Evening star., 1938-01-23
SERIES Of FORUMS
ON DISTRICT CRIME
TOMORROW
Sessions Designed Today
Basis for a Militant Com.
munity Drive.
CUMMINGS SPEAKER
AT INITIAL Meeting
45-Minute Daily Gatherings Are
Slated Through Thursday at
Willard Hotel.


A series of crime forums, designed
to lay the basis for a militant COM
munity program to reduce crime and
strengthen law-enforcement machin-
cry in the District, will open at the
Willard Hotel tomorrow under auspices
of the Washington Criminal Justice
Association.
Attorney General Cummings will be
the principal speaker tomorrow at the
first Of eight forum sessions sched-
uled for this week, DR.. James A.
Nolan, managing director of the as
sociation, announced yesterday The
meetings will continue through Thurs
day, with 45-minute sessions each day
at 11:30 am. and 4:40 pm.
"Washington's crime problem is the
communitys problem, and to that
end immediate steps should be taken
to ascertain the extent of crime and
to formulate long-range, militant
community plan," Clarence Phelps
Dodge, chairman of the committee
arranging the forums, said
True Cross Section.
These meetings will fiji a long
felt need and will give an opportunity
to every business and professional man
to suggest what he thinks should be
done to augment law enforcement.
With citizens contributing suggestions
these meetings. we will secure a tenta-
tive community program. coming from
true cross-section of the best think
ing Of the community.
1T is logical to believe that such a
program will obtain the support of
the public. know all the law-en-
forcement officials will be gratified
with this type of cooperation"
DR.. Nolan said the meetings Will
be open to the public and that ap-
proximately 1000 business and pro-
fessional leaders had been invited to
attend and contribute suggestions
Various public officials concerned with
law enforcement will address each ses-
sion briefly after which the forum
will be thrown open for discussion from
the floor, he said.
Praises District Police.
In speaking of crime in the District
Mr.. Dodge said he did not regard
Washington as the crime capital of the
Nation, as charged by some con-
gressional critics, but that he did
believe there was much excessive crime
here. One Of the main reasons for
this. as well as a relatively small
number Of convictions, he described
as IAN uninformed and a pathetic
public" He praised the District police
and court systems as among the best
in the country.
The crime forum series is one Of
the steps being taken by the Criminal
Justice Association to interest civic
leaders in the crime situation Or
ganized in 1886 at the suggestion Of a
congressional committee that inves-
tigated crime conditions here. the as-
sociation is financed by private con-
tributions and operates as an un-
official, non-partisan fact-finding and
research body.
Purpose of the association, DR.. No.
Ian explained, is to promote an eff
cient administration of justice in the
District through constructive Coop
Grafton with the officers, departments
and tribunals charged with this func-
ton.
Its major functions are mainte-
nance of co-ordinated, comprehen-
sive records Of all major criminsl
cases here and analytical study of law
enforcement activities. These studies
are designed to uncover any loop
holes in the law-enforcement ma
chinery. which then are brought to the
attention of the proper officials so
that Improvements can be effected.
Suggestions to Be Asked.
Questionnaires will be distributed at
each of the forum meetings on which
those participating will be asked to
specify their suggestions for COLI
tinued work Of the association and
improvement of the administration Of
justice here.
The questionnaires will ask opinions
specifically on Inauguration OF special
studies of the parole. indeterminate
sentence and probation systems In use
in District courts. The association
expects to release soon the findings
of a special study on the bail-bond
situation here.
Eugene Meyer, publisher Of the
Washington Post and president Of the
association, and Odell Smith will act
as co-chairmen of the first forum ses-
sion at 1880 am. tomorrow, when
Attorney General Cummings will be
the guest speaker.
Police Court Judge Edward NJ Cur
ran will speak at 4:40 pm. tomorrow,
when Mr.. Dodge and Curtis McCalip
will preside.
Rest Of Program.
The remainder Of the program was
announced as follows:
Tuesday, 11:30 a.m.-Joseph E. Day.
ton. director Of the Bureau of Reha-
bilitation, speaker: Vincent Saccardi
and Benjamin Ourisman, chairmen.
4:40 pm.-Wilbur La Roe, jr., chair
man Of the Board Of Parole. speaker;
Newbold Noyes, associate editor Of The
Evening Star, and Lyle J. O'Rourke,
chairmen.
Wednesday, 1880 am.-Maj. Ernest
w. Brown, superintendent Of police,
speaker; Mr.. Meyer and Mr.. Dodge,
chairmen. 440 p.m.-Capt. Rhoda
Milliken Of the Police Department
Woman's Bureau. speaker; Miss Ella
Werner and Mrs. r. w. Bliss. chairmen,
Thursday, 1880 a.m.-Da@id A.
Pine, acting United States district
attorney, speaker; Mr.. Noyes and
Joseph E. Rice, chairmen. 4:40 pm.-
Joseph B. Keenan,, assistant to the
Attorney General, speaker; William