The Washington times., 1935-03-01
j. s. OPPOSES
|. PROBE Of
GARNETT
Department of Justice Looks
on House Investigation As
Reflection Upon Itself

In an effort to halt the probe
into the District attorneys office,
the Department of Justice is
putting the "heat" on the special
House committee investigating
crime conditions it was revealed
today.
The Federal agency, it was
learned, has taken the stand that
the current probe by the COM
mittee into the District attor
ney's office is a reflection on
the Department of Justice.
Secretly, and without fanfare,
the Department of Justice has
served notice on the committee
that the investigation be diverted
into different channels and that
it steer clear OF the District At
torney's office.
Extent of Probe Asked
Emissaries from the depart
ment have asked how far the
committee is going into the
United States Attorneys office
and how long it will be before
the inquiry finishes.
Indications have been made by
the committee, however, that only
a surface PROBE has thus far been
made and that it intends to delve
further into the activities of the
District Attorneys office md Po-
lice Court.
In fact, it was revealed today, a
thorough investigation is being
made of the efficiency of all as
sistants of District Attorney Gar.
nett.
Records PrObed
DR.. John r. Fitzpatrick, counsel
for the committee spent two hours
in Police Court today going over
records. He declined to reveal the
purpose of his study.
With the disclosures of certain
irregularities in Police Court, in
Guiding the mysterious disappear
ance of bonds and court records,
there loomed today the possibility
the four judges will be summoned
before the committee. There is
also a growing sentiment among
the committee members to have
Mr.. Garnett recalled before the
committee.
Police Shake-up Seen
A Shake-up, not involving dis
misSals, in the Metropolitan Police
Department appeared almost GER
tain today as recommendations
for a program of crime suppress
sion were being drafted by the
House committee.
That scores of policemen here,
employed in various routine office
jobs, should be assigned to active
police duty in patrolling the
streets will be recommended to
the committee before the current
probe is finished, it was learned
today.
Records of the office of Inspec-
tor Lewis I. H. Edwards reveal the
fact that 153 men in the Police
Department are now doing cleri-
cal work and receiving regular
policemen's salaries.
Set-up Opposed
The committee has already
strongly indicated definite objec-
tions to this set-up, and in all prob
ability will recommend the men
be replaced by clerical help.
This change, if it actually oc-
ours, will feature one of the con-
structive recommendations Of the
crime committee. What will take
place as a result Of destructive
criticisms of the committee, If
there is any, is a matter of con-
lecture.
Recommendations Due
It seems certain the committee
will make recommendations con.
cerning the Police Court set-up, but
the exact nature of its suggestions
the committee has not disclosed.
Representatives Theodore B.
Werner CD, South Dakota, and
William T. Schultz DD, Indiana,
charged the District Attorney was
hiding behind a smoke screen"
when he made the charges against
Policeman James w. Peters in the
so-called Buckley case.
They said they would demand
that Mr.. Garnett be summoned
before the committee and give the
names Of the gamblers he says are