Evening star., 1934-09-24
CUMMINGS URGES
POLICE UNITY IN
FIGHT ON CRIME
Lindbergh "Break" Cited to
Chiefs in Plea for
Cooperation.
HAZEN ASKS U. S. GIVE
MORE MONEY TO D. c.
Mussolini and Attorney General
Made Honorary Members as
Convention Starts.

Convention Starts.
A vigorous plea for a greater spirit
of cooperation among all the law-en-
forcement agencies of the country
was made today by Attorney General
Cummings at the forty-first annual
convention of the International As
Sociation of Chiefs Of Police at the
MayfloWer Hotel.
Cummings cited the breaking" of
the Lindbergh kidnapping case as an
outstanding example of the results of
close cooperation among police and
Federal agencies, and announced he
planned to call conference in Wash
ington early in December of repre-
sentatives of all organizations in
terested in crime in an effort further
to promote that idea.
Cummings made no other reference
to the Lindbergh case but pointed
out at the outset of his speech that
there were many things he would like
to discuss but couldn't because of
the "harried" events of recent weeks.
Work of Police Stressed.
The Attorney General stressed the
Importance of the policeman of today
and declared the "disintegrating" ac-
tivities of politicians or lawyers who
have contacts with the criminal classes
should not be allowed to interfere
with their work
He said crime in its interstate as
poets had grown beyond the immedi-
ate control of local police organiza-
tions, which makes cooperation with
Federal agencies more necessary than
ever before.
I'VE are opposed" he said, "to the
Federal Government usurping author
ity or overlapping or interfering with
the local police. Our job is to fill
the gap between the Federal and State
authorities"
Pays Tribute TO Hoover.
Cummings also played a glowing
tribute to j. Edgar Hoover, director
Of the departments Bureau of In
vestigation, who, with Asst. Attorney
General William Stanley. accom-
panied him to the convention.
Il am more than proud of Mr.
Hoover's work" he said. 81 don't
know what would do if I lost him"
At the conclusion of his speech, the
association by unanimous vote made
Cummings an honorary member
Earlier in the day, the same honor
had been bestowed on Premier Mus
solini.
Senator Copeland, Democrat, of
New York, who followed Cummings,
elaborated on the Attorney Generals
plea for cooperation between various
law enforcement agencies and said he
believed that control of juvenile de-
linquency would go a long way in
preventing crime.
Melvin c. Hazen, president Of the
Board of District Commissioners,
opened the convention program with
plea for the organizations aid in
increasing the Federal contribution
| towards expenses of the District.
Pointing out that Washington "is
the only spot in the United States
where the people don't have vote"
Commissioner Hazen declared What
I want you to do is to go home ana
tell your Congressman the Federal
Government does not give us enough
money to run the Nations Capital"
Commissioner HAGEN told the dele
gates that while the existing tax rate
of S150 per S100 may seem low, as
sessments are based on full value,
which makes the tax burden itself
high. Don't let that situation fool
you," he said.
He also declared the Federal Gov
ernment owns large areas of property
in the District which are tax exempt,
and in addition there are a large
number of national institutions here
| whose property also is free from tax
alton.
More Than 500 Attend.
More than 500 police chiefs from
! all sections of the United States and
many foreign countries were in at
| tendance when Charles A. Wheeler
OF Bridgeport, Conn, president of
the organization, raped the gavel
| and formally called the convention
! to order shortly after 9 o'clock. At
least 1,700 delegates and their wives
| are expected within the next "a
| hours.
The opening ceremonies consisted
also of invocation by the Right Rev.
James E. Freeman. Episcopal bishop
| OF the diocese Of Washington, and
singing of the national anthem by
the delegates.
Mrs. Richard Sylvester, widow of
the late superintendent of police of
| the District and for Is years presi-
dent OF the International Association,
and Louis Brownlow, a former Dis
trlct Commissioner, were guests of
honor on the speakers rostrum at
| the opening session. The delegates
stood in silent tribute for a minute
out OF respect for the memory of the
late Maj. Sylvester.
At the conclusion Of the formal
opening of the ceremonies the major
portion of the meeting was taken up
With consideration of reports from va
r1ous committees. These included re-
ports by George Black of Wilmington,
Del. secretary; Edward Singleton Of
Watertown, N. Y, treasurer; John P.
Smith of Detroit, chairman of the
Automobile Theft Committee; Lieut..
Donald S. Leonard of Detroit, chair
man of the Radio Committee; Joseph
A. Gerk of st. Louis, chairman of the
committee to confer with the COM
mittee of the American Bar Associa-
ton; Hugh D. Harper of Colorado
Springs, Colo, chairman of the Pub
licity and Press Relations Committee;
Leon V. Jenkins of Portland, Oreg.,
chairman of the Committee on Police
Training; William J. Quinn of San
Francisco, chairman of the commit
tee to collaborate with the American
Municipal Association; William P.
Rutledge of Wyandotte, Mich. chair
man of the Uniform Crime Records
Committee. and Phillip T. Bell of
Kearny, NJ j., chairman of the COM
mittee to confer with the Arrange
ments Committee for the Washington
convention.