Evening star., 1935-02-04
General Charges Prompt
Superintendent to Ask
Specific Evidence.
LOCALIZED GAMBLING
WILL BE SOUGHT HERE
Representative Schultz Tells Com.
mittee He Will Introduce Bill
at Present Session.


est w. Brown reappeared unexpected
ly before the special Crime Investigat-
ing Committee of the House today and
made a vigorous plea to the members
to stop firing blanket charges.
If there is any evidence of graft or
corruption in the department, Maj.
Brown declared, the facts should be
made known and the information
turned over to him for action.
Wants Legalized Gambling.
While Inspector L. I. H. Edwards,
assistant superintendent and person
mel officer of the Police Department,
was on the witness stand, Representa-
tive Schultz, Democrat, of Indiana,
revealed that he intended to intro
duce at the current session of Con-
gress bill to legalize gambling in the
District. He said legaliZed gambling
would add about Sl,000,000 a year to
the revenues of the District and at
the same time prevent gamblers from
trict gamblers.
The unsupported general charges
during the first week of the mVeStlga-
ton, Maj. Brown said, had cast a
serious reflection on the department,
which, if continued, will destroy the
morale and efficiency of the entire
force.
Recalls Case of Captain.
During the progress of the hear
ings," Mai. Brown declared, two or
three statements of a general nature
were made which, if true, cast Serl-
GUS reflection on the Police Depart
ment.
"One referred to a captain. I have
IA captains in the department, in all
of whom have the utmost confidence.
If there is any evidence against any
of them. feel am entitled to have it.
Another charge referred to some
officers who are reported to be shaking
down liquor dealers.
IT feel that the morale of my or
ganization will be shaken if these
general statements are continued. II
you break down morale. you break
down efficiency. I feel that We should
have that information and that the
general statements be discontinued"
Randolph Offers Reinsurance.
Chairman Randolph explained that
generalities usually crop up" at the
beginning of almost every hearing, but
he is certain now the committee will
not go off into any more "tangents." "
He promised that any mistakes made
by the committee would be corrected.
Maj. Brown completed his direct
testimony last week, but requested
permission to return to make a state
ment concerning the general charges
against the department.
Chairman Randolph announced dur
ing the hearing that the Justice De-
partment had denied the committees S
request for special agent to serve as
an investigator. He said he believed
the Justice Departments action was
unfair to the District, since the Fed
eral Government had withdrawn seven
members of the metropolitan force to
details at the White House.
Randolph Compliments Force.
The service of Justice Department
agent, Randolph explained, was denied
on the ground that the department
had never before been called on to
aid a congressional committee and it
did not want to establish precedent
at this time.
Randolph also complimented the
Police Department for the quick cap
ture Of two men suspected of holding
up and shooting a conductor on a
Capital Transit Co. street car Satur-
day night.
THAT was splendid piece of work, "
he said, "and if the two men arrested
are responsible, I hope they will be
brought speedily to trial.
Inspector Edwards, the first wit
ness called when the hearings were re-
sumed, outlined his duties. Repre-
sentative Schultz asked Inspector Ed
wards if he thought an ordinary po-
hceman could do his work and wheth-
er he would be more valuable as a
crime investigator. Edwards insisted
a private could not perform his du-
ties, but admitted civilians could han
die certain work in his Office which is
now done by members of the force.
Schultz Raps "FriIIs."
Schultz also expressed the belief
that there are too many "frills and
fancies'' in the Washington Police De-
partment, which he said are expen-
sive. He had particular reference to
the police inspectors.
Later Schultz reiterated a previous
statement that the morale of the de-
partment had been reduced by the
civil service rating system used as a
basis for promotion. To Inspector
Edwards he said:
"You have some remarkable men on
the force, but they are working under
q handicap and you have great satiS-
faction among them because of the
civil service rating system"
Edwards admitted he felt that way
too.
Representative Werner, Democrat
of South Dakota, said he believed the
so-called inef1ciency of the police
IOrCe was Quc W CliC SoiAoVoHV SAAoA
Of Government officials to have
charges against their friends with
drawn. Pressed by Schultz for a
specific case, he cited one "off the
record
Schultz Refuses Information.
Werner then questioned Schultz
about the names of the police officers
who had complained to him about the
civil service rating system. Schultz
turned around looked directly al
Werner and said:
Does it look as though there is
any corn growing on me. I've been
around the city for some time.
THE gentleman from South Dakota
knows we will never get any infor-
>,efio,, thot waU-diVIIlQinp the names