Evening star., 1936-01-17

OleS involving pdIOIcu CEAliAldlo, IAc
speaker said Cleveland public opinion
once was aroused to the point Of writ
ing critical letters to the board.
"An aroused public sentiment, in
formed as to the facts, really does
have a disciplinary and stimulating
effect" he said, ION the agencies Or
ganized for the purpose of admin
istering criminal justice"
Discussing 1.-The Community's Re
sponsibility for Crime Control" Miller
deplored the "gangster" and rack
eteer" in American life and increase
in crime. He declared that the Cap
ital needs a capitalization of re-
sources" practical equipment, with
trained personnel, and scientific re-
search to force solution of its prob
lem.
Miller stressed the responsibility
devolving upon the community be-
cause of the preponderance of viola
tions of local laws, as contrasted to
violations Of Federal law. The ex-
perience of the country with attempts
to enforce national prohibition he
pointed to as indicating necessity Of
greater local enforcement.
Demands Of Community.
The speaker quoted Oliver Wendell
Holmes as saying that "the first re-
quiremsnt of sound body Of law is
that it should correspond with the
actual feelings and demands Of the
community, whether right or wrong
Pointing out that public sentiment
too often was Indifferent to criminal
law administration, or even tended to
follow the spirit OF the "cop hater'
and those whose racial inheritance
was one of antagonism to organized
government" the speaker declared
there should be more narshaling OF
public spirit to support the policeman
on his beat and the other agencies of
law and order.
Discussing pending legislation, Miller
favored bill which would change the
nature of the Juvenile Court, which
now is criminal court.
A study of the juvenile situation in
Washington a few years ago, the
speaker said, revealed that juvenile
delinquency existed in all parts of the
city, with the index of delinquency
ranging from one delinquent out OF
every three boys in several areas to a.
low as l out of So in one other area.
Miller approved the pending bill tc
improve the parole system. A confer.
ence of parole officials at the Justice
Department yesterday, he said, went
into this problem, with a view te
clearing up difficulties.
Because of the fact the District |.
not self-governing, Miller said, there
Is more tendency toward indifference
toward community responsibility
much more pronounced than woulc
otherwise be the case" Pointing out
that, on the other hand, this city /.
the Capital of the Nation, with legis.
lators Of experience sent here from al
parts of the country. the speaker sale
that what is needed is Capitalize.
ton of the resources" of these legis.
lators for the greater benefit of thu
city.
Professional Training.
Deploring the fact that many law.
| yers take no interest in criminal Law
and are not familiar with the problems
faced by communities in this respect
the speaker said the country need!
professionally trained personnel to q
into the problem of trying to worl
out the problems Of administration o
criminal justice.
Progress of the Baltimore Crimina
Justice Commission was reported b,
Hepbron to have been so substantial
that more people designated it as /,
recipient Of Community Fund con
tIibutions during the last campaign
than at any previous time in its his
tory.
Improvement in the probation sys
tenn In Baltimore, stricter rules TO
bail bond, retention of the police com
missioner system and many othe
practical results were reported b.
Hepbron.
"The constant focusing Of public at
tention on the manner in which tn
various agencies charged with the ad
ministration Of criminal justice wer
functioning has, In itself, had o mos
salutary effect" said Hepbron.
Quoting figures compiled four year