Evening star., 1935-01-28
Schultz, Indiana Democrat,
Charges Gambling Is
Rampant Here.
HAZEN PROMISES TRIAL
IF OFFICIAL is REVEALED
Murders in District Attributed
to Outside Gangsters
Muscling In.

Charges that a police captain is
associating with Washington under
world characters and that gambling
is rampant in the Washington Navy
Yard and other Government bureaus
were made today by Representative
Schultz, Democrat, of Indiana, at the
initial hearing of the Special Crime
Investigating Committee of the House
District Committee.
Schulte's accusation came while
Commissioner Melvin C. Hazen, the
first witness, was on the stand. He
did not mention the name Of the
police captain, but asked Commits
Sioner Hazen If he would help the
committee denote him.
YES" replied Hazen. II would
send him before the Police Trial
Board"
Runners in Navy Yard.
an the Washington Navy Yard"
Schultz declared, there are 5000
men, of whom $500 are gambling every
day-playing the horses and the num-
bers game. Why, they even have run
ners in the yard who turn the bets over
to agents at the gate at noon. That
same thing is going on in other Gov
ernment departments"
Schultz gave the impression the ap-
parent laxity in enforcing the gam
bling laws is due to a breakdown in
the morale of the police force, due to
the civil service promotion system,
which enables younger men to ad-
vance ahead of veteran officers. He
questioned the wisdom Of civil service
examinations to determine promo
ton, but Hazen explained that the
length of serving Of an officer was an
important factor as we'll as the
psychological tests given those eligible
for advancement.
unfair" to d. C. Gamblers.
Later Schultz revealed he had made
a survey of crime conditions in Wash
ington and had discovered that until
gangsters from other cities "muscled
in" Washington apparently was free
Of murderers among the gambling
fraternity.
He said it was unfair" to the
Washington gamblers to permit gang
sters from Philadelphia, Chicago or
any other outside place to come here
and control the gambling situation.
MY survey" she said, shows that
while the Washington boys controlled
the situation, there were no murders"
Schultz also said he had learned
that some of the outside gang now in
control of the gambling situation in
Washington had even threatened tav-
ern keepers If they refused to handle
certain brand of beer.
During the discussion the names Of
several men all well known in WASH
ington's sporting circles, were men,
toned. These included Jew Boy"
Dietz, Mickey Mcdonald and Sam
Beard.
Suggests LegaliZation.
Schultz insisted that there Is no
possible way to eliminate gambling
and suggested that it be legalized.' He
questioned Commissioner Hazen as to
his views, but they were given of
the record"
do you believe that legalizing
gambling in Washington will reduce
a lot of crime?" asked Schultz. IF
that is true, why must we go down
an alley to place our bets?"
Representative Reed, Republican,
of Illinois. asked Commissioner Hazen,
if any effort had been made to con-
troll the gambling situation through
the C. g. P. Telephone Co. and other
utility corporations.
Hazen replied that the telephone
company had co-operated with the
District authorities. but not to the
extent he believed necessary. The
Commissioner added he is planning
to write a letter to telephone officials
urging greater cooperation.
Pays Tribute to Police.
Hazen, in a preliminary statement,
explained to the committee that while
Washington has its crime, he did not
believe the situation to be any worse
here than in any other cities. He
paid tribute to the police force and
explained that it Is handicapped in
many ways. especially through lack
of an adequate force and the extrane-
GUS demands by the Government
agencies. official receptions. visiting
potentateS, etc. He pointed out that
seven Metropolitan officers now. are
detailed at the White House and
others have been assigned to guard
galleries in the House and Senate.
In addition. he explained, eight men
had been detailed to the inspection
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