Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1938-03-09
picture on Page BIZ
BY CARTER BROOKE JONES.

ny CARTER BROOKE JONES.
Before a crowd of interested citi-
zens, the House District Committee
opening public hearings today on the
numbers bill, heard this racket de-
nounced by United States Attorney
David A. Pine as "a serious menace to
good order and decent government"
urging sharper teeth in the District
lottery law, Mr. Pine declared the
vast sums of money" taken in illegally
by the numbers hackers opened an
easy source of other crimes and pre-
sented the possibility of corruptins
enforcement officers"
Mr.. Pine said he was for the pendin9
Dill, with certain amendments which
ne proposed. The principal one de-
signed to hit the racketeers instead of
the players.
A cross-fire of questions came from
committee members as the prosecutor
proceeded with his testimony. which
mad not been completed when the
nearing recessed until tomorrow.
Palmisano Leads QUESTIONING.
Chairman Palmisano. a foe of the
legislation. led in Questioning whether
1t would not be used by the police to
harass poor people who can't afford
lawyers" but the district attorney in
sisted this was not its purpose. Mr..
Pine also disagreed with the chairman
that the search and seizure section
would permit raids on private homes
without sufficient evidence.
In his opening statement. Mr.. Pine
SAID: I'm not fanatic on the subject
OF gambling. know it goes on nightly
at bridge and poker games. But that
Is social gambling. Commercial gam
bling is a different thing entirely, and
when it reaches the proportions of
the numbers racket in Washington, 1t
becomes social problem. -
My objection to the numbers racket
Is due to its results and concomitants,
which are crimes of violence of the
most serious character. Vast sums
are concentrated in the hackers, who
are operating without the law and
can't look to the law. They are an easy
prey to hi-jackers, house breakers and
other criminals. They prefer to re-
slst force with force, and thus the
racket becomes serious menace to
good order and decent government"
In response to questions by commit.
tee members Mr.. Pine said the income
from the racket here runs into mill
IONS He agreed with Representative
Dlrksen, Republican. of Illinois that
numbers men should 90 to JAIL but
pointed out it was customary to allow
Judges discretion as to whether fine or
Imprisonment should be imposed.
Chairman Palmisano, referring to
similar congressional Investigation
several years ago. asked: Suppose a
numbers man came to you and in list
ing the expenses of his game said his
boss paid police $40 month for pro-
tection?"
I'D yank him before the grand jury
forthwith" Mr.. Pine replied.
He added he would take that course
because he did not think the police
should investigate themselves, al
though he did not mean to imply po-
lice officials were not willing to do so.
Recalls Inquiry Of 1884.
Mr.. Palmisano then read from the
record Of the crime inquiry of 1884,
quoting the testimony of Robert
Green, colored, who said he was a
numbers writer.
Green said his employer paid $40
month police protection. Mr. Pal
misano said Capt. George M. Little,
head Of the vice squad, heard his
testimony but did nothing about it.
Capt. Little, scheduled to be a later
witness at the present hearing, sat
among the witnesses.
Corporation Counsel Elwood Seal
interviewed to say that Green's state.
ment concerning alleged police pro-
lection had been investigated, but
Leslie c. Garrett, then United States
attorney. had not considered 1t sufi-
Gent evidence to take before the grand
jury.
The discussion grew out Of this hy-
pothetical question which Mr.. Palmi-
sano asked Mr.. Pine:
Assuming that a police officer
heard the testimony Of that numbers
runner and failed to do anything
about it, would you say that oficer
would be the proper man to enforce
the search and seizure law under this
bill?"
Il would say he was neglectful of
duty" Mr.. Pine replied.
well, that officer," said the chair
man, was 1t. Little, who is now act
ing captain in charge of the vice
squad"
Nichols Enters Discussion.
Representative Nichols. Democrat,
Of Oklahoma Immediately inquired,
How long ago did that happen?"
Palmisano: In 1884,"
Nichols: Has the statute Of limi.
tation run on that case?"
Pine: "Yes, there's q three-year
limitation"
Palmisano: 1.-THE proper thing for
that police officer to do was to have
picked that man up and taken him
before the grand jury and made him
tell who his boss was"
Pine: "Capt. Little does not have
(see NUMBERS. Page A-3.)