Evening star., 1939-03-15
D. T.. Bar Authorizes
Special Study Of
Griffenhagen Plan
Committee Report
Sees No Economy
In Proposal

Continuation of the work of the
association in assisting poor liti-
gants at Municipal Court was voted,
with budget of 81 500 for the COM
ing year; the association raped the
practice of police in arresting per-
sons allegedly illegally and holding
them for investigation" for long
periods, as well as the "dragnet"
arrest system, whereby all persons
IN a given area are taken into GUS
tody at the same time.
In reply to the associations re-
port, Maj. Ernest w. Brown, police
head. said today: 1--WE have outlined
our problem to the Bar Associa-
ton committee why we must place
a technical charge against persons
arrested while their cases are being
investigated. A serious situation
will arise if we are not allowed to
do this. Such action would handi-
cap the department as a whole"
Maj. Brown denied that there had
been wholesale" investigation ar
rests.
The organization deferred until
its next meeting the thorny question
of whether to sanction a special
$5O0,00O structure to house the re-
corder of deeds and possibly oust
Juvenile Court from it's prospective
new building, now under construc-
ton in Judiciary Square, near Dis
trict Court.
Louis Gutenberg reported as
chairman of the Legal Aid Commit
tee and told the association that
Attorneys Joseph I. Cavanaugh and
Robert D. Wise are doing fine work
for the organization at Municipal
Court in aiding poor litigants. Last
year, 1855 new cases were handled,
the report disclosed, and the work
has increased, rather than dimin-
ished. with the establishing Of the
Small Claims Court. The cost to
the association runs around 81 per
case and this work aids in pre-
serving respect for the courts and
the legal profession. Criticism lev
eled at the Community Chest for
not doing more work to supplement
that of the association in this field
was answered by Mr.. Gutenberg in
pointing out that the community
had failed to raise the quota asked
for.
Cites 'Investigation" Arrests.
Edmund D. Campbell, chairman
of the Civil Rights Committee,
brought to the associations atten-
ton that 40 per cent of those
booked were held "for investiga-
tion,' excluding arrests for traffic
violations and for drunk or dis
orderly conduct" according to. q
sampling survey just made.
This report declared: I'm spite
of any apparent justification for
holding persons for investigation
(and we do not question the sin
cerity and good faith of those in
charge of the Police Department
engaged in the difficult task of
repressing crime), your committee
believes that the Police Department
should not be indulgipg in regular
and systematic extra-legal proce-
dure in its efforts to enforce the
law. Such practice involves
serious infringements of the civil
rights of the persons arrested, and
in the opinion of the committee
leads inevitably to grave abuses.
The structure of law enforcement
can never be erected through sys-
tematic law-violation by the en-
forcing officers. If the existing
laws are inadequate to enable the
Police Department properly to per-
form its appointed functions, the
remedy should lie in legislative
action and not in an arbitrary
assumption of the laW-making
function by the Police Depart
ment."
Leo A. Rover, former United
States attorney, as chairman of
the Committee on Public Relations,
outlined program for closer CO.
operation with the press and
projected series Of radio talks and
addresses by members of the asso-
citation at public gatherings. Har-
ryman Dorsey was selected as press
liaison officer to aid reporters in
the preparation of their stories.
Corporation Counsel ElWood Seal,
at the associations invitation, told
the organization that about $50
bills annually are handled by his
office. at the request of the District
Commissioners, and he said that
the suggestions of the Legislative
Committee of the association were
invaluable.
A report was laid before the asso-
citation on behalf of Richard L.
Merrick, chairman of the Commit
tee on Unauthorized Practice of
Law, in which the organization was
advised that the United States
Court of Appeals has granted a
rehearing of the associations case
against the American Security &
Trust Co., recently decided unfa-
vorably to the lawyers. Arguments
were heard on this on Monday, in
the court.
A gavel, made from the wood
from the stair rail at the home of
Chief Justice John Marshall at
Richmond, Va, was presented to
the association by Mr.. Darr.