Evening star., 1951-11-11

was taken on the ground that to
answer the questions was a vio-
lation of the Constitutional rights
OF policemen, Mr.. Donohue said ::
"I cannot but wonder how they
so readily determine the Con-
Istitutionality of questions which
likely they have never SEEN" (The
Iquestionnaire was printed in full
in The Star of November a.
Called Easy Method.
"I wonder, too" he added, "how
questions which it is conceded
can be asked a policeman when
called before a public hearing of
the Senate committee. become un-
constitutional when asked of the
same policeman by way of ques-
tionnaire which he may leiSurely
answer during Today period
and to answer which he may seek
such help and advice as he
wishes"
He termed the QUESTIONABLE
"the easiest and most satisfactory
method of responding for any
policeman to follow, even were
lit to require him to admit some
Slightly venal or exceedingly en-
barraSsing information-for this
Iquestionnaire will be confidential,
"a hearing will be public"
The QUESTIONABLE, he added, had
the sole purpose of determining a
policeman's true financial status,
having in mind every possibility
OF concealment-So effectively
drawn that no man who may have
accepted a regular 'pay-off' can
hazard the risk Of signing it. but
which all others can sign without
fear"
Bauman Will Report.
Deletion Of some Of the questions
about relatives. as has been widely
proposed, would take the CUTS
out" of the questionnaire. Mr..
Donohue declared. A dishonest
man, he argued, would conceal his
dishonest gains in the name Of his
wife or children.
Mr.. Bauman has said he would
send to the Commissioners the
names .of any policemen who let
the deadline go by without answer
ing" the questionnaires they have
received. Mr.. Donohue said those
names would go to the Corpora
ton Counsel for preparation of
charges against the policemen in
volved as in any other case of
disobedience and INSTRUMENTATION
Both Mr.. Donohue and Engineer
Commissioner Bernard L. Robin
son said earlier yesterday that If
Maj. Barrett answers the question
Inaire, they will not recommend
any disciplinary action against
him.
Saw Error of Judgment.
Gen. Robinson said up to the
present time, "the most guilt ]
can ascribe to Maj. Barrett is
the error of judgment in taking
poor advice"
AS policemen wrestled with the
questionnaire, Mr.. Bauman said
he had received some requests for
an extension of time and had
granted the requests where good
reason for the delay was given.
Asked whether the question
naires had to be delivered by
Tuesday or could bear a Tuesday
postmark, he said either would be
all right. ...
Mr.. Garfield, meanwhile, spent
yesterday working on another
angle of the QUESTIONABLE con-
troversy. He conferred with In
spector Lutz on the injunction
suit filed last week by Attorney
James J. Laughlin. representing
Pvt. Ray Swank. to prevent the
Policemen's Association from US
ing its funds to pay legal ex-
lpenses growing out of Maj. Bar
irett's court fight. Arguments on
the suit will be heard by Judge
Kirkland Tuesday at 10 am.
Mr.. Garfield said he would file
two answers to the suit-one for
Mrj. Barrett saying the police
chief did not call the meeting at
which the funds were voted, that
Mr.. Barrett has no control over
the associations money, that the
police chief was not at the meet
ing and that he is not an officer
of the association.
i For the association, Mr.. Garfield
said. he would answer that Pvt
Swank is not a member in good
standing, that the meeting was
properly called and attended by