Evening star., 1941-06-19
Police Inquiry Action
Delayed by Congress
And Commissioners
Lack Of Quorum Bors
Creation of House
Probe Committee.

QuOI uIu plcNclioCu IAic IhOuoc Dio
trict Committee from acting on the
appointment of subcommittee.
The Commissioners selection of a
committee had been delayed pend
ting developments on Capitol Hill.
The city heads decided to withhold
action on a committee to check
into the Police Department from
top to bottom" since, as Commis-
sioner Melvin c. Hazen expressed
1t, 'it would be no particular sense
in having two Investigations going
on at the same time
The special House District Com
mittee meeting had been called at
the instigation of Representative
Hebert, Democrat, of Louisiana, but
only 10 of the 21 committee men,
bers attended.
Discussion Refused.
II Is understood Mr.. Hebert was
asked to discuss informally his
proposal for an investigation of the
Police Department, but refused to
do so in view of the threat of Rep
resentative Schultz to make point
of no quorum to prevent definite
action on any matter on which
vote would be sought.
Asked by newspapermen after the
meeting why he had refused to dis
cuss his request for police inquiry,
Representative Hebert said
Il might as well talk to myself
In front of a mirror"
Mr.. Hebert declared he intended
to insist on early action on his
reouest and Chairman Randolph in
dicated he might call another special
meeting of the committee tomorrow
and make an effort to round up
enough members to constitute a
quorum. He said. however, he would
confer with Mr.. Hebert before max
ing any move.
Commissioner Hazen declared city
officials have no intention Ito lay
this matter on the shelf" and added,
"There will be something done def
nitely, one way or another.
Another Reason for Delay.
Another reason advanced for de-
iay in action by the Commissioners
was that they had been called to
attend budget and other hearings
scheduled for today at Capitol Hill.
I'VE had only few hurried min
utes this morning said Mr.. HaZen.
1--WE will take the proposal up again
at the next opportunity for board
session"
1t was revealed yesterday Com
y1issioners Hazcn and John Russell
Young had planned such an investi-
cation as long as 10 days ago. AS
Commissioner Young described it,
the proposed inquiry would have the
objectives of wedding out the dead
wood and discover what needs the
Police Department has in the way of
personnel or technical facilities"
Because of the limited time that
could be devoted to the question at
this mornings special meeting of
the Commissioners. the city heads
were unable to go into the question
of who should De named to conduct
the inquiry, or other details of the
probe.
Meanwhile, the Commissioners
we're urged today by Representative
Martin j. Kennedy, Democrat, of
New York. to appeal Immediately to
President Roosevelt to augment the
Metropolitan Police Force with
enough soldiers and sailors Ito pro-
vide adequate police protection for
the people now in residence in the
Nations Capital"
Before today's House District Com
mittee session, Representative He
bert announced he would oppose
vigorously any move to kill the
congressional investigation of the
Police Department because the
Commissioners have proposed a
similar inquiry.
Missed the Boat"
The fact that the Commissioners
want an investigation" he said,
"only serves to prove my case about
conditions in the Police Department.
The Commissioners have waited too
long-they missed the boat"
Representative Hebert also de-
elared the plan of the Commits
gioners to create five-man board
of police officials and civilians to
investigate the department is akin
to "a brother investigating a
brother"
II appreciate the efforts of the
Commissioners to dig into the crime
situation here" he said, but it
seems to me they have let it go too
far. If they want to investigate the
Police Department., let them 90 to
L1,,t l,tx
do should interfere with a con-
gressional investigation such as I
recommended"
Would Go Back Five Years.
Representative Hebert requested
Chairman Randolph to appoint a
special subcommittee to delve into
the activities of the Police Depart
ment for the last five years. to find
out primarily whether it is func-
tioning efficiently.
Representative Kennedy, who is
being groomed in New York as a
possible successor to Mayor La
Guardia, stepped into the local
crime picture because, he said, he
had received letters and kilograms
from parents of Government
workers in Washington asking his
advice whether their daughters
should remain here under prevail
ing conditions"
Text of Letter.
His appeal to the Commissioners
10 seek the aid of soldiers and sailors
In policing the city was made in a
letter. 1t follows
The whole Nation is shocked at
the news stories from Washington
concerning the unusual amount of
crime. The recent murder of a
beautiful young Government clerk
has served to further emphasize the
deplorable situation that exists in
the District.
The apparent failure of the local
Police Department to cope with the