Evening star., 1951-03-30
Senator'S Study Data
Before Starting Work
On Crime Report
By Cecil HoIIond

vestigating Committee today be-
gan to take stock of its far-flung
exposure Of gambling and rack
eteering before sitting down to
write its report and reach some
decision on how to keep the spot
light on the underworld.
The extension was approved
speedily and unanimously by the
Senate late yesterday after as
surances were given that some
recommendation would be made
for carrying on the committees
work in some form. The cornn1it-
tee had been due to expire tomor-
row night.
Senator Kefauver, Democrat, of
Tennessee, the chairman, joined
with the four other members of
the committee-two Democrats
and two Republicans-in asking
for the extension. He made it
clear, however, that the extension
was solely for the purpose of pre-
pairing a report and legislative
recommendations and not for any
further public hearings which
have proved an outstanding tele-
vision hit.
Truman Praises Work.
The extension came amid these
other developments:
l. President Truman told his
i1ews conference the committee
deserves great credit for focusing
public attention on the need for
ever greater efforts to stamp out
crime" He added that eradica-
ton of crime is "a job for every
one" and that his administration
has been combating with posi-
tive steps" the trail of crime re-
sulting from the last war.
2. The Kefauver committee
voted to ask, the Senate to cite
Frank Costello. New York gam
bling kingpin, for refusing to dis
close his net worth, and dropped
two earlier contempt citations.
3. The committee also voted to
ask contempt citations against
John Croft and William g.
O,Brien. Croft was questioned
yesterday about gambling opera
tions in the Northern Kentucky
area.
4. The committee Cancelled a
closed session scheduled for today
to give five gambling figures a
chance to testify and avoid con-
tempt charges. In addition to
Croft and O'Brien the others are
Morris Kleinman and Louis Roth
kopf, former Cleveland bootleggers
linked by the committee with an
interstate gambling syndicate,
and Jacob (Greasy Thumb) Guzik,
Chicago Capone mob figure. All
were continued under $4,000
bond on the contempt charges.
This morning Guzik showed up
on Capitol Hill-just in case the
committee wanted to question
him again. Senate Sergeant at
Arms Joseph C.. Duke said he
notified Guzik's lawyer and
bondsman of the change in plans
but Guzik showed up at his Office
anyhow.
ODwyer Likely to Stay.
5. Mr.. Truman also told his
news conference that he does not
contemplate any change in the
status of William O,Dwyer as
Ambassador to Mexico. In the
crime committees New York hear
tngs a witness said he had given
Mr.. ODwyer $4,000 during the
1s4s mayorality campaign and the
former mayor denied it.
6. Indicating the widespread
public interest in the exposure of
gambling and racketeering Ypsi
lanti CMichD delegation presented
a petition to Senator Kefauver and
the committee members urging the
group to carry on its work.
The committee agreed to ask for
the extension after deciding that
additional time was required to
complete the final report and rec
concentrations to strengthen curbs
on interstate crime.
Committee members said any
one of them or any member of
the Senate was free to move for
longer extension of the commit
tees work. Senator Tobey has
advocated its continuance until
next January.
The extension resolution was
presented to the Senate in behalf
OF the committee by Senator
Hunt. Democrat, of Wyoming. He
told the Senate the committee
had questioned 764 witnesses.
He added the committee. in it's
report, would propose some sort
of commission Or committee that
will carry on this work"
Truman Deeply Concerned"
Mr.. Truman's views on the
crime investigation were given in
a statement. He said he had been
deeply concerned" about the
crime situation and that at his
direction during the last 13
months, special Federal grand
Juries had been convened in Mi
ami. Los Angeles, Kansas City,
Newark, Philadelphia and Scran-
ton to seek out offenders against
Federal laws.
He pointed out that the Justice
Department in the regular course
of its work in the past fiscal year
had filed more than $4,000 GRIM
inal cases. In addition, he said,
the Treasury and Justice Depart
ments under his orders had given
"unstinted cooperation" to the
Kefauver committee.