Evening star., 1935-01-15
us. CRIME BUREAU
IN STATES URGED
Cummings Calls for United
Forces in Address in
Radio Forum.

Tne Star ana BROADCAST from coast
to coast by the National Broadcast
ing Co.
Declaring there are too many police
and prosecuting agencies working in
conflict with one another instead of
cooperating against a common
enemy, Cummings urged that the
States take prompt legislative action
to end these conditions.
At the same time he promised the
whole hearted support Of the Federal
Department Of Justice in effecting re-
forms.
A concrete proposal was that picked
representatives Of State and NUM-
cipal law-enforcement groups be sent
to Washington as students in the
training school conducted by the Di-
vision of Investigation for special
agents Of that gang chasing organi-
zation.
Cites Rival Authority.
This broadening of the scope of the
divisions training school would be in
line with the Attorney Generals plan
for great national university and
research center for study of the
science Of crime detection and related
matters.
Cummings pointed out IT is not un-
usual to find In single county three
separate, mco-ordinated agencies for
criminal justice, including in each
group q magistrate, Q police officer
and the prosecutor.
This situation" he said, "fre-
quently produces regrettable conflicts
Of authority and an overlapping juris-
diction, with consequent confusion and
loss Of effort. 1t is amazing, when
we consider the lack of coordination
between these officials, that the ad-
ministration Of criminal justice is as
successful as it is. It Is idle to pre-
tend that criminal law administration
of this kind can be effective"
Text Of Address.
The text of Attorney General Cum
mings' address follows:
On the eighth OF October last is
sued call for a conference on crime,
to be held In Washington from the
tenth to the thirteenth Of December.
Tonight, through the courtesy of the
National Radio Forum, there Is pre-
sented an appropriate occasion to re-
port some Of the results Of that con-
ference and to outline, from the view
point Of the Department of Justice,
what lies ahead. venture to make
this report because Of my firm con-
Wction that our people have awakened
from their Indifference to the menace
| Of crime and are eager to learn what
our law-enforcement authorities, each
in their respective jurisdiction, pro-
pose to do about 1t.
The recent conference on crime was
based upon well-defined theory, or
| at least upon a new method of ap-
| proach. Therefore, the public, ex-
| pressing itself through conferences or
otherwise, had appealed to the Gov
ernment for aid in dealing with the
menace Of lawlessneSs. But now the
| process was about to be reversed-the
| Government was to appeal to the pub
lie for its thoughtful advice, for its
sustained interest and for its active
help In q national movement to meet
the common peril.
In attendance there were the rep
resentatives Of Federal, State, terri
torial and local Governments, as well
| as Of more than rs quasi-public and
| private agencies, the interests and ac-
| tivities' of which bear upon this prob
lem. In all there were about 600 dele
gates present from all parts of the
United States, who heard from the
lips Of practical experts a discussion
| Of crime in its four principal aspects,
to-wit: First, the causes of crime;
second, detection, apprehension and
punishment; third, reforms in proceed
ure, and, fourth, rehabilitation, in
cluding probation, parole and pardon.
! The President of the United States
opened the conference with a ringing
call for action. and the partisan
character of the enterprise was evi-
denced in the public-spirited collab-
grafton Of two distinguished cabinet
officers Of preceding administration.
No element Of partisanship or politics
invaded any stage Of the proceedings.
Ten Sessions Held.
No more earnest or intelligent
group has ever assembled to discuss
the problem Of crime. Ten sessions
were held and every conceivable aspect
Of this matter was made the subject
Of well-considered addresses, followed
by informal but highly instructive de-
bate. A committee on resolutions was
appointed and its report was adopted
by . unanimous vote. These resolu-
tons called for continuing efforts and
permanent organization to work
along well-deflned lines. A study Of
the situation is still going on in the
Department Of Justice and shortly
shall announce the names Of the COM
mittee to carry forward the work.
Not for one moment do we con-
template resting upon our oars. The
pressure for progress will be constantly
applied. This movement must 60 on
and it must succeed.
What the conference sought was to
approach the question in as dispas-
sionate, as objective and as practical
manner as possible; to consider
crime In the light of the experience
Of the participating groups without,
at the same time, getting into the
field Of particular crimes, specialized
suggestions and minute professional
preoccupation. The conference was
uOt lOllS III Ic6CuuuS COululOu
ground. The Committee on Arrange
ments had prepared a somewhat rig
orouS routine Of addresses and dis
cussions, but owing to the reputation
and character Of the speakers and the
challenging issues presented, interest
was maintained to the end, an inter-
est that those Of us in the depart
ment have since seen spreading out
into ever widening circles, as q broader
realization comes to our people that
what Is involved is the administration
Of justice in its largest sense, affect
ing both Federal and State enforce
ment and the proper coordination Of
the two.
It seemed to be the unanimous opin-
Ion OF the participants, Is it must be
Of all persons who have studied this
problem, that no sustained movement
to deal with crime can be initiated
with real hope Of success unless there
Is an Informed and aggressive public
opinion supporting our law enforce
ment authorities in their different
f1eldS The conference heIieva