Evening star., 1935-06-06
BLANTON DEFENDS
GARNETT, SCORING
PROBE CHAIRMAN
Texan Declares 'You Can't
Kick a u. S. Attorney
Out That Way"
RANDOLPH is ABSENT;
SCHULTZ MAKES REPLY
Minority Members of Committee
Prepare to File Report
Supporting Garnett.

minority report SuppOI llHs OlI4NN u
States Attorney Leslie c. Garnett. the
first House repercuSsion to the special
Crime Committees report demanding
his removal came today when Repre-
sentative Blanton, Democrat, OF Texas
took the floor to defend Garnett ana
criticize Representative Randolph,
Democrat. of West Virginia, chairman
of the Crime Committee.
Blanton's remarks were made dur
Ing House consideration of the con-
ference report on the District appro-
priation hill.
REPRESENTATIVE Schultz. Democrat,
of Indiana, a member of the Crime
Committee, defended Randolph. who
was not on the House floor al the time
Of Blanton's attack.
Refers to Increase in Force.
Blanton opened his attack on the
crime report by referring to the con-
ference agreement adding IS members
TO the police force. He pointed out the
Crime Committee had recommended
an increase of l4l despite the lacI
that Washington has more policemen
proportionately than any other city ol
comparable size. ,sod
The crime report also recommended
Blanton declared. that Garnelt W
"kicked out" of Office. You can
kick a United States attorney out liidU
way" he said. = o++i,,o
"There is a proper way OF gettliie
rid of a United States attorney II ne 5
not a proper man" Blanton declared
we ran he impeached on the noor Oh
Tho House But YOU have got to nave
the evidence and give him la'l
trial"
Hits Randolph as Witness.
B,anton criticized Randolph for ap-
nearing as a character witness LOT Roy
Jarvis in a case before the District
Supreme Court. ;..oo If
Then he said: mo committee oI
CONGRESS can destroy by recommeh-
dation the character of Unlteo
states attorney. Garnett has an en-
yiable reputation as a prosecutor,
Blanton also paid tribute to tne
justices of the District Supreme Court
Cornoration Counsel E. Barrett Pret-
tvn1an and the police force, although
he said. some members OF the Depart
ment were crooks.
Immediately after Blanton finished
his speech Schultz leaped 10 the hoor
and demanded five minutes to speak
ont of order. The time was granted,
and he declared for the first time in
his life he had heard one member Oh
Congress make an assault upon an
other.
Schultz Defends RandGi inh.
"Whv the attack on Jennings Ran
dolph because he saw mt 10 40 HIS
duty as chairman of the Crime Com
nittee?" Schultz asked. He said ne
had appealed to Blanton not to make
his speech during Randolphs ABSENCE
so that the Crime Committee chair
man could have an opportunity to
defend himself.
Schultz also said that at the proper
time he intended to give the full
membership of the House the low
down on the crime investigation.
When Schultz took his seat Blanton
again arose and told the House tnat
the furry" caused by Schultz was
''uncalled for"
REPRESENTATIVE Werner, Democrat,
of South Dakota, who led. the oppo-
sition to the recommendation for
Garnett's removal. has been given
permission TO file a minority report
with the House. He will be joined
nv Representative Virginia JencKes
Democrat, of Indiana. one OF the SIX
members of the District COMMITTEE
who voted against adoption of the
majority report. She also was men,
ber of the Crime Committee.
Revision Completed.
Tn the meantime. Representative
Reed. Republican. Of Illinois COM
pleted revision of section of the re-
port relating to the Police Department
tn make it conform with an amend
ment raising the age limit for retire
ment of police officers above the rank
of captain from so to 65 years. Reed
also deleted from the original report
paragraph suggesting the appoint
rnent of an outsider" as successor to
Police Supt. Ernest w Brown. This
was done to eliminate an ambiguity
since an increase in the age limit fof
retirement to SIS years took NAL
Brown as we'll as Inspectors Thaddeus
r. Bean and Albert J. Headley out Oh
the scope OF the committees recon-
mendation.
Indications at the Department OF
Justice today are that the Attorney
General will decline to accede to the
committees wishes. Cummings mas
received many requests that Garnett
be retained, including an unanimous
Endorsement of the district attorney
bv the Judges of the District of Co
lumbia Supreme Court.
House Action Not Required.
House action on the report Is not
necessary. however. and indications
are that it will merely be filed and
placed on the calendar. The resolu-
ton authorizing the inquiry only dl-
rected the committee to report the re-
suits of its investigation to the House
together with any recommendation
for legislation it deemed advisable.
Several of the committees recon-
nendations will require legislation
especially the one for abolition OF the
existing indeterminate sentence ano
narole law and substitution of the
Federal parole system.
Another recommendation for more
stringent gambling laws, it is believed
can be carried out through amend
ments to the Senate e-approved bill
making possession of gaming devices
prirna facie evidence of guilt. This
measure is now in the Judiciary Sub
committee of the House District Com
rnittee awaiting action.
Virtually all other recommendations
need only administrative action OF
the Commissioners or the Attorney
General to be carried out. For this
reason official copies of the approved
..;,A.- rn,,nr4 mill hn cant q them