Evening star., 1950-03-03
Crime Quiz Chairman
Hits Lax Standards
For District Jurors

Jury selection in the Districts
courts was criticized last night by
the chairman of the Congressional
subcommittee probing crime here.
Representative Davis. Democrat,
of Georgia. told the Arkansas
Avenue Community Association
he was greatly surprised" toI
learn at yesterdays subcommittee
hearings that District law doesn't
provide any particular standards
for jurors"
The legislator. who was a judge
In his own State for 13 years,
referred to testimony by United
States Attorney George Morris
Fay that even persons engaged
in the numbers business" can
serve on juries here.
"At home where I live, you
wouldn't have that" the Georgian
declared.
Many Changes Planned.
Discussing progress Of the
probe, the chairman said his
group already has learned enough
to plan recommendations for
many changes in the Districts
crime laws and enforcement pro-
cedures.
He named only one specific
proposal on which the subcom-
mittee plans recommendation,
however-the suggestion of a new
continuing law enforcement
council" to coordinate enforce
ment agencies. He noted. without
comment, suggestion at yester-
days hearing that meeting times
and other procedures of such
body should not be voluntary but
set by law.
Representative Davis termed
Washington crime conditions zap
palling" and asserted:
There is a lot of improvement
that can be made in law enforce
ment here"
Wants Good Juries.
In criticizing the lack of high
standards" in the jury selection.
the legislator emphasized his be-
lief that good juries are all-im-
portant in law enforcement.
"You can't say the responsibility
is the police departments, the dis
trict attorneys, the judges or the
probation departments Mr.. Davis
told the citizens. you people who
60 in the jury boxes are the peo-
pie who determine whether laws
are enforced or not"
The speaker quoted Mr.. Fay as
stating yesterday that the Dis
tricts only provision for Sitting
out unfit prospective jurors" is
bar against persons convicted OF
felonies or of misdemeanors in
volving moral turpitude.
IT also learned that the law
requires that cross-section OF
the population be placed in the
jury box" he said. Il suppose
that means you can start at what
you might call the top and go
to the bottom"
Georgia Sets Standards.
In Georgia, laws provide that
upright" citizens must be Sc
lected from the tax books for trial
juries and the most experienced
and intelligent" for grand juries.
Mr.. Davis asserted. But here in
Washington. the jury commission
ers, he said. have no discre-
ton"
The legislator warned that the
fright kind of law enforcement"
requires that all agencies con-
cerned with it act "vigilantly,
earnestly and sincerely all the
time" rather than making "spo-
radio efforts"
IF an officer really wants to
enforce the law, there are plenty
Of ways to do it," he declared.
He called attention to testi-
mony that the Metropolitan Po-
lice Department would be up to
full strength by July /, remark
ing: THAT will mean something
to you people here in Washing
ton in the way of law enforce
ment."
Representative Davis said mot
one member" of his subcommittee
has spent dollar" of the SIC, 900
appropriation which is financing
the probe. The money has been
used only for the committee staff,
he said. The group is seeking
another $4,000.
"Inner Workings" Unrevealed.
He said he wasn't able to dis
close much about the inner work
ings" of the investigation vet.
Its been quite a job for us TO
keep our business out of the news
papers so we could carry on our
job the way it should be carried
on" he said.
LII buOlllCSo IllS Clbl-
zens' group voted resolutions
urging:
Defeat of legislation banning
broadcasting in Washingtor
streetcars and buses.
Establishment of a Junior COL
lege by the public schools.
Revision of zoning regulations
to permit remodeling into two
family houses in restricted resi-
Dental areas in the groups area.
Requirement of at least two
years of teaching in the public
schools by graduates of Wilson
Teachers College.
Improved street lighting outside
the Burdick School, Thirteenth
and Allison streets NV.
Clifford H. Newell, president,
conducted the meeting in the Bur-
dick School.