Evening star., 1951-03-26
Crime

| Crime
Continued From First Page)
ment that continuation of the
committee was matter for the
discretion of Congress. However,
under questioning by committee
members, Mr.. McGrath said:
Il would like to see this COM
mittee continued until it has &C
complished its objective"
Hoover Praises Committee.
Mr.. Hoover, in his statement,
said the committee could take
pride in its accomplishments and
added:
The work of this committee to
date has made great progress in
awakening a public interest in the
widespread ramiflcations of the
underworld. Your hearings have
been observed by millions of Amer
leans on televiSion screens and
they have seen for themselves the
arrogant defiance of those who
conceal their endeavors and hide
behind the protection of the Con-
stitution for which they have so
little regard"
The committee is scheduled to
end it's existence March 81 un-
less the Senate respons to wide
spread demands both in and out
of Congress to continue it.
Mr.. McGrath, saying the coun-
try loves a debt of gratitude for
the splendid work of this COM
mittee," proposed:
/. Enactment by Congress of a
bill denying interstate communi-
cations facilities for organized
gambling activities with safe
guards for the constitutional free
dom of the press in transmitting
Legitimate news.
2. Enactment of a law to give
the Attorney General of the
United States authority to grant
immunity from posecution to wit
Inesses whose testimony may be
Essential in a grand jury investi-
cation or trial.
3. That the committee recon-
mend that Governors of each
State convene annually a group
within each State as a board of
inquiry into law enforcement
problems.
Will Reconvene Conference.
Mr.. McGrath also said he will
reconvene the Attorney Generals
Conference on Organized Crime
soon after the Senate committee
makes its report. He added that
the conference, first held in 1850.
"can profitably study the report
and benefit from the committees
recommendations.
Mr.. Hoover described the ex-
tent of organized crime in the
United States as "a national dis
grace" and said that it indicates
we are in "a state of moral de-
preston"
1--WE can never have a crime
free America until all who stand
for law and order are united and
determined to mobilize against
those who would constitute our
army of lawlessness," the FBI
director added.
Mr.. Hoover, as in the past, spoke
out strongly against a national po-
lice force. He said the present
system of law enforcement-Na-
itional. State and locals the best
system and that the law enforce
ment agencies must be an integral
part of the community.
%Otherwise," he added, "the
American system of democratic
government would be defiled."
He emphasized the local and
State responsibilities for law en-
forcement and added that Fed
eral law enforcement agencies
must give all assistance possible
without usurping Jurisdiction.
Those who engage in wide
spread vice activities and rackets
could not long survive without
their allies-the political rene
gade," Mr.. Hoover said. mo COM
munity in the land is contAmi-
mated by rackets and corruption
without the assistance of local in
terests which hold law enforce
ment in restraint"
AS the hearing got under way,
Senator Kefauver remarked that
nothing dramatic might be ex-
pected since the committee would
consider legislative proposals to
be recommended at the conclu-
sion of the inquiry March 81.
However, the spectators thronged
the room and followed the testi-
mony given by Mr.. McGrath with
apparently the same measure of
interest, if not entertainment, as
that given in other hearings by
underworld and gambling figures.
McGrath Is Nom Committal.
Mr.. McGrath, in his testimony,
refrained from expressing an
opinion on the continuation of
the committee widely advocated
in Congress ard out. That. he
explained. is "a matter for the
exercise of congressional discre-
ton" s
He said, however. he has some
doubts about Senator Kefauver's
proposal to establish a permanent
crime commission to keep check
on law enforcement activities and
coordinate police enforcement
work.
80