Evening star., 1941-08-01
Police
Continued From First Page.

the District of Columbia we must
have one man who is absolutely re-
sponsible and hold him responsible. !"
Senator McKellar said as he ex-
planned his bill, section by section.
I'm my judgment" he said, "the
interference and Intervention of the
City Commission is one OF the
troubles OF the present system. An
other is the Intervention of the Civil
Service Commission in the Police
Department. Another is the jealousy
between heads of bureaus. divisions
and departments. each trying to get
some individual or bureaucratic or
selfish advantage.
He added in this connection later
that his bill was designed to free
the department from interference"
from these sources as well as from
members of Congress.
Senator McCarran, Democrat, of
Nevada, interrupted to say that po-
licemen could be appointed outside
of civil service under the Mcclellan
plan. and the Tennessee Senator
agreed.
Senator McKellar told the sub
committee the proposed commits
sioner will be required to set up a
system OF his own under his author
ity and report it to the Congress.
He may retain any OF the present
force desired" he continued, land
If desires to have the Civil Service
Commission hold qualifying exami-
nations for the department, he may
do that also.
Expansion Not Solution
Senator McKellar insisted that
the expansion of the District police
force would not solve the problem
of crime control, because ne doubts
that any city in the country has as
many police in proportion to size as
has Washington"
He pointed out IN this connection
that the total force of Metropolitan
and private police here is 1-567, COM
pared to 353 in his home town,
Memphis, where the population is
about half as large.
Senator McCarran said he did not
believe that was fair comparison
This Is the honey spot OF the
world; more money is put In cir
culation here than anywhere else,
Senator McCarran continued, ex-
planning that this had a tendency
to attract some of the most adroit
criminals in the world" as well as
a flood of petty criminals"
Senator McKellar responded that
police seldom are seen on the streets
here. adding that he had lived at
the Mayfower Hotel Ave years and
had never seen a policeman on
abutting De Sales street until after
the Strien murder-"and then he
was going along marking cars or
something" He also asserted that
he had observed harsh and dis
courteous" treatment of the public
by members Of the force.
Senator Austin, Republican, Of
Vermont wanted TO know if Senator
McKellar thought there are. too
many police here and the latter an
swered that he didn't think the
number Is too high, but 1t is plenty
high"
Calls fer Renovation"
In response to another query by
Senator Austin, Senator Mcclellan
said he believed there should be a
renovation" of the force.
Senator Burton, Republican, of
Ohio, . former Mayor of Cleve-
land, asked if Senator McKellar had
/ thought what it would mean to
have the Police Department under
an independent control, outside of
| the control of municipal officials
and the Fire Department. a co-ordi-
mated branch of the District gov
eminent, under District rule. The
Tennessee Senator simply com
mented, however, that he wanted tc
free the police from interference. >
Senator McKellar said that he wa,
advancing his plan as an 'onlooker'
and was not directly or indirectl,
interested in anybody wanting 6
job"
Senator OMahoney, at the outset
told Senator Mcclellan that it ap.
peared to him the bill might be re.
ferred to the District COMMITTEE
when it was introduced and printed
but agreed to hear the Senators
presentation. The Wyoming Senator
explained that the F. B. /. bills wert
before the Judiciary Committee be.
cause they involved Justice De.
partment matter.
/ Senator McKellar insisted, how.
ever. that substitute" for his otheI
bill properly belonged in the Judici
ary Committee and that he woule
ask it be referred there when h,
introduced the measure today.