Evening star., 1932-07-27
DISTRICT HEADS
DENY AUTHORITY
IN BONUS EVICTION
GIassford Refuses to Use
Police "IIlegaIIy" to Re-
move Veterans.
ISSUE AGAIN IS PUT
UP TO TREASURY
Contractor Dismisses Force of Men
Who Were to Have Begun
Razing Work.

The District Commissioners decided
this afternoon they had mo legal au-
thority" to evict some 1000 bonus
marchers from their billets on lower
Pennsylvania avenue. This left the
long-deferred task of evacuating the
veterans up to the Treasury Depart
ment.
Brig. Gen. Pelham D. Glassford, su-
perintendent of police, said after five
hour conference with the Commission
ers that there will be no illegal use Of
the Metropolitan Police Department"
adding that any action to be taken
against the veterans now is "up to the
Treasury"
After the conference, it was an
nounced the Treasury Department
would have to go through "due legal
process" to evacuate the veterans, who
had been ordered" to leave the
premises on Pennsylvania avenue, be-
tween Third street and John Marshall
place on three previous occasions.
GIassford Wants Orders.
terday requested the Commissioners to
remove the veterans so contractors
could begin demolishing buildings pre-
paratory to carrying forward the Fed
eral building program. Gen. Glassford
was ready to clear the area, but can
celled his plans when the Commission
ers failed to transmit orders to carry
out the eviction.
"The clearing out canot be done by
police" Gen. GlaSSford said as he left
the conference at the District Build
ing. 'I have no legal authority to evict
the veterans"
Asked when the veterans would be
removed, Glassford replied: II just don't
know"
Must Get Orders.
Legal counsel are understood to have
advised the Commissioners the only
lawful way in which the bonus seekers
could be removed from the Federal
property Is through court order. car
Shortly before 8 am. Glassford had
dismissed some 25 policemen detailed
at the bonus camp to aid in clearing
Shortly afterward he was called to the
District Building for the conference with
the Commissioners over the next move
in the long drawn out fight.
Crane Arrives on Scene.
Meanwhile, Walter w. Waters, COM
mander Of the Bonus Expeditionary
Forces, reclined comfortably in an
abandoned building near Four-and-a-
half street and Pennsylvania avenue.
Waters continually told his men ear
lier in the morning not to get excited
about anything that might happen, but
to stay in their billets.
When a crane, equipped with a two
ton metal swing used in knocking over
the walls of buildings, arrived at the
scene this morning, it was immedi-
ately surrounded by O large group Of
muttering veterans. The operator Of
the crane. however, assured the vet
persons were out Of the buildings.
Comdr. Waters came up and asked
the men to get away from the crane
and return to their billets. They COM
piled with the request.
Throughout the morning the veter-
ans sluiced the streets with water from
a hre hose to relieve the intense heat.
Radical Is Arrested.
One of the members of the radical
group of bonus marchers encamped in
another part of the city was arrested
when he came to the Pennsylvania
avenue billet this morning and tried
to make a speech. He was seized by
the bonus army military police and
hauled away in a patrol wagon.
A total Of 81 policemen had been
held In reserve this morning for the
expected evacuation They were dis
(Continued on PAGE D CoIIInon a.