Evening star., 1934-12-13
Prof. Thorsten SeIIin Says
IS Per Cent of Felons
Never Caught.
U. S. NARCOTICS CHIEF
WARNS OF DRUG PERIL
Declares More Than Half of Users
Nabbed in Raids Have
Crime Records.

Painting a dark picture Of crime In
this country before the Attorney Gen.
erals conference on crime, Prof
Thorsten Sellin of the University OF
Pennsylvania declared today that in
three -fourths of the approximately
1900, 900 major crimes committed In
1898 no one was brought to justice
In addition to the major crimes, he
said, there were 100000 minor Of
fenses brought to attention Of police
Of the Nation. Prof Sellin cited these
figures to emphasize the serious need
for an intensive national study OF
crime statistics. with a view to dag
nosing the problem Of lawleSsness and
adopting remedial measures.
In introducing Prof. Sellin. Chair
man Summers of the House Judiciary
Committee asserted that John Dill
linger had put a mustard plaster on
the back of lethargic public" He
promised aid Of Congress in carrying
out plaps for an intensified drive to
rid the country of its public en-
emies."
Drug Traffic AsSailed.
Harry j. Anslinger, commissioner OF
narcotics, declared the drug traffic is
one of the most sordid factors which
must be dealt with in the suppression
of crime.
Referring to the recent widespread
raids by the Treasury Department
which netted 100 violators of the mar
cotic laws, Anslinger pointed out that
many Of those arrested were desperate
criminals Of the recidivist type. One
man had a record Of 80 previous ar
rests by city police, the charges rang
ing from misdemeanors to murder.
OF 1000 persons arrested for mar
cotic violations, the commissioner de-
clared, SO per cent had previous crimi-
nal records. Anslinger urged greater
care on the part of courts in exercising
probation powers with respect to mar
cotic addicts. He said that during the
past two years more than 80 per cent
of the drug users placed on probation
violated the provisions OF their pro-
.bationary sentences.
Warns Of Marfhuna Craze.
The narcotic unit chief sounded q
warning against the increasing popu-
larity among drug addicts Of mari
huna, also known as hashish, a drug
widely used in the Near East. Be-
cause there is practically no interstate
commerce in this vicious drug, he said.
the Federal Government is helpless in
controlling its sale. Marihuna Is
grown In many States, and If 1t Is to
be banned, Anslinger explained, the
States and cities must act against 1t.
Anslinger remarked that the word
hashish is derived from the Arabic
for assassin" which he said "aptly
describes its powers" The drug
quickly reduces its victim from feel
ing Of courage to fear and insanity.
The commissioner pledged the full
est cooperation of the Federal Gov
ernment in the movement by law en-
forcement agencies to solve the drug
evil, but said the Federal Government
is restricted by law to detection and
of major sources Of sup
plies.
Wider development of the police
constabularies was recommended to
the conference today by Capt. Donald
Leonard of the Michigan State Police.
Capt. Leonard outlined operations of
his organization which has made an
outstanding record in law enforce
ment.
Praises State Police.
"Unquestionably the State police, 4"
he said, have earned an enviable
place in our police structure. Trends
indicate a growing need for their
service in States where they are al
ready functioning, and demand for
their establishment in other States.
AS the police arm Of the State, it
cannot now be dispensed with, and
any scheme of future police reor-
ganization will have to take into con-
sideration the State police as a unit
in and Of ITSELF"
Additional commendation on the
work of State police was voiced by
Henry Toll of Denver, director of the
American Legislators Association. He
called on Legislatures of the various
States to take action in this con-
nection.
William Draper Lewis, director Of
the American Law Institute, Phila-
delphia, said that the institute Is
planning preparation of q code of
criminal law. He expressed the hope
that the Attorney Generals confer
ence would meet from time to time
(Confip,,od a., Doro & NoI,,ro,, AI