Evening star., 1941-08-12
Bill Seeks 100
MorePo|icenen
For District
Recent Ropes Cited
AS Cochran Offers
PIun in House

trict is provided in a bill introduced
in the House today by Represent
ative Cochran, Democrat, of Mis-
souri,.
In offering the measure. Mr..
Cochran declared that with 10
rape cases recorded since January
l, no other argument should be nee
essary for immediate action by
Congress in passing my bill.
The attention of the entire
United States" he added" has
been called to the conditions in
Washington by reason of the muir
ders and assaults that have occurred
here in recent months"
The bill would make the appro-
priation 'out of any money to the
credit of the District" and is for
the fiscal year 1912.
Funds on Hand, He Says.
Mr.. Cochran pointed out that
since he was proposing an appro-
priation rather than an authorize
ton, his bill would be taken up by
the Appropriations Committee.
Otherwise the bill would 60 to the
District Committee.
The MisSourian contended that
no authorization would be necessary
because the act of July l, 1880, fix
ing salaries on the Metropolitan
Police Force contained authority
to hire such members as there were
funds to pay.
Mr.. Cochran said he had checked
up on District finances and found
there were sufficient funds to pro-
vide the S15800 required for 100
more policemen.
In a formal statement accom-
panying the bill, the st. Louis mem
ber said that while he had read of
the operations of gangsters in large
cities, nowhere had there come to
his attention "a condition anywhere
near approaching the record of at
tacks on women as in the District
Of Columbia
Inspector Kelly Praised.
Mr.. Cochran added that. without
casting any reflection on the retir-
ing superintendent of police, Maj.
Ernest w. Brown, he was satisfied
that in Inspector Edward Kelly the
Commissioners had chosen for the
new chief "one OF the outstanding
police officers of the United States"
mo city in the United States" he
said, has increased in population as
has Washington in recent years. but
our police force has not increased
accordingly. 49,
When l came to Washington,
nearly 30 years ago, I recall the Sc
we're sentences that were handed
down by the judges of the various
courts. 1 remember one in particu-
lar, because the man happened to
come from my own city, and he was
convicted of pickpocketing, and re-
ceived Is years. In those days
criminal stayed away from Wash
ington, and, without reflection upon
the judges of today, undoubtedly
they have been rather lenient, and
as a result, crime has increased
in the District"
Time Waste Criticized.
Mr.. Cochran said he had sug-
eested to Inspector Kelly that he
discontinue the practice of having
policemen spend their time selling
tickets for worthy charitable events"
Too much of this has been going
on, he added, when men should be
patrolling beats" If the charitable
project is worthy, he contended, it
should not require police to sell
tickets.
And this Includes he said, the
Boys Clubs, of which I might say I
have been a contributor, and also
the Presidents Birthday Ball"
Mr.. Cochran saw as another way
to get policemen to patrol beats dis
continuing the practice of having
them stationed at social functions"
For large social functions he
added, "of course there should be a
traffic officer, but, aside from that,
If they need additional protection, it
seems to me that they should hire
private detectives.
Sees Job Up to Congress.
Inspector Kelly has a real job to
perform, but the responsibility does
not rest alone with him. In my
opinion. Congress is obligated to give
him sufficient men to properly patrol
the District, and this is what I am
trying to do with this legislation
While the House District Com
mittee. adopting the report of sub
committee which recently investi-
gated the Police Department, recon-
mended so additional policemen,
nothing yet has been done toward
obtaining congressional approval OF
an increase. 1t was understood that
the committee felt it was up to the
Appropriations Committee; that no
authorizing legislation was needed.
Representative Mahon, Democrat,
of Texas, chairman of the Appro-
priations Committees subcommittee
In charge of District appropriations,
said he and Representative Schultz,
Democrat, of Indiana, chairman OF
the Police Investigating Subcommit-
tee, had conferred over the possibil-
ity of providing so more policemen,
but nothing definite had been de-
cided.
1t is expected the District Com
mittee will await the outcome of the
Cochran proposal before taking fur
ther action.