Evening star., 1951-06-06
Crime Bill Goes
To Senate After
House Passage
Sentencing Proviso
In District Measure
Withstunds Attack
By Harold B. Rogers

lenslve Davis crime bill for tighter
District law enforcement now
ends the measure to the Senate
md it's District Committee.
The omnibus measure was pi-
oted through the House late yes
;erday by it's chief sponsor. Rep
Davis, Democrat, of
Georgia.
Chairman Nicely Of the Senate
group already has made a strong
Plea to the Senate Rules Commit
zee for $4,000 to finance his own
probe. He said today he has high
nope the funds will be approved
oy the Rules unit at its meeting
next Wednesday.
The resolution for $4,000 Is
sponsored jointly by Senator Nicely.
Democrat, of West Virginia. who
would head the investigating sub
committee, and by Senator Case,
of South Dakota,
ranking minority member of the
Senate District Committee.
Bottle Club Amendment.
The Davis crime bill faced tough
opposition on the floor Of the
House during the second day OF de-
bate yesterday. But it came
through with only one amendment
to tighten the city's control over
bottle clubs. These
night spots. as operated now, vir-
tually would be abolished.
Mr.. Davis, backed by both DEM
ocratic and Republican members
of the House District Committee.
which had sent the bill to the floor
by unanimous vote. defeated ef-
forts to strike out a provision for
manatory minimum court sem,
tences without probation for GER
tain crimes of violence.
Representative Eberharter, DEM
ocrat, of Pennsylvania was strong
ly supported by Chairman Celler
of the House Judiciary Committee
and others in his fight to kill the
mandatory sentences. But he lost
in House vote of 81 to IL.
The bottle clubs came in for
bitter attack from all quarters
during debate. The only differ
ence of opinion was whether the
Davis bill was powerful enough to
knock them out of business.
Calls for Licensing.
Sponsors of the measure con.
tended they wanted, at first, to
abolish such clubs completely.
But, on protest of Vernon West,
District corporation counsel. that
the original proposal might ad-
versely affect some genuine pri-
vate clubs, committee members
said they agreed to place the spots
under strict licensing and super
vision of the Alcoholic Beverage
Control Board.
The amendment, sponsored by
Representative Hayes. Democrat.
of Ohio, and agreed to by Repre-
sentative Davis, would restrict the
licensed clubs to the hours of OPP
Grafton imposed on restaurants,
hotels and night clubs.
AS the bottle club section goes
to the Senate, Mr.. Davis explained
today, it gives the District ComI
Imissioners and the ABC Board abb
|solute regulating authority. Fur,
Ithermore, he emphasized the bill
provides the clubs can be abated
as nuisances, if they violate regu-
|lations.
I'm other words" he declared.
they have got to toe the mark or
be padlocked."
Major Debate on Sentences.
Most Of the three-hour debate,
however, was centered on the
mandatory minimum court SEN
|tences.
Representative Davis, contend-
ing the provisions are necessary
here, quoted from FBI reports Of
1850, showing the District had
higher record of crimes of violence
than several other cities in it's
class.
He told the House District law
already specifies minimum SEN
tences for several most serious
crimes. and the committee had
added others, such as rape, at
tempt to commit rape, robbery,
use-breaking at night, and Sec
ond offenses of crimes of violence
committed when armed.
Minimum sentences also would
be required, he pointed out, for
assault on a police officer with a
dangerous weapon, illegal possess
sion of a pistol if convicted of q
second offense and possession Of
implements Of crime, such as bur-
glar tools, if the accused had been
convicted before of that offense
or a felony.
Both Representatives Eberhar-
ter and Celler contended judges
should be left with discretionary
power in sentencing law-breakers.
Mr.. Eberharter said minimum
sentences would be q "substan-
tial departure from the principles
of this Government and consti-
tute encroachment on the prero-
|gative of course - discretion in
passing judgment"
Crime Danger Cited.
Representative Smith vigorously
defended the bill, declaring WASH
ington has more of certain
crimes than any city in the
United States"
Robbery, burglary and rape
are so prevalent here" he said,
that no one feels safe in home
at night, and no woman feels safe
walking on the street at night"
The minimum sentence provi-
sion, he said, was mo reflection
on the courts, as we have splendid
judges"