Evening star., 1947-07-11
Police
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Of the Metropolitan police, with tn.
appointment of Maj. Barrett.
Chairman Dirksen said there wa!
an increase of IS per cent in rob.
berries here between the fiscal year.
1945 and 1916. There was an in.
crease of about 40 per cent in house.
breaking, he said, and an increase
of nearly 26 per cent in the number
of murders committed. The mur.
der rate has gone up steadily in the
last few years.
He noted from the annual report
of the Police. Department that for
the fiscal year 1916 the number OF
felonies reached a grand total of
8, 8,426 and exceeded that of the fiscal
year 1945 by 2,186. These figures
include assaults with a dangerous
weapon, grand larceny, housebreak-
ing, murder, rape, robbery and the
unauthorized use of automobiles.
Murders Increased.
The. number of murders COM
mitted in the year 1916, he said, ex-
ceeded the number in each of the
five previous fiscal years.
The number of robberies in the
fiscal year 1916 was nearly twice
as great as in 1915, he continued.
ITO be sure. the number of
arrests for all purposes in the 1916
year exceeded the number in 1945
by 50,0O0." Mr.. Dirksen continued.
'This gives point to the contention
that vigorous steps must be taken
to prevent and deter the commission
of crime in the District"
He commented that many cities
have crime commissions to supple
ment the work OF the policing
authorities.
There is such an agency in
Washington, he continued, and its
very existence is confession of the
fact that in the field OF law en-
forcement and the disposition of
criminal cases something Is want
ing"
Alert Force Needed.
II have examined the work of this
agency in the belief that perhaps
its operations might be energized
to meet the problems of law en-
forcement.
However, vigorous, competent,
alert police force Should make this
unnecessary, and I trust that the
operations of the department (under
the direction of Maj. Barrett) will
make it unnecessary to- consider
other means and methods for max
ing this the safest. most secure met
ropolitan center in the Nation.
+ There are some things to be done
Vigorous enforcement of the law
and expeditions disposition of crimi-
nal cases are after all the best de-
terrent. to crime. Juvenile crime
merits special consideration, and
wherever possible activities should
be organized to divert the interests
of underprivileged youngsters to
wholesome and constructive pur-
suits"
Senator Buck, Republican, of Del
aware, meanwhile, predicted the
Senate District Committee would re-
port their police investigation mea-
sure favorably to- the Senate with
the expectation that the resolution
would then be referred to the Senate
Rules and Administration Commit
tee. This becomes necessary under
the rules he explained, since the
resolution authorizes expenditure OF
$25, 900 for the investigation.
Preliminary Hearing Proposed.
In the meantime, Senator Buck said
he probably would assign RESPONSE
bility for the work to the District
subcommittee on public service,
streets and trafiice, headed by Sem
ator McGrath, Democrat, of Rhode
Island. Other members of this
group are Senators Capper of Kan
sas, KEN of Missouri, Republicans,
and Sparkman of Alabama, Demo-
crat.
There is considerable sentiment
in the District Committee, it was
learned, for a preliminary hearing
soon to set the stage for full
dress investigation perhaps in the
fall.
Z, Senator Ball, Republican. of Min
nesota, one OF the co-authors OF
the resolution, said he favored call
ing the District Commissioners and
Maj. Barrett for questioning soon.
This could be done, he pointed out,
since the measure now Is before the
District Committee.
Probe Budget Prepared.
There is some sentiment in the
committee, however, it also was
learned, which favors taking quick
action on the resolution, sending 1t
to the Senate, and waiting for 4
hearing until the Rules Committee
approves, and the Senate acts.
The resolution would not come
up on the Senate floor for a vote,
unless and until the Rules Com
mittee reported it out Such a
resolution requires no action by the
House, nor signature of the Presi-
dent.
In the meantime, the Senate Dis
trict Committee has prepared for
the Rules Committee a budget for
expenditure. of the $25, 900 proposed
in the resolution. 1t shows break
down as to how the funds should
be spent for investigators, clerks and
expenses.
The resolution was introduced by
Senator McGrath. Senator Ball and
Senator Cooper, Republican, OF
Kentucky.
It authorizes the District Com
mittee, or a subcommittee, Ito con-
duct a full and complete study and
investigation with respect to law
enforcement and police administra-
tions in the District"