Evening star., 1941-07-28
House District
GroupAccepts
Police Report
Survey Is Approved
9 to z; Vogroncy
Action Requested
By JAMES E. CHINN.

The full House District Committee,
by a vote of to 2, today accepted
the report of its subcommittee which
recently completed an investigation
of the Metropolitan Police Depart
ment and recommended a series OF
changes to increase its efficiency.
Action was taken behind closed
doors and the names of the men,
bers who voted against acceptance
of the explosive report were not re-
vealed.
Before the committee acceptance
Of the report, however, Representa-
tive Bates, Republican of MaSsachu-
sets, made an attempt to have ac-
ton delayed for week. He was
voted down, also by to 2 vote.
Quick Action Asked.
Chairman Randolph announced
after the meeting that the report
would be filed with the House and
copies would be sent to the Com
missioners for consideration and
possible action. At the same time,
he said he had requested the Com
missioners. both of whom-J. Russell
Young and Brig. Gen. Charles w.
Kutz-were present at the meeting.
to take steps "as quickly as possible"
to send to Congress proposed legisla-
tion to strengthen the existing va
grancy and habitual criminal laws.
Tightening of these two laws was
among the subcommittee recon-
mendations, and it is understood,
drafts of legislation to carry them
out already have been completed by
Corporation Counsel Richmond B.
Keech.
Spying" Is Condemned.
The final report CT the subcom-
mittee as accepted by the full COM
mittee contains several additions to
the original report made public last
Thursday.
Condemnation of the practice
of having officers spy on brother
officers This denunciation is an
outgrowth of a charge by Capt
Harvey G. Callahan of the first
precinct that the department
harbored a "Gestapo" which spied
on other officers.
2. A plea for closer cooperation
between the courts and the police.
3. Endorsement of the Police BOYS
Clubs, founded by Maj. Ernest w.
Brown, as means of discouraging
Juvenile delinquency.
4. A statement that the subcom-
mlttee had analyzed the reports and
findings of civic organiza tions whose
representatives were not given an
opportunity to testify as a result of
the abrupt halt of the investigation.
The full text of the major addi-
ton to the original report follows:
"Court-The committee feels that
the cooperation of the courts is
absolutely imperative if the police
are to be efficient in their service
TO the public. Long and frequent
delays in the hearings of some cases
results in encouragement to the
police and encouragement to the law
breaker"
Juvenile delinquency-Your COM
mittee favors in principle the or
eanization known as the Boys Clubs,
and believe the continued public
interest in this and like organiza-
tions will tend to discourage juve-
nile delinquency in the District"
More supervision needed-The
committee recommends that there
should be more supervision in each
department and that the captain
In charge of the precinct should be
held responsible for the honesty. in
tegrity and efficiency of the men
under his command The committee
condemns the practice of having an
officer spy upon their brother Off
GERS"
The final report also made several
other changes in introduction to the
original report. For instance it
added this statement. the calling
OF civic groups and individuals
would have unnecessarily prolonged
the hearings and eliminated this
sentence, 1t the police Department.
needs, IN the opinion of the COM
nittee, a thorough overhauling."