The Washington times., 1933-10-13
NEW RACKETS
SEEN AFTER
REPEAL
Fingerprinting of All, Broader
Laws to Extend U. S. Action
Are Advocated

THE present situation is
challenge to organized govern
ment. We must choose between
bowling the knee to the preda-
tory criminal and finding some
effective means of dealing with
the rats of the underworld"
Senator Royal S. Copeland CD
of New York hurled that cnal-
.lenge today at the meeting of
the. National Anti-Crime Conven-
tion at the Shoreham Hotel.
Senator Copeland has been
making a nationwide survey of
crime. preparatory to demanding
new legislation at the next Ses-
sion Of Congress.
Crime Costs IL Billion
!. Crime costs the United States
the staggering sum Of $685.
100000 year, the Senator
pointed out. This is six times
as much as is spent for educa-
tion and 10 times greater than
the cost of maintaining the Army
and Navy. He said:
II regard the modern forms
of the old crimes as acts Of
treason. While it is difficult
to conceive of treason as a
peace time crime, yet society
IS all the time in a war against
criminals"
New Laws Asked
Legislative proposals laid before
the convention by Copeland in
cluded:
:. Authorizing States to make
compacts to deprive criminals
of the protection Of. State lines.
Establishment of Federal
regional criminal laboratories
where chemical tests can be
made and finger-print files
kept.
Making finger-printing uni
.Versal and compulsory.
=. Strengthening of Lindbergh
:. anti-kidnaping act, and extend
ling Dyer anti-motor vehicle
theft act to other articles.
;. Making any crime involving
moral turpitude a Federal Of
Tense.
Radical curb on sale Of fire
arms.
Revision Of probation and pa
role systems and limitation of
court appeals.
:: Pointing out the urgent need
4or immediate action, Senator
Copeland said:
1--WE are facing a critical
problem. With the repeal of
prohibition there will be turned
loose on society a multitude Of
underworld characters who are
now trafficking in liquor.
e. NEW CRIMES SEEN
"In their anxiety to acquire
money in the same easy fash
ion, they are likely to resort to
kidnapping and to various forms
of racketeering.
"The American people must
rise in its might and shake off
the shackles of criminal con-
troll, or else the increasing bold
ness and grasp of power will
make the criminal supreme in
his authority.
"The real remedy goes to the
very foundations of society. I'm
til we raise a generation Of
mentally balanced citizens,
trained SSOm their youth in law
observance and love of country,
we will be facing the same
problem"
ARMS CURB SOUGHT
A radical curb" on the sale Of
firearms is one of the first steps
advocated by the Senator. More
than a million weapons have been
imported from Europe since the
World War, he pointed out, and
American manufacturers are add
ing more than 100000 year.
The probation and parole sys-
tenn also must be overhauled, he
feels, pointing out that it is shock
ing to find how many paroled
convicts are to be found in police
lneups.
Urging that business men re-
fuse to pay tribute to racketeers
and that all citizens unite in this
war against crime he said:
Gas our fOrefathers in the
Revolution took their lives in
their hands for freedoms sake,
we must do in our generation
for Iiberty's sake. We can end
racketeering and kidnapping
when we have the will to end