Evening star., 1947-07-10
Senators Ask S25,00(
For Fu|I-Sca|e Probe
OF District Police

A full-scale investigation Of law
enforcement and the police admin
istrations in the District was prom
ised by Senate District Committee
members today.
They predicted that resolution
for that purpose will 60 through the
Senate early next week and that
hearings might start within a fort
night.
The resolution, authorizing the
District Committee or a subcom-
mittee to make the study with a
$4,000 allotment for expenses and
power to employ expert assistants,
was introduced in the Senate late
yesterday.
Senator McGrath, Democrat, of
Rhode Island put it in and listed
Senator's Ball. Republican. of Min
nesota and Cooper, Republican, Of
Kentucky as co-sponsors.
Earlier yesterday P. J. Ableman,
chairman of the Police and Fire
Committee of the Federation Of
Citizens Associations. announced
that the federation's Executive
Committee had adopted resolution
urging an investigation of the
Metropolitan Eolice by a icilit Ser-
ate-House committee and District
grand jury
Introduction of the Senate resolu-
ton, however, resulted from a Dis
trict Committee executive session
which voted to sponsor it. Commit
tee members said the decision came
in the course of routine consideration
of Senator McGrath's bill for ap-
pointment of the Metropolitan
Police superintendent by the Presi-
dent.
General Comments Made.
The discussion branched out into
general comments on pending meas
ures as we'll as various other pro-
posals concerning operations of the
Metropolitan Police, the National
Park Police and Capitol Police, they
disclosed.
The proposed study might cover
such matters as merger plans, the
question of direct responsibility
in appointments, keeping of police
records, efficiency of police forces
here and any evidence of SUP
preston of Investigations" COM
nittee spokesman said.
The resolution, which was re-
ferred back to the District Com
mittee after being introduced by
Senator McGrath, is expected to
be reported formally to the Senate
within a few days. 1t directs the
investigating group to report find
ings and such recommendation as
to necessary legislation as it may
deem desirable"
1t also authorizes the Investigate
ing committee, with the consent of
the head or the department or
agency concerned, to utilize the SER
vices. information. facilities and per-
sonnel of any of the departments or
agencies Of the Government"
Probe by Special Unit.
A committee official said the in
vestigation probably would be made
by special, subcommittee of the
District Committee. There is a pos
sibility, he added, that the public
service subcommittee, headed by
Senator McGrath, might be desig-
mated and enlarged by appointment
of two or three additional members.
Besides Senator McGrath, others
on the public service subcommittee
are Senators Capper, Republican, of
Kansas; KEN, Republican, of Mis-
souri,, and Sparkman, Democrat, of
Alabama.
AS soon as the Senate approves
the resolution, it was explained, the
investigating group would begin lex
ploratory" studies to determine the
exact scope of its inquiry and the
lines of procedure.
Committee officials declared they
we're unable to estimate how long
the investigation would last