Evening star., 1933-02-24

1dBC.J
commercial life elsewhere. A desire for
a vacation cruise through warm South
ern waters and freedom from the prob
lens of District administration are un-
derstood to have led him to the deci-
sion.
Another thought is believed by asso-
ciates of Gen. Crosby to have motivated
his decision to retire from the District
post ahead of schedule. This Is said to
be a belief on his part that to submit
his resignation to President Roosevelt
on March or would pave the way for
the new Chief Executive to Immediately
place one Of his personal appointees
and representatives in the District gov
ernment.
Gen. Crosby is known to have pom
dered the decision for some time, hesi-
tating for fear his resignation might
be given an unwarranted political slant.
In this connection, however, his asso-
ciates point out that the incoming Of
the Democratic administration, from a
political viewpoint, has absolutely Moth
ing to do with the case. Gen. Crosby
Is an Army man and has been through
out his adult career, and, therefore,
politics, as such, means nothing to him,
they declare.
Gen Crosby was drafted" to the Job
Of Police Commissioner by President
Hoover three years ago, after the Presi-
dent had searched far and wide to find
a suitable and available. man to fit
into the reorganization Of the District
government then being made
Gen. Crosby, then chief Of Cavalry,
United States Army. let It be known
emphatically that he agreed to serve
but one term, and as q matter Of fact,
hoped to be relieved Of his post here
after as little as or II months serv-
ice, his friends make clear.
Faced Many Problems.
His term has been marked by numer-
Gus problems of unusual sensational
complications and he is happy now to
find quiet and order established in the
Police Department and to point to the
public and official commendation which
has been accorded the administration
Of Maj Ernest w. Brown as superin-
tendent Of police.
Hardly had Gen. Crosby assumed his
post here than troubles began. First
there was the mysterious death Of Vir-
ginia Mcpherson, which later brought
charges of inefficient work against
members of the Police Department.
Then came the case OF Policeman
Robert ]. Allen, the investigation Of the
murder of Mary Baker, the inveStiga-
ton of charges of brutality by members
of the Police Department and investi-
CATION of charges by former Policeman
Frederick Schenck that a number Of
members of the department were ac-
cepting graft.
During his administration also Maj.
Henry G. Pratt, chief of police, and
William S. Shelby, chief of detectives,
resigned. after complaints. The coming
of the Bonus Army and the riots pre-
ceding their forced eviction from Wash
ington, and the turbulent affairs that
followed the administration of Gen.
Pelham D. Glassford as chief Of police
placed added worries on Gen. Crosby's
desk.
Looks for Real Rest.
With a sense of relief that these Diff
culties are past, Gen. Crosby Is now
looking ahead to real vacation ana
other work later.
From a constructive viewpoint, Gen.
Crosby's administration saw the reor-
ganization Of the Police Department on
q military basis. with his order creating
inspection districts, including groups OF
precinct stations under the command OF
inspectors.
One of Crosby's first moves was the
entire motorization of the police al
tached to the old second precinct sta
ton, a change which he found greatly
speeded up police work. Since then,
Gen. Crosby has approved the estab-
lishment of the radio police car service,
under which emergency calls now are
answered in about two minutes.