Evening star., 1946-05-23
Hebert Rejects
Conlproniseson on
Penal Program
Prepares for Fight
To Vest Authority
In Commissioners
BY Don S. Warren

chairman HeDert OF the House
District Subcommittee which
probed the recent series of Dis
trict jail escapes, rejected today
all compromise" proposals and
drove ahead with his campaign
for vesting final authority over
city penal institutions with the
Board of Commissioners.
His bill to create a separate de-
partment Of corrections under the
Commissioners, to replace present
prison controls by the Board of
Public Welfare, is to be called up for
action again in the House Monday
which will be another District day.
This time, he said, he would make
q formal motion for consideration
of the bill. 1t was blocked last week,
when 1t was called up under the
unanimous consent procedure, by
Representative Smith, Democrat, of
Virginia who heads the Welfare
Subcommittee of the District group.
Floor Fight Possible.
I'VE will fight it out on the floor
If necessary" said Mr.. Hebert. This
issue should be settled now, if it
ever is going to be resolved"
Just back from visit of several
days to New Yor, Mr.. Hebert voiced
resentment when he found Mr.
Smith had produced new plan for
reorganization of the Welfare Board
which would transfer authority from
the Commissioners to the Welfare
Board.
IF the Commissioners want to
change their views, and go for de-
Capitalization of authority and re-
sponsibility, that is up to them" he
said, "but I still believe in central
izing responsibilities and authority
He made the point, however, that
his bill dealt only with an "emer-
gency" matter as to controls over
the Jail, leaving to later determina-
ton what should be the ultimate
reorganization of the Welfare Board
as such.
Supported by Mcmillan.
His general position was Endorsed
by Chairman Mcmillan of the Dis
trict Committee, who told The Star
Il shall support the work of the spe-
cial committee which made the ex-
tensive examination of the Jail situ-
alton. I will not let them down."
In keeping with his general pro-
gram, Mr.. Hebert announced he was
calling a meeting for early next
week of the special committee, pro-
posed by his investigation group and
authorized by the District Commit
tee, to make an overall study of
needed law and regulations to gov
ern the District penal institutions.
This special group includes Chief
Justice Bolitha Laws of the United
States District Court, James V. Ben
nett, director of the United States
Bureau of Prisons; Mr.. Hebert, Dis
trict Corporation Counsel Vernon
E. West and President Edgar Morris
of the Board Of Public Welfare. All
five nominated for the study group
have accepted appointment.
Smith to Make Report.
day he would make an informal
report to the District Committee
at its next meeting, now scheduled
for next Wednesday, on the hearings
on his plan for a stronger, instead
of a weaker, Welfare Board.
II jumped in to try to benefit the
District" he said to a reporter.
And the first thing I knew the
newspapers were jumping on me.
Maybe I'll let some one else mess
around with this problem"
Mr.. Smith said that while the
Commissioners at first had approved
the Hebert bill, they later had told
him they could not approve it lin
its present form"
Mr.. Hebert disposed of this with
the remark that necessary perfect
ing amendments could be achieved
by the adoption of new words that
would callSe M real difficulty