Evening star., 1947-07-27
Bill 70 Strengthen
Capitol Police by IS
Sent 10 White House

Police protection at the Capitol
will be strengthened to check dang
er to members of Congress and
visitors, if President Truman ap-
proves an appropriation sent to
the White House last night by the
adjourning Congress.
House and Senate approved funds
of $26,400 to add IS new men to
the Capitol Police Force.
Sergeant-at-arms of the Senate
Edward F. McGinnis said these ex-
ira police would be assigned to va
rious stations over Capitol Hill
where they are most needed to re-
enforce the present staff.
Further precautions also will be
taken to guard against such things
as two recent incidents involving
men with concealed weapons In
the Capitol, Mr.. McGinnis said. Two
wild shots were fired at Senator
Bricker, Republican of Ohio, and
few days later an armed man was
arrested in a Senate washroom.
AS head of the Capitol Police
Board, Mr. McGinnis announced
plans are under way for installation
of new police communications
system to cover all five buildings
and the grounds.
Army to Lend Hand.
To holm desion the new communi-
cations system, the Army sigma
Corps has promised to cooperate
wifi Capitol oflsAkfMr! !Mcd pfnis
saidg1cis hoped to install modern
electrical system, he explained, Sc
that an immediate alarm can bt
sent, to all police stations in case
of emergency. f,,. ,co h,a
)TFot Instance. ne" pointedl otits! ii
there should be AM attempt by
gunman on the life of a member Of
Congress, or a visitor, the alarm
could be flashed" to all police sta
tions simultaneously with orders tc
close all doors, and let no one out
of all five buildings on the Hill. Al
present the police stations are con-
nected individually by telephone
through the Capitol switchboard
The new electrical system can be
paid for out of Senate funds, it was
said with no new appropriations
needed.
Need for more police protection
was stressed by Mr.. McGinnis ano
House Sergeant-at-Arms William
F. Russell at hearings last week be-
fore the House and Senate Appro'
priations Committee.
50 Asked Originally.
\ The House group was told there
should be so more men on the force
The House subcommittee recon
mended Is, but this was stricken BY
the full House Appropriations Com
mittee. When the supplemental bill
went to the Senate with no provision
for extra police, Mr.. McGinnis went
before the Senate Appropriations
Committee, which finally recon-
mended Is more police. The Senate
itself approved this number, but il
was reduced to IS by the House anc
Senate conferees. This figure Wa'
finally approved in the conference
report and sent to the White House
OF the $26, 400 item, $4,000 is fol
salaries of the extra men, and S2,4ot
is for their uniforms, laundry ano
incidentals.
Senator Brooks, Republican. OF
Illinois, chairman of the Senate
Rules and Administration Commit
tee which has supervision over the
Senate police, said last night M
would continue his study OF the
needs of what he considers an IN
adequate force. AS one OF the con-
ferees on the supplemental bill. hi
said the cut in number OF new mer
was made over his determined op'
position.
Points to Art Treasures.
The art treasures of the Caplto
building also need more protectlon
Mr.. Russell recently pointed out
With thousands of visitors throng'
ing through the Capitol there shoule
be more protection for the price
less paintings and statuary O
famous men in American history
he emphasized.
Shortly after he sounded thi!
warning some vandal damaged al
old painting of Daniel Webster II
one of the halls near the Senat'
chamber. A missile struck the por
trait in the forehead, cutting
Jagged hole in the canvas.