Evening star., 1935-05-22
House D. c. Committee
Action Deferred Until Fri.
day After Debate.
Werner AND VIRGINIA
GROUP LAUD OFFICIAL
Crime Probers' Recommendation
Scored-Patman Asks Prose.
cutor Be Called.
BY JAMES E. CHINN.

For the second time the House Dis
trict Committee today Unexpectedly
delayed action on the report Of the
Crime Investigating Committee rec
ommending the immediate removal of
United States Attorney Leslie c. Gar
nett and retirement Of the police de-
partment high command"
The committee battled over the re-
port behind closed doors for nearly an
hour and a half without reaching a
conclusion and agreed on adjournment
to resume its consideration Friday at
10:30 am.
The delay in action followed an
eleventh hour double -barreled assault
on the crime report-one from Repre-
sentative Warner, Democrat, Of South
Dakota, who filed . minority report
eycoriating certain Of the Crime
Committees recommendations, and
the other from the Virginia delega-
ton in the House protesting vigor-
ously against the proposal for the dis
missal of Garnett.
Bland Defends Garnett.
The Virginia delegation, headed by
Representative Bland, appeared be-
fore the committee to lodge its protest
a few minutes after Werner submitted
his minority report. Bland told the
committee there was no justification
whatever for the recommendation for
Garnett's removal-that he had known
him for 40 years and that he had
always been regarded as a lawyer
who was aggressive. courageous
frank, fair and Of unimpeachable
integrity"
The crime report, together with
Werner's minority report, was consid-
cred at the largest attended meeting
Of the District Committee at the pres
ent session. Eighteen of the 81 men,
bers were present. including Chairman
Norton.
Representative Patman, Democrat,
Of Texas, offered q motion just before
the committee adjourned to allow
Garnett the privilege Of appearing be-
fore it before final action is taken on
the crime report. His action will be
voted on Friday.
Bland told the committee the opin-
ion Of the Virginia delegation IN the
House Is unanimous In a feeling Of
confidence in the legal ability and
efficiency of Garnett, with whom
many Of them have had professional
and personal contacts for many years.
He said it was the purpose of the
delegation to call attention to the fact
that since the attack was made on
Garnett numerous groups Of lawyers,
judges, business men and citizens
have volunteered to testify as to his
high standing and reputation for le-
gal ability and experience in his pro-
fession.
Cites Court Attitude.
Bland also declared it was espe-
cially gratifying to Garnett's friends
that every judge and every court be-
fore whom he and his assistants had
practiced in the District went on
record as refuting the charges of in
efficiency and incompetency. mo
higher compliment can be paid to the
standing of q member Of the bar" he
said, than to have the universal in
dorsement and respect of the lawyers
with whom he Is associated and the
judges before whom he has practiced." !"
Specifically Werner charged in his
minority report:
/. That the committee exceeded
its authority in delving into person.
alities.
2. That its charges against public
officials are unjustified, and the criti-
cisms trivial" in character, and are
supported only by biased and dis
torted conclusions"
Retirement View Hit.
8. That there was no evidence pre-
sented to the committee to justify the
for retirement of po-
lice officials who have reached the age
of 60.
4. That crime conditions in the
District are not abnormal, as claimed
by the committee, but, on the con-
trary, crime Is decreasing.
S. That, contrary to some of the
testimony before the committee, there
has been no laxity In enforcement of
the gambling laws.
Werner made public the minority
report at the same time it was filed
with the full House District Commit
tee, which convened In executive Ses-
sion at 10:30 o'clock to pass on the
majority report. He appealed to the
committee to approve it in lieu Of the
majority report.
Although Werner attended only q
few of the crime investigating hear
ings, which extended over a two
months period, he said he based the
minority report on a study Of the
oficial 950-page record of the tes-
timony.
Counsel Criticized.
without mentioning John r. Fitz-
patrick, committee counsel, by name,
Werner verbally scorched him in the
report, declaring that he was lawyer
of "scant experience who had never
practiced law on his own account"
and who severed his connection with
Garnett's Office last year under con-
ditions which obviously left him dis
gruntled and dissatisfied and with
venom against his superior, the
present district attorney
He further charged that the COM
mittee counsel at the very outset Of
his interrogation Of Garnett was
actuated by a purpose to discredit
the present district attorney and not
to elicit information" Of the charac-
ter contemplated by the resolution
authorizing the investigation.
Werner explained that his motive
in filing a minority report was
actuated by q desire to oppose the
unjust assault" upon the public Of
icials named in the majority report,
and declared that the criticisms
Continued on Page Q, Column f.)