Evening star., 1951-11-18

The Commissioners will be in
formed tomorrow of the identity
of District policemen who refused
to answer the controversial finan-
cial QUESTIONABLE. Chairman Neely
OF the Senate District Crime In
vestigating subcommittee revealed
last night.
Senator Nicely said he was under
the impression that Compare
LeeoI Points Raised by Questionnore
Hove Precedents Elsewhere Poee C-5.
lively few" policemen had failed to
answer the 27-page questionnaire
issued by the subcommittee.
Policemen have been warned
both by attorneys for Police Chief
Robert j. Barrett and Commits
sioner F. Joseph Donohue that
they face disciplinary action if
they fail to obey the commission
ers' order directing them to an
swer the questions.
Future Action Undecided.
Senator Neely said the subcom-
mittee was reporting the names to
the Commissioners on the as
sumption that they would be the
ones against whom to take action
if any is taken-"at least at this
time"
Asked if the list would include
those who made only partial an
sWers, Senator Nicely said he as
sumed it would be limited to those
who did not answer at all.
Arnold Bauman, counsel of the
crime subcommittee, said most Of
those returning the questionnaires
appeared to have answered all the
questions. Maj. Barrett, however.
in agreeing to sumbit the question:
naire, notified the Commissioners
he would answer only the legally
proper" questions.
Maj. Barrett's QUESTIONABLE has
not been sent to the subcommit-
tee. He was granted an eight-day
extension of time, which expires
Wednesday. Attorney Austin Cam
field, who has been working with
Mrs. Barrett on the QUESTIONABLE
while the chief has been in the
hospital. said he believed he would
be able to meet the deadline.
Three Batches Sent Out.
So far, three patches of ques-
ionnaires have been sent out. The
first deadline was last Tuesday
and presumably the notification
Senator Nicely referred to applied
to those failing to meet that dead
line. The deadline for the batch
sent out November 8 is tomorrow.
Ultimately, Mr. Bauman has said,
$50 questionnaires will go out.
Maj. Barrett's physicians re-
manned silent on the nature OF
his illness but his personal ply
sician, DR.. G. Louis Weller, jr,
said last night that he is starting
to get reports from consultantS
called in on the case.
Would Grant Retirement.
Commissioner Donohue, in an
swer to questions on his weekly
broadcast over Station WWDC
last night. said that if the Board
of Police and Fire Surgeons GER
titled that Maj. Barrett's physical
condition is such that he is unable
to perform his duties, the Com
missioners will have no alternative
but to grant his retirement.
He also was asked what quail
fications he believed necessary in
a police chief, if Maj. Barrett
should retire. He replied that first
of all, the successor should be a
policeman with many years OF
police work in the department so
that he could command the re-
spect of his men.
"a policeman who has been a
copper's cop always makes a good
chief" he observed, adding that
that was true Of Maj. Barrett.
Qualifications Discussed.
Asked whether he considered
administrative ability essential, he
replied that the questioner might
mean a man should make a good
appearance and speak intelligently
in presenting police problems to
the community
Commissioner Donohue has &C
knowledged that he has a can
didate should Mai Barrett retire
but he also has said he would 60
along with Commissioner John
Russell Young's choice unless he
stpenously objected to the selec-
ton.