Evening star., 1941-11-11
Bill 10 Add 100
Police 10 Go 10
President Soon
Senute Acts on Three
Measures, Making
Minor Changes in Two

The bill to add 100 men to the Dis
trict police force. which passed the
Senate unanimously yesterday after
noon, probably will be ready to go
to the President for signature before
the end Of the week
The Senate also passed and sent
back to the House late yesterday for
action on a minor amendment the
proposed new vagrancy law to
strengthen the hands of the Dis
trict police in preventing crime. The
bill is believed to meet objections
expressed by President Roosevelt
when he vetoed a similar measure
about six weeks ago. The President
approved the purposes of the bill,
but told Congress some Of the def
nitionS of yagrancy were too broad.
A third House bill approved by the
Senate yesterday and sent TO the
President makes a minor change in
the local unemployment compensa-
ton law. 1t postpones from 1912 TO
1943 the time for the commission to
report experience ratings as guide
in fixing rates. in view of the fact
consideration in being given to a
revision Of the law.
Prompt Agreement Forecast.
Although the police increase must
20 back to the House for action on
Senate change reducing the ap-
preparation from sl52 900 to s120 1888,
prompt agreement is expected, since
the reduction was made only be-
cause less money will be required
now to employ the men for the bal
ance of this fiscal year than when
it originally passed the House.
When the House passed the bill
it figured on appointment Of the
men October l. The plan now is
to appoint them December !, so that
funds are needed only for seven in
stead of nine months Of the current
fiscal year.
Although Senator McKellar, Dem
ocrat, of Tennessee joined in sup
porting the bill, he told the Senate
it would give Washington more po-
licemen than other comparable cities
except Boston.
The Tennesseean gave the follow
ing statistics: Washington, 663, 900
population and 1.457 policemen.
without the increase; Pittsburgh,
665,000 population and 915 police;
Milwaukee, 5000 population and
1.105 police: Baltimore. 854, 900 pop
ulation and 1.712 police: Boston,
10000 population and 2273 police.
McNary Challenges Comparison.
Senator McNary of Oregon. Re-
publican floor leader. urged passage
of the bill, telling Senator McKellar
he did not believe Washington
should be compared with the other
cities listed. Washington, he said,
is in different situation, because
thousands of persons come here
every day on Government business or
to see the Capital. They should be
afforded adequate protection, the
oregon Senator said, and added he
would vote for several hundred more
If people continue to come here
Senator OMahoney, Democrat. Of
Wyoming, new chairman of the SUBJ
committee on District Appropria-
tions, told the Senate the subcom-
mittee was unit in recommending
the bill. after Maj. Edward j. Kelly.
new superintendent of police. had
described the needs of the depart
ment. Senator O'Mahoney called
particular attention to the length of
beats patrolmen must cover in out
lying sections with the present force.
Senator McKellar said he was sup
porting the bill because the District
had very ugly record" recently.
He said he wanted to wish the new
police chief every success" but
thought Congress should keep an
eye on the situation
The Senate Traffic Subcommittee
headed by Senator Burton of Ohio,
has postponed until $50 a m. Thurs
day the meeting scheduled for to-
morrow morning.