Evening star., 1939-12-10

The overthrow of Kansas City's Pen
dergast machine, accomplished almost
entirely by Federal agencies, and subse-
uuent Federal drives on political corrup-
ton have caused a general questioning
of the efficiency of local crime control.
The conviction of Boss Tom heightened
the publics impression, first created by
Chicago's Capone case, that the Gov
eminent did what local authorities could
not or would not do.
However, both in Kansas City and in
Chicago, major objectives were gained
only indirectly. In one case political
machine was crushed. In the other
criminal gang was smashed. But in
each case Government agencies obtained
convictions only under the Federal tax
laws. Their services to the two COM
munities were incidental
Such an indirect approach does not
recommend itself as broad solution OF
the crime problem, but it has served to
dramatize the efficiency of Federal po-
lice work Should we, then, scrap our
concepts of home rule and organize
SSSiA ~ANAA> 40
continental Europe? Or should we have,
at least, a super-police, like England's
Scotland Yard, which leaves consider
able authority in local hands.
Broadly, the latter pattern is suggested
in two studies-"Crime Control by the
National Government" and Local De-
mocracy and Crime Control'-made by
A. c. Millspaugh for the Brookings Insti-
tute in 1896 and 1887. studies which may
have been dismissed with too little at
tention at the time of publication.
DR.. Miilspaugh recommends State,
rather than Federal control of the po-
lice. but he wants State Police Depart
ments supported by strong and COM
petent Federal agency which would CO.
ordinate their work-a program already
undertaken to some extent by the Fed
eral Bureau of Investigation.
State Justice Bureau.
All crime control activities, prevention
and prosecution, as we'll as detection and
apprehension, would be brought to-
gether in State Department of JUS
tice, probably under the Attorney Cen
eral, who would be relieved of his func-
tions as legal adviser to the States
other Departmental function that can
be better fulfilled by lawyers attached to
those departments and familiar with
their special problems.
The Attorney General, under this
plan, would be appointed by the Gov
ernor to remove him and his department
Co. vii
1t would be futile to undertake reform
of this nature, writes DR.. Millspaugh, as
long as the directing head of such an
organization would be subject to removal
every two or four years.
The police departments of larger cities
would retain a certain degree OF auton-
omy-as a practical matter-but their
work would be closely integrated with
that of the State department. Rural
counties would cease to exist as crime
control units, becoming, at most, con-
venient districts of the State depart
ment. The sheriffs would be confined to
serving processes in civil cases and, per-
haps, maintaining Jail.
Policing and prosecution are separate
functions, and there need not be an Off
cial responsible for both in each police
district. Coordination of the two func-
tions would be effected at the top-in
the State Justice Department. This
would leave the coordination of the
work of the large independent municipal
police departments something of prob
lem However, the plan would represent
great advance over the present chaotic
state of affairs, with thousands of police
agencies of all sizes and degrees of
efficiency since all policing and prosecu-
ton would be in the hands of a single
State department dealing at most, with
q handful of municipal forces.
Crime Is Mobile.
The need for police work on such a
broad plane is obvious. Crime is not
localized or specialized. Criminals are
mobile opportunists. Those assigned to
deal with them should, as far as possible,
have the same latitude.
That brings the Federal Government
into the picture since the criminal ele-
ment has no more respect for State
boundary than for county line. Inter-
state compacts, assiduously promoted by
the Council of State Governments, have
legalized pursuit across borders and
otherwise lowered jurisdictional bar
riers, but for the National Government
such barriers simply do not exist. Dur
ing the last decade Washington has
given more and more recognition to
criminality as national problem. Ad-
visory conferences have been held for
the benefit of State and local authori-
ties, and some cooperation has been
extended to them. The category of Fed
eral crimes, such as smuggling and IL
licit trading in narcotics, has been ex-
tended to include such offenses as kid
naping, once regarded as purely local
Logic dictates an extension OF this
Federal participation in the suppression
and control of crime. 1t also dictates
that these Federal excursions into the
field of general police work should be
consolidated in a single agency, prefer
ably the Federal Bureau Of 1nvestiga-
tim which might even be given q status