Evening star., 1941-07-09

= An, w ASHlNUlO
head of the bounty given out by the
Federal Government and they want
to get closer to it."
Whatever the reason" said Mr.
Copeland, 'it is attracting the wrong
element to the District. And it
doesn't make any difference to me
II the orders are coming from the
White House, any Government de-
partment or any place else, it should
be stopped. Certainly the people of
the District should not be subjected
to such condition.
Commissioner J. Russell Young
who has attended all hearings of
the subcommittee, volunteered the
suggestion that lack of "a good va
grancy law" might have something
| to do with the present crime situ-
alton.
Stronger Law Suggested.
If such is the case, Representative
/ Copeland said he would favor tight
ening the existing vagrancy law.
/ L believe, Chairman Schultz in
terrupted, That a great deal of this
is due to the extreme leniency on the
part of tine judges.
We had some Police Court Judges
up here recently to discuss the traf-
nc situation and l suggested a uni
| form scale of fines" he said. "One
of the judges agreed to it and the
others refused to go along with him
Representative Hebert suggested
that the subcommittee spend a day
/ in Police Court to see how cases are
J handled"
Let's 60 there some day without
any flag waving and sit in the back
and observe" he said.
AS soon as we are seen there
Chairman Schultz responded, they
will Immediately become real judges.
Baseball Hours" for Judges.
Capt. Callahan was asked how
long the Police Court judges sit on
the bench each day He replied that
court opened at $50 am. and the
judges sat until they get through
That's about hours a day
commented Mr. Hebert. Those are
baseball hours
Capt. Callahan was told as soon
as he took the witness stand that
Representative Copeland had re-
quested that he be recalled TO clear
up some points in connection with
his precinct work.
There is no prejudice in. my
mlnd as TO where the white and COL
ored are concerned Mr.. Copeland
said. But it has appeared to me
from the very beginning of this in
curry that there has been some
favorltlsm shown. Lava biding citi-
zens don't need favoritism."
From then on there was a pro-
tracted discussion over whether
fayoritlsm is shown colord persons
by the police-a discussion that
eventually went off the record"
Tells of Communist Work.
Capt. Callahan SAID that most of
the colored people IN Washington
are "gainfully employed but Com
munists had done considerable
work among them.
He was asked by Mr.. Copeland if
he had received any orders from a
superior to treat them better than
white persons.
No sir, he replied. We treat
every one with equality
Capt. Callahan said under ques-
tioning. however. that there are sew
eral national organizations very
much interested" in colored persons
and are active in seeking equal right
as well as employment for them.
Representative Hebert asked if
there had been any pressure on the
Police Department from members of
Congress who have a large colored
population in their districts to show
favoritism toward colored persons.
Il haven't heard of it," Capt. CAL
lahan answered.
Would Call in Outsiders.
Before the start of the hearing
today. Chairman Schultz said he
plans to call on police officials in
New York, Chicago and Philadelphia
to come to Washington in an effort
to find out what is wrong" with the
police force here.
Il believe" he declared. "if we
can get some of the big shots in
the police departments in the largest
cities of the country to come TO
Washington and look around. thev
could tell us what should be done
to improve the efficiency of our po-
lice department."
The subcommittee now does not
have funds to pay the expenses of
the police officials OF The three
cities who might come here for a
survey of The police department.
Representative Schultz. however.
plans to ask the House within a few
days to appropriate the necessary
money out of its contingent fund.
Plans to Call keck.
At the same time Representative
Schultz announced he would Call as
one OF the principal witnesses with
in few days Acting Capt. Ira E.
As a Man Speaks. So Il He