Evening star., 1935-03-10
CRIME PROBE AID
ASKED Of GROUPS
Committee Sends Civic and
Trade Bodies Request
for Advice.

All Washington's major civic trade,
professional and religious organiza-
tions we're appealed to Yesterday by
the Special Crime Committee of the
House for aid in its efforts TO alleviate
the crime situation.
Chairman Randolph sent to each Of
the organizations written request for
recommendations that might be of
value to the committee during its in
vestigation. Representatives of these
groups also are TO be called before the
committee later in the inquiry.
The organizations to which the ap-
peals were directed include the Wash
ington Board of Trade. the Federation
Of Citizens Associations, the Fedora
ton of Business Men. the Merchants
and Manufacturers Association, the
Federation of Women's Clubs, the
District Bar Association, the Better
Business Bureau. the District Con-
gress of Parents and Teachers, the
District Hotel Association and the
National Association for the Advance
ment of the Colored People.
Advice Is Invited.
"The special committee of the
House, investigating crime conditions
in Washington" the invitation read.
lis anxious to have the benefit Of
the advice and recommendations OF
the organizations in Washington
which have studied the various prob
lens bearing on the crime situation.
The objective of this committee is to
bring about q substantial reduction in
the rate Of crime in the Nations
Capital. The recommendations which
we shall report to the present session
of Congress will be based upon what
ever needs are made apparent by the
testimony of the witnesses and other
elements of our Investigation.
Your organization. in common
with other groups and individuals, has
an opportunity to render valuable
public service in this undertaking.
Those of us who live in Washington,
or come here as officials of the Gov
ernment, have an obligation not only
to the District of Columbia. but to
the Nation as a whole, since it should
be the desire of every patriotic Amer
ican that the Capital of the Nation
be free of crime and lawlessness.
I'm seeking your aid in this in
stance. it is requested that your organ
ization prepare a written report con-
tanning such recommendations as you
may have to offer. and including such
supplementary material as you might
care to submit.
To Be Asked to Appear.
cat later date, you will be re-
quested to appear. or delegate some
one as representative of your organ
ization to appear as a witness before
the committee You will be advised
of the exact date upon which it will
be possible for the committee to take
your testimony. Meanwhile, it will
be helpful and appreciated if you will
prepare your report so as to be in a
position to present it to the commit
tee in convenient form"
The committee will resume hearings
tomorrow at 1920 am. with Capt.
Edward j. Kelly of the third precinct
on the witness stand.
Every police captain is to be called
before the committee to explain con-
ditions in his particular precinct. The
committee. however, has been in
formed that three of the precinct
commanders will not be able to
appear for several weeks. These are
Capts. Holmes of the first precinct
and Groves of the eleventh precinct,
who are in Florida on leave, and Pier
son of the sixth precinct, who is con-
fined to his home with broken
ankle.