Evening star., 1934-01-05

Drastic legislative aid in the Govern
ment's expanded war on kidnaperS aho
other racketeerS--including bans on
! interstate transportation OF stolen prop
i erty. promiscuous sale of machine guns
| and introduction of surprise alibi' de-
/ fenSes at gangster trials-wlll be asKeo
| of Congress shortly, Attorney General
Cummings announced In his annual re-
| port today.
Although the Department of Justice
| set up a record of 955 per cent OF con-
vietions in all criminal trials Instituted
| by it during the past year, the Attorney
General informed Congress OF his plans
for mtensifying the nationwide drive
against lawlesSness by broadening in
veStigations and tightening prosecutions.
Cummings said he would ask also that
Congress remedy one of the most glar-
ing weaknesses of the present Federal
criminal code-lack of Federal law
against numbering or attacking Gov
eminent officer. Because of this de-
plored situation the Government is I'M
able to prosecute the perpetrators of the
Kansas City massacre, in which Federal
Agent Raymond Caffrey and four 9TH
ers were slain. This was crime
against the State. but not against the
Federal Government.
Other Proposals to Be Made.
Among other measures which the At
torney General said he has been study
ing and which will be submitted later
are: Provision for punishment of prison
officers or other employees aiding in the
escape of Federal prisoners; simpliflca-
ton of removal proceedings in the
criminal courts; permission to waive IN
dictment by grand jurieS in certain
criminal cases and revision of laws con-
cernlng escape of prisoners from lawful
custody while awaiting trial.
The proposed ban on transportation
of stolen goods across State lines is OF
sweeping import. 1t would give the
Division of Investigation farreaching
authority in a variety of crimes not now
under Federal jurisdiction. Because of
the almost limitlesS category OF OtfenSeS
involved in such a proposal, it is eX-
pected a minimum value RESTRICTION
would be placed so as to eliminate
minor cases from Federal inquiry. The
Federal laws now prohibit interstate
transportation of stolen automobiles and
kidnapped persons, but goes no further.
The Government already has nego-
tiated a "gentlemans agreement sup
plemented recently by an N. r. A. code
provision. against sale of machine guns,
sawed off shotguns or other recognized
gangster weapons to anyone but au-
thorized purchasers-such as military
organizations, police departments and
Federal agencies A specific law against
such sales is regarded as a necessity,
however.
Would Provide Check.
Although Attorney General Cum
mingS made only brief reference to the
alibi measure, presumably he has in
mind a law such as Senator Copeland
of New York has proposed to bar de-
fense lawyers from introducing last
minute alibis in court. Copeland would
force lawyers to advise Government
prosecutors of such alibis so that the
prosecution could check them in ad-
vance. Admittedly this would be a
severe blow to gangdom and its habit
of putting up crooked defenses"
The report detailed the accomplish
ments during the past fiscal year of the
Division of Investigation, with special
emphasis on the successful roundup
of kidnapers and extortionists under
the Lindbergh law"
]. Edgar Hoover. director of the d.
vision. reported that 1896 convictions