Evening star., 1941-06-23
D. Committee
Orders General
Police Inquiry
Vote Unanimous;
Strieff Murder Hunt
Reaches Blank Wall

Metropolitan Police Department was
ordered today by the House Dis
trict Committee.
The inquiry will be conducted by
the regular subcommittee on Police
and Fire, headed by Representative
Schultz, Democrat, Of Indiana. The
committee, however, added to the
subcommittee for the period of the
investigation Representative Hebert,
Democrat, of Louisiana, who first
proposed congressional probe.
The enlarged subcommittee plans
to hold its first meeting tomorrow 10
map plans for the investigation and
TO decide whether it should be con-
Quoted behind closed doors.
Meanwhile, the first week since
the discovery of the body of Miss
Jessie Elizabeth Strieff ended this
morning after hectic DAYS in which
police, spurred by reports of the in
vestigation Of their department,
have sought unsuccessfully to un-
cover one tangible clue in this latest
of Washington murder mysteries.
Vote for Inquiry Unanimous.
Representative Herberts proposal
for the congressional inquiry was
discussed by the full committee for
nearly two hours behind closed doors
before it decided to order the IN
quiry. The vote was unanimous. 1t
was announced by Chairman Ran
dolph.
CloSeted with the committee dur
ing the discussion we're Commission
er Melvin C. Hazen and Corpora
ton Counsel Richmond B. Keech. 1t
is understood Mr.. Hazen reported on
The plans of the Commissioners TO
make an investigation of the Police
Department-plans that have since
been held in allegiance because OF
the likelihood of congressional in
quiry.
The investigation subcommittee
IN addition to Chairman Schultz and
Mr.. Hebert, will be composed of the
following: Representatives Mcmillan
of South Carolina, Maciora of Con-
necticut, Democrats; Sauthoff. Pro-
gressive. of Wisconsin and Bolles of
Wisconsin and Copeland OF Ne
braska, both Republicans.
Bare Quorum Present.
Eleven of the 81 members OF the
committee-just enough to Conatl-
tUte a quorum-were present during
the discussion of the crime situation
here and the proposal for an in
vestigation of the Police Depart
ment. They were:
Representative Randolph. Hebert
Schultz, Maciora, Harris Of Ar
kansas, Russell of Texas. Sheridan
of Pennsylvania. D'AleSandro of
Maryland. Democrats, and Shater
of Michigan, Dirksen and Stratton,
both of Illinois. Republicans.
During the executive session OF the
committee, it was learned that Rep
resentative D'Alesandro suggested
that no action be sought during the
investigation on a bill pending on
the House calendar providing a
substantial increase in pay for
police and firemen. 1t is understood
he also declared the police promo
ton list should be held up for the
same period and that Police De-
partment physicians should be
called before the investigators to
find out why certain men over so
years of age were not recommended
for retirement.
List Said TO Have ii Names.
After the meeting Mr.. D'Alesandro
| flashed before newspapermen a list
containing the names of II mem
bers of the police force, all over so
years of age, who he said had not
been examined in the recent check
up of the physical condition OF
policemen over so years of age.
II am in favor of the same type
of investigation I have advocated
all along" declared Representative
Hebert. 1T should be full and open.
1t should be conducted in such
nature that if the Police Depart
ment is at fault the public should
know it and if not the public should
also know it. If any particular
policeman is at fault he should be
exposed to full public gaze, and the
public should be kept abreast of
developments.
Il am definitely not in favor of
any secret or star chamber sessions.
This investigation is the publics
business and the public should be
part and parcel of it.
The selection of the committee
headed by Representative Schultz,
who is perhaps better informed
about the Police Department than
any member of Congress, to conduct
the investigation, was wise de-
cision. I will give him all the sup
port I can"
Mr.. Herbert, in his recommended
ton for the inquiry suggested 1t
(See POLICE PROBE, Page A-2D