Evening star., 1934-11-04
u. S. AND CITIZENS
AID WAR ON CRIME
Nemesis of Al Capone and
VigiIante Groups Tackle
Vice in District.
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these cases because of the lack Of
sufficient evidence to assure con.
victions, so the gamblers simply re-
mitted the taxes the Government
claimed had not been paid.
The Internal Revenue Bureaus new
move against the Washington gam
blers was initiated long before the
present anti-crime campaign, but
with prosecutions Of certain gamblers
impending, official pointed out, 1t will
constitute a double -barreled assault,
and make the crusade more effective.
Adopt Law-and-order Report.
The federation's action was taken
last night in adopting a report sub
mitted by Chairman George E. Sulli-
van of its Committee on Law and
Legislation.
Pointing out that private citizens
often have opportunity for observation
of criminal activities in their COM
munities that are not available TO
police. the report declared no re-
spectacle citizen can be satisfied with
the location of a gambling resort,
bawdy house, or other illegal and OBJ
jectionable establishment" adjacent to
his residence or place Of business.
"It is not compatible with the
duties of a private citizen, any more
than of a law enforcement officer,
for him to patronize or in any manner
encourage or support anything that
directly or indirectly tends to en-
barrass or bring into disrepute law
enforcement" the report continued.
Likewise, no law-abiding private
citizen can justify indifference on his
part to crime conditions created by
others and which happen to come
to his notice, or about which he has
the ready means Of knowledge.
'The time has come when indif-
ference to civic duty in this connec-
tion would be almost as reprehensible
as indifference to duty on the part
Of a law enforcement officer"
Functions to Be Two-Fold.
The functions of the vigilance COM
mittees to be formed in the member
associations would be two-fold. The
first would be to act as confidential
Intermediary between citizens and
the public authorities In the obtain
ing and transmission of information
which may be of value in law en-
forcement. The second would te to
keep the local citizens association
fully informed as to law enforcement
matters, excepting those of a conf
dental nature.
The Importance Of creating and
maintaining these committees" the
report continued, must be obvious to
every one, particularly in view of the
known antipathy Of many citizens to
becoming involved even as witness in
in any criminal matter. These COM
mittees will doubtless succeed in con-
vincing all good and worthy citizens
that the duty Of being witness is one
Of the important and morally unes-
capable duties of good citizenship, and
that mere personal wish or conven-
ience ought not to control"
Not Discouraged.
Conceding there is room for improv-
ing existing criminal laws and their
administration, the federation de-
clared it could see no reason on that
account for becoming discouraged, or
for relaxing or abandoning in any way
the enforcement of the existing crimi-
nal laws. The report expressed the
belief some progress can be made
toward stamping out the so-called
numbers game under the existing
gambling laws. pointing out that at
least two convictions have already
been obtained under them
The federation. however, recon-
mended the present laws be strength
ened in three respects. The first
would make any one knowingly per-
mitting gambling on premises thev
own or control liable to Imprisonment
for not more than two years and a
fine of not less than $500 nor more
than $1,000. This offense at present
is punishable only as a misdemeanor.
The second change would make the
possession OF any gaming table or
other gambling device, or numbers
Slips, certlflcates, tickets or tokens.
prlma facie evidence of the unlawful
use thereof, and of the purpose of
gambling. A law to this effect was
approved last year by the Senate Dis
trlct Committee, but was not acted
upon by the corresponding House
Committee.
Strike at Gun Keeping.
The third new law recommended
would make the unauthorized nosses-
sion OF machine guns or sawed-off
Snotguns punishable as a felony by
Imprisonment for from to 20 wears
This offense is now a misdemeanor
and punishable by imprisonment for
not more than year and a fine of not
more than $1,000.
Ihe report said 'it is undeniable
that no private citizen can have anv
legitimate purpose in possessing such
a weapon. In fact, such a person is a
potential murderer"
Support was also given to anv
change in the parole and probation
systems which viii tend toward saving
deserving persons from becoming
hardened criminals. No specific
changes were recommended.
Finally, the report took a vigorous
stand in opposition to suggestions that
gambling be iegalized.
A committee recommendation that
"thiS federation emphatically reaffirm
its heretofore declared unqualified op-
position to the legalization of gam
bling in any form in the Nations
Capital was unanimously adopted.
Probe Telephone Attitude.
The federation also adopted a reso-
luton introduced by Joseph L. Ganell
Of the Police and Fire Protection Com
mittee asking the Public Utilities Com
mittee to investigate whether tho teIe-