Evening star., 1935-03-22
Randolph Says Possible
Shifts Are Concern of
D. c. Heads.
EARLY END TO INQUIRY
ASKED BY COMMITTEE
Future Course of Investigation
Being Studied-Scope May
Be Slashed.
BY JAMES e. CHINN.

The Special Crime Committee of the
House does not intend to NEEDLE into
any Of the possible changes in the ad-
ministrative personnel of the Police
Department growing out OF the ex-
pose OF the Blanton- Brown gentle
mems agreement" Chairman Ran
dolph announced today as he pre-
pared to bring the investigation to an
early close.
Completion of the inquiry within 10
days is the committees present goal,
according to Randolph, although it
may be extended as a result of some
unforeseen developments.
Randolph said it probably would
take the committee about two weeks
after the inquiry ends to draft its re-
port and recommendations to the
House. He made it clear, however,
there would be no recommendation in
the report in connection With the
deal" between Representative Blan-
ton. Democrat. of Texas and Supt. of
Police Ernest w Brown. whereby In
spector Thaddeus r. Bean would BE-
forced TO retire so Inspector Albert
j. Headley could be elevated to the
rank of assistant superintendent.
Commissioners Can Act.
The Crime Committee, It was said,
takes the position that any punitive
measures directed at those responsible
for the efforts to force Beans retire
ment should be taken by the District
Commissioners. With its disclosure Of
the plot the committee is repre-
sented as feeling that it should take
no further action.
There is still some doubt as TO how
far the committee will 60 in its in
vestigation. At the outset it planned
a comprehensive. searching inquiry.
Notorious Washington gamblers were
to be subpoenaed. judges of the vari-
GUS courts were to be called TO the
witness stand, as we'll as officials Of
the penal institutions
So far, however. the judges, the
prison attaches and the gamblers
have been spared the ordeal of facing
the committee. Chairman Randolph
will not say definitely now whether
any Of this group is to be summoned
before the close of the Investigate N.
The Commissioners as board have
not considered taking any action in
connection with the Blanton-Brown
arrangement and are not likely to
make move until The Crime Commit
tee files its report with the House.
Commissioner Melvin c. Hazen
points out that the Commissioners Of
ficially have not learned that the COM
mittee proposes to leave the discip-
linary action to them and for that
reason they propose to mark time
awaiting the report.
Privately. however, Commissioner
Hazen is known to have given con-
siderable thought to the disclosures
before the committee and especially
the fact that the long standing order
forbidding members of the police
force from seeking the aid of member
of Congress to get promotions had
contemplated by the Commissioners
is to tighten this rule and direct its
rigid enforcement in the future.
To Chart Future Course.
Over the week end. Randolph ex-
planned, the committee will determine
its future procedure and decide
whether it will be necessary to seek
information from the gamblers, the
judges and the penal authorities.
Plans also had been made to recall
United States Attorney Leslie c. Gar
nett but there has been a sudden
quietus on that movement. Four
members Of the committee-Schulte
of Indiana. DirkSen Of Illinois, Werner
OF South Dakota and Reed of Illinois
wanted Garnett to return to amplify
some of his recent statements, particu-
larly the che in which he held that
gamblers we're responsible for the
efforts to discredit his office.
Disclosure of the Blanton- Brown
"gentlemen's agreement" shifted the
spotlight of the inquiry from Garnett
and there seems to be no disposition
on the part Of the committee at this
time to again disturb the United
States attorneys Office. Committee
members insist the recent episode in
volving Department of Justice OFF,
cial who called on Chairman Ran
dolph when Garnett was target and
urged a change in the course OF the
investigation. has no correction
whatever with the present concentra-
ton on the police department.
The committee did not hold hear
ing today, but will resume the in
vestigation tomorrow at 1890 am,
with Capt. Ira Sheetz of the tenth
precinct on the witness stand. He
will be questioned chiefly about prob
lens In his precinct.
Chairman Randolph said there
would be other witnesses to follow
Capt. Sheetz, although he declined to
reveal their names. In fact, he inti-
mated they would be surprise wit