Evening star., 1942-05-10

CluOeQ III Ifle DuQSet.
Police Change Suggested.
Placing the park police force
within the Metropolitan Police De-
partment was advocated by Repre-
sentative Stefan, Republican of Ne
braska, during hearings on the bill.
but no change was made In the
present system by the bill as 1t
passed the House.
The plan was advanced during
the testimony of Frank T. Cart
side, assistant superintendent of Ma
tional Capital Parks, an agency of
the Interior Department which has
Jurisdiction over the park police
force.
Representative Stefan argued
that since District taxpayers sup
port the park police force 1t should
be merged with the Metropolitan
Department and placed under con-
troll OF the Commissioners.
Mr.. Gartside explained, however,
that Congress placed the District
park system under the exclusive
control of the Secretary of Interior
and made him responsible for pro-
mitigation of necessary regulations
to operate the park system and the
only means he has of enforcing the
regulations Is through his police.
One of the exchanges between
Representative Stefan and Mr..
Gartside shown in the record of the
| hearings follows:
"Mr. Stefan-We have I'LL Me-
tropolitan policemen here. We have
about so or go auxiliaries whom we
are paying now. We have 3,700
auxiliary policemen here. We are
being asked to justify an appropria-
ton for running the police force of
the District Of Columbia. Yet you
have u park policemen over whom
the local police have no control.
Mr.. Gartside: THAT is right"
Mr.. Stefan: And yet We have to
take the money to pay those police
men out of the pockets of the tax
payers of the District of Columbia"
Mr.. Gartside: But the taxpayers
of the District of Columbia ara
benefiting by the protection Of one
seventh Of the area of the District
Park Speed Limit Hit.
The 40-mile-an-hour speed limit
In park areas was described a. dan.
gerous" by Representative Stefan.
1T seems to me that ID q very
dangerous practice to have people
driving at the rate of 20 miles an
hour through the parks and then
suddenly coming into q 25-mile-per-
hour zone"
And, CT course, many Of the
roadways through the parks are
crooked" remarked Trafnc Director
William A. Van Duzer.
He explained there were 81 acci-
dents at park exits in 1o41. but since
many OF these are protected BY
lights or stop signs, It might be
questioned whether speeding was the
cause.
Assignment Of members OF the
metropolitan police force TO the
White House was brought up for
discussion.
MI. Stefan asked Commissioners
Young: Il wish you could do some.
thlng about getting back these s5
policemen that you are giving the
White House, or else get some reye-
nue. or some credit for them in
tne way OF finances. I do not think
1t is fair to the District, although.
OF course. I want the White House
70 nave all the protection that the
PRESIDENT wants there"
Mr.. Young replied: THAT Is a
pretty delicate matter. If the Presi-
dent wants our police force, we will
give 1t to him"
Mr.. Stefon: Certainly. but II he
Is going to take IS policemen from
tne force here, we should show some
reimbursement for them"
d. C. Lucky on Epide,nics.
Because OF unusual overcrowded
conditions Washington has been
fortunate so far In avoiding any
epldemics OF acute communicable
diseases, Health Oficer George @.
Huhland told the subcommittee.
we have the elements that can
give us trouble" he declared. 1--WE
nave the riskof typhus fever in the
District; we have the risk of malaria
and we have the risk of typhoid
Ihen, OF course, there is the ever
present problem of tuberculosis.
which with crowding, is bound to
spread more. Then, there Is the
well-known and much talked of
Venereal disease problem which is
certainly luSty one with us now"
How does the tuberculosis situ-
alton appear here in the District of
Columbia. from the standpoint of
both white and colored population?"
asked Representative Mahon.
1T is still an outstanding health
problem answered the health
officer. For whites the rate Is
rather good, or compares favorably
with the rate in other cities"
us that condition better here
than In any other city In the United
States of comparable size, so far as
whites are concerned?" continued
Chairman Mahon.
Not better than other cities"
said DR.. Rutland. But the rate
compares favorably with the rate tn
other cities with population groups
like ours. Our white rate is 33.2
for the year Of 1941, which Is a
very favorable rate as rates go In
the case OF tuberculosis. = Our
problem arises from the colored
Of course. The colored
rate Is 1919 which Is very high.
Nevertheless, think it should not
be overlooked that the combined
rate Is 1853 which Is the best figure
we have had so far in WASHINGTON.
DR.. Rutland disclosed 13.945
venereal disease cases were reported
IN the District In 1941 and S66 900
was spent ON control measures. He
sought an increase Of $27, 900 in the
new f1csal year to expand clinical
service. Asked for an explanation
of the need of the increase, most of
which would be used tn nav ejoot