Evening star., 1935-04-02
PROBERS TOURGE
INCREASE Of 141
IN POLICE FORCE
Special House Body Will Ask
District Committee to
Approve Report.
CITE IMMEDIATE NEED
FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT
Recommendation Seen as Victory
for Maj. Brown-Would Es.
tablish New Precinct.
BY JAMES E. CHINN.


House will ask the District Committee
tomorrow to approve special prelim-
mary report recommending an IN
crease of 141 in the personnel of the
Metropolitan Police Department.
Citing the increase as an immediate
and urgent need, the committee pre-
pared the special report in time to
have its recommendation approved
by the District Subcommittee of the
Senate Appropriations Committee,
which has the 1886 District supply
bill under consideration. Mote: The
Senate Subcommittee on District APP
preparations today approved the Po-
lice Department increase. See story
on Page 1)
The committee, however, explained
that its recommendation for increased
personnel was not to be construed as
an Endorsement of the administration
OF the Police Department.
This report" the committee said,
should not be construed as indicating
any failure to recognize the necessity
for the most careful consideration by
the subcommittee for the broader ad-
ministrative problems Of the Police
Department These matters will be
| treated by the subcommittee in its
final report"
Victory for Brown.
The committees recommendation
represents victory for Police Supt
Ernest w. Brown, who has repeatedly
stressed the need of 141 additional
policemen. In fact, Maj. Brown in
| cluded an item for 141 more men in
his budget estimates last Summer and
the Commissioners reduced the num-
Der to IS. The Budget Bureau, how
ever. refused to allow any increase.
THE subcommittee of the District
of Columbia Committee, authorized by
House resolution 66 to investigate all
forms of criminal activity in the Dis
trict of Columbia and for other pur-
poses," the report said. has had its
| attention directed to the fact that the
1886 appropriation bill for the District
of Columbia is now pending before the
subcommittee of the Senate on Dis
trict appropriations.
The subcommittee has further had
| its attention directed to the fact that
| the consideration of the bill is now ir
| is final stages. In the light of thi:
information. the subcommittee deem!
it appropriate to submit this partia
and preliminary report with the
thought that the findings and recon-
mendations herein contained may bt
of assistance to members Of Congress
| in connection with their consideration
of the District of Columbia appropria-
ton bill.
Increase Held Imperative.
"The major and superintendent of
police, various police inspectors, the
captains of II precincts, the captain
of the Woman's Bureau and others
have testified before this subcomnit-
tee and submitted data which has led
the subcommittee to the conclusion
that an increase in the Metropolitan
Police Department is an immediate
need. The subcommittee, therefore,
recommends and urges that Congress
in the District of Columbia budget
for 1886, authorize and provide
| funds for such an increase in the
membership Of the Metropolitan Po-
lice Department as will bring the
total strength of the department up
to 1,447 members.
This increase Is designed to re-
store IS vacancies created by reduc-
tions made in 1888 and 1884 under
the economy program, and to add one
captain. two lieutenants and three
sergeants.
This additional captain, lieuten-
ants and sergeants will make posi-
hle the re-establishment of former
precinct, which, as demonstrated by
evidence before this subcommittee, is
necessary to efficient law enforcement
in an area now covered by precinct
No. 2, which has a population of ap-
proximately 100000 persons, covers
ar area of 3& square miles, and in
which, during the last fiscal year
committed 25.8 per cent Of all the
| felonies recorded in the District of
Columbia.
Further, the recommended increase
in police personnel would strengthen
all precincts and bureaus which at this
time are not adequately stated. 1t
will permit an increase in personnel in
the Woman's Bureau which is partic-
ularly in need of assistance for its
vitality important work. Among other
improvements made possible by the
adoption of this recommendation
would be the assignment of motor
cycle policemen to the several pre-
cincts. This is almost certain to re-
duce the number of traffic fatalities
and should assure a decrease in the
| number of automobile accidents.
This recommendation is based upon
evidence before this subcommittee ano
the testimony of competent witnesses
1.-THE subcommittee is unanimous In
its conclusion that this addition te
| 1ine nf defense