Evening star., 1941-08-04
Bill Is Approved
Tightening D. E..
VagrancyLaw
Maximum Penalty
Will Be Asked for
HubituuI Criminal

The House District Committee ap-
proved today bills providing more ]
drastic penalties for habitual Grim
inals and dangerous vagrants in
The committee directed Corpora
ton Counsel Richmond B. Keech to
draw up an amendment to the pro-
posed habitual criminal law pro-
viding that the maximum penalty
for second felony conviction, which
the bill makes mandatory, shall be
dealt only when the crime involved
force and violence"
The committee voted. 6 to 5. to
keep on the calendar the pending
small loan bill, after Representative
Schultz, Democrat, of Indiana had
moved to withdraw it for further
study.
The measure allows money lenders
in the District to charge 2 per cent
a month on unpaid balances. Mr..
Schultz wanted to lower the interest
rate by requiring payments of in
stallments on diminishing scale,
Result OF Police Quiz.
The bills drastically increasing the
penalties for habitual criminals and
vagrants grew out of the recent in
vestigation of the Metropolitan DO
lice Department by a House district
subcommittee.
Chairman Randolph Of the Dis
trlct Committee plans to press fo"
action on both measures at the ne-t
District day in the House, a wee:
from today.
There was sharp discussion of tho
bill amending the District habitual
criminal statute when it came up TO-
committee action Some members
thought its provisions were too
drastic and it might defeat its own
purpose, and the amendment VIZ
designed to meet these objections.
The measure was reported out Wi II
the understanding that the corpora
tion counsel would furnish commit
tee members with an amended draft
by the middle of the week. Mean
while, the original bill will be placed
on the calendar and the amendment.
which the committee plans to ap-
prove next Monday morning, will be
moved from the floor.
The bill as drawn at present. pro-
Wdes that any one convicted the
second time-of a misdemeanor may"
be imprisoned by a term longer BY
one-half of the first term and by a
fine so per cent higher.
For felonies the sentences are
more severe. For the second con-
viction, the maximum term provided
Tor the odense must be applied. ex-
] cept where it is death or life i'm
prlsonment, which shall apply as the
court may direct. The maximum
prison terms plus half its length
must be dealt out for the third con-
viction, and for the fourth and anv
later convictions, the punishment is
twice the maximum set for the
crime.
Some Leeway Urged.
Representative Harris. Democra
OF Arkansas. felt that the second
of1ense provision for felonies was
TOO severe. Often, he pointed out
there were mitigating circumstances
even when person was guilty of .
second felony, and the judge should
have some leeway.
We can't treat all cases alike +"
he added.
Representative Dirksen. Repub-
hcan, OF Illinois agreed that there
should be some discrimination
where the felony was not accom-
panied by gun play or other violence
He said he favored the law in
principle and would hate to see il
defeat itself by its own severity"
Representative Russell, Democrat
OF Texas, also opposing the second
onense provision, said it was not the
severity, but the certainty of penalty
which determined crime.
Representative Shafer. Republican
OF Michigan said his State became
laughing stock because a couple
OF Judges, under the habitual
criminal law, gave life sentences for
carrying pint of liquor" Michigan,
he said. had repealed its habituaI
criminal statute.
Menace to Society"
Replying hotly to these sugees-
tions, Representative Sauthoff. Pro-
gressive, of Wisconsin pointed out
that often when a bandit was caught
Tor the first time, he had a long
career of crime behind him-the
police had just been able to get the
goods on him.
I haven't any time to waste on
these fellows" Mr.. Sauthoff added
They're a menace to society. I
say put them away for keeps"
The drastic provisions of the bill
likewise were defended by Repre-
sentative Schultz, Democrat of In
diana.
The District" he said, "is differ
ent from any State in the Union.
We are dealing with a criminal
element which has come here be-
cause the pickings are good. The
police tell us they come here from
other States because they think It's
an easy place to commit crimes.
We've had two or three murders in
the last so days. While we're fid-
ding around, more murders, more
holdups and other crimes are COM
mitted.
Offenders Unpunished.
Session after session, we say
we're going to do something about
crime and we don't do it. Eight
and-nine- time offenders get away
with it."
There was no opposition to ap-
proving the bill with the suggested
amendment applying to two-time-
felons. though Representative Rus
sell cast the single dissenting vote
against reporting it out because he
said he thought the committee
should put it in final form before
placing 1t on the calendar.
The vagrancy bill was reported
out unanimously after brief discus
sion.
The measure provides for va
grancy fine of not more than $500
or imprisonment for not more than
on davS Or both nenaltieS The court