of findings and 10 volumes o.
! testimony taken during the two.montn
survey. An oficial summary Of the re-
| port follows: ,uo5
1--WE found in Hawaii no organized
crime no important criminal class ana
| no criminal rackets.
I'VE did not find substantial evloence
| that a crime wave, so called, was IN
existence in Honolulu, either olSpro-
| portionate with the increase In tne pop-
! ! ip,iation or when viewed In comparison
| with crime records IN CLUES Oh siiiAAAoA
| size on the mainland.
I'VE found, however, ample eVloence
of extreme laxity in the administrator
of law enforcement agencies.
"We found a condition OF 1nemclency
in the administration of justice which,
in effect, constituted an invitation 10
the commission OF crime, and wnlcn
had largely destroyed the morale OF the
law-enforcement agencies, with re-
sulting loss Of public commence.
Citizens Feel Unsafe.
Eve found that such conditions had
given rise to feeling OF personal un.
safety among o substantial portion OF
| the citizens.
"We therefore believe that the un-
usual conditions of race, society and
| industry in the Territory make con-
tinuance of such laxity fraught with
much social and political danger.
I'VE found in the Territory no pres
ent serious racial prejudices. The races
seemed to be still carrying on together
| with exceedingly little friction.
1--WE are quite cognizant of the sug-
gestion that if the condition OF affairs
in the islands today seems fairly COM
parable with conditions on the main
land, the mainland ought not to ask
| of Hawaii more law observation than 1t
itself presents.
eve appreciate the force Of the sug-
gestion, but the following reasons have
| persuaded us that steps should prop
erly now be taken, when not only Con-
gress but the public is interested in the
subject, which will tend TO improve
| things in the future:
81. The Territory, because of its small
area and great isolation, is reasonably
capable of more consistent law enforce
ment that areas of similar size on the
mainland.
%. The Territory's position as mill
tary and naval post OF great importance
requires higher degree OF law enforce
ment in order to avoid embarrassment
of the military and naval forces.
Future Need Seen.
"3. The conditions which we found
to exist in the Territory will, unless
changed and remedied, quite certainly
prevent effective law enforcement in the
Territory in the not distant future.
a. Moreover, Congress has no au-
thority or control over crime conditions
or law enforcement administration In
cities on the mainland or in the various
state governments. In Hawaii, however
the Congress has full control. and may
therefore address itself toward the es-
tablishment of such laws and prohibi-
tions as in its opinion will create the
best possible conditions in the Territory
Congress may not do more than this
and it certainly should not do less.
IS. Finally the character Of the Ter
| rito.-in1 r,or,,ia tinn with its Oriental and