Evening star., 1949-10-12
Meeting Called
ToLaunch Probe
Of Crime Here
Mcmillan Committee
Expected to Name
Unit Tomorrow

lngton Will get under way soon
after the House District Com
mittee meets at II am. tomorrow
for discussion of a resolution
passed by the House, committee
members predicted today.
A voice vote approved the reso-
luton directing the committee, or
a designated subcommittee, to in
vestigate the type and number Of
crimes here in recent years and
the efforts of law enforcement
to cope with the situa-
ton. The resolution empowers
the committee to subpoena wit
nesses and official records and
recommendations to the
House as soon as possible.
Chairman Mcmillan Immediate
ly scheduled a committee session
for tomorrow. There have been
that Representative
Davis, Democrat, of Georgia.
sponsor of the resolution, would
head the investigating subcom-
mittee.
By-passing Protested.
The half-hour debate, with
fewer than 100 House members
late yesterday. produced
no outspoken opposition to the
investigation. 1t never
theless brought out many COM
plants that the District Commit
tee was ignored or by-passed by
not having an opportunity to con-
slider the measure before it went
through the Rules Committee last
week.
Representatives Bates, Repub-
lican, of Massachusetts,, ranking
member of the District
committee, and Representatives
Miller, Republican, of Nebraska;
O'Hara, Republican, of Minnesota,
and Granger, Democrat, of Utah,
all committee members, were
among those who protested that
the matter had not been taken up
first by the District Committee.
Il can't see why anybody
should object, except perhaps
somebody's pride has been affect
ed" said Representative Brown,
of Ohio, a Rules Com
mittee member. after all, the
Rules Committee didn't take any,
thing away from the District
Committee. 1t gave something to
the committee by specifically ex-
tending its authority so it could
compel attendance of witnesses
and subpoena records"
Police Department Praised.
The Metropolitan Police De-
partment was praised by DR.. Mill
Ter, Mr.. O'Hara, Mr.. Granger and
others. Mr.. Granger declared the
scheduled investigation should
not give rise to ANY inference
that the police department isn't
doing its duty"
DR.. Miller contended the in
crease in reported crimes here in
the last three years "testifies to
police activity and diligence" He
added that the police problem is
difficult, because Wash.
Ington is a cauldron of mixtures
from all parts of the earth, and a
lot of crackpots sometimes come
mere"
Representative Smith described
the crime situation as truly
alarming" but he warned against
the cause. 1t is the
committees business to investi-
gate thoroughly and determine
where the main fault lies. he said.
Davis Cites Crime Increase.
Representative Davis closed the
debate by explaining that there
has been no disposition to keep
secret" in introducing
the resolution last August. He
conceded the District Committee
had had no chance to study it, but
he reported that he discussed the
proposal with several committee
members and others.
In my opinion there is no
question that the crime situation
in Washington can be greatly
improved and much greater pro-
lection afforded to the law-abiding
people," he said. Many of the I,
crimes committed in Washington
are of the most violent and brutal
nature. They have been con-
stantly and steadily increasing
during the last three years"
Mr.. Davis presented figures
compiled by the Federal Bureau
Of Investigation and the WASH
Ington Criminal Justice Associa-
ton showing. he said, that the
crime picture here is worse than
N most other American cities Of
comparable size.
Notes Rise in Felonies.
He noted that 4,433 felonies
were reported here in 1945, and
that the total increased to 6,159
IN 1916, to 5000 in 1947, and to
l3,029 last year. The increase
rom 1946 to 1947, he explained,
night have resulted partly from
\ change in the method of crime
'eporting.
Washington had 1923 robberies
n l948 as compared with 433 in
Baltimore, 4,049 aggravated as
'aults as compared with 1897 in
Baltimore, and 73 murders as
compared with ITO in Baltimore.
Mr.. Davis said. During the first
half of this year Washington. has
1ad 81 murders as compared with
'8 in Baltimore, he declared. He
produced similar statistics indi- !
eating that Washington had a.
higher crime rate than poeta,,