Evening star., 1939-05-31
Dictagraph Use
Probe Ordered
By Bankhead
Metropolitan Police
Have No Jurisdiction
On Capitol Hill

Speaker Bankhead today directed
Kenneth Romney, sergeant at arms
OF the House, to make a thorough
investigation of the activities of
members of the metropolitan police
force or other law-enforcing agen-
cies in wiring for dictagraphs in the
room in the Old House Office Build
ing where the milk investigation
headquarters were located.
The metropolitan police force
has absolutely no Jurisdiction on
Capitol Hill, and when the COM
mlttee was given authority to get
help from other government agen-
cles in their investigation, it was not
contemplated that they would seek
the aid OF any other than civil en-
ployes of the Government" said
Speaker Bankhead THE only peo-
pie who have jurisdiction in the
Capitol and Senate and House OF.
nee Buildings are the sergeants at
arms OF the House and Senate and,
unoer them, the Capitol police
force"
Found Room Wired.
AT press conference the Speaker
SAID some of Mr.. Romney's men
had found one room which had
been wired for dictagraph.
Asked If he knew that Repre-
sentative Bates had asked the major
and superintendent of the Metro
politan Police Force for aid and
that the police chief had been given
permission by the District Com
mlssloners, the Speaker said he did
not know that such was the fact,
but that it would be investigated.
The Speaker was also asked if he
and the House leadership were going
to try to induce Representative Jen-
nings Randolph of West Virginia to
continue as chairman of the House
District Committee. He replied that
ne had not yet given that question
any consideration and had not con-
ferred with Mr.. Randolph.
Chairman Bates pointed out today
that the House resolution directing
the investigation contains this para
graph:
That the committee or duly au.
thorlzed subcommittee is authorized
TO call upon any agency of the Dis
trlct or Federal Government for
the purpose of rendering assistance
IN carrying out the terms of this res
olution."
Representative Bates explained
that he at first asked the Post Office
Department to assign postal in
spectors to help in the investigation
and was refused this assistance. He
then appealed to the Department of
justice and was refused assistance.
He next went to the Metropolitan
Police Force and number of men
were assigned to cooperate with his
subcommittee.
At a meeting of the full District
Committee week ago Monday an
other request was made upon the
Department of Justice for assistance
IN the milk investigation, but several
days later Attorney General Murphy
notified the committee that his de-
partment would be unable to assist
them.
Meanwhile testimony that SAM
pies OF milk collected from dairy
trucks as well as in stores in
all sections of the District several
weeks ago and tested IN the labora-
tories OF the Department of Agri-
culture showed a bacteria count
ranging from 100000 per cubic
centimeter to a minimum of 200 was
given by c. j. Babcock of the Dairy
Marketing Division of the depart
ment before the House committee
investigating the milk situation.
Only one dairy showed the high
count.
(Under the District milk law
enacted in 1926, the maximum bac-
terra count was set at 10000 per
cubic centimeterD
The samples, Mr.. Babcock said.
were collected by himself and Detec.
tive Richard Felber of the tenth
precinct. who was assigned to the
Office of Corporation Counsel FL
wood H. Seal in January as special
milk investigator.
Higher in Store Samples.
The average bacteria count, Mr..
Babcock explained, was slightly
higher in the samples taken from
the stores than in those taken from
dairy wagons on retail routes. The
average butter fat content of the
milk samples, he said, was slightly
higher in samples from the wagons
than from those from the stores.
j. Frank Cone, bacteriologist Of
the Agriculture Department, fol-
lowed Mr.. Babcock on the witness
stand, and described methods en-
ployed in making the tests.
Charles w. Holman, secretary of
the National Milk Producers Fed
GRAFTON, read to the committee a
long list of both farm price and re-
tail milk prices in various sections
Of the country.
The retail prices in most Of the
cities were below the IA cents per
quart in Washington, but Mr.. Hol-
man pointed out the prices referred
to the standard grade Of the milk
sold in those particular com.