Evening star., 1951-04-09
D. {. Crime Bill
Runs ns|ntoDebate
Over Sentences
Subcommittee Split
On Imposition Of
Mandatory Terms

here for crimes of violence today
provoked debate before the
House District Committee that
Slowed up action on the OMNIBUS
Ianti-crime bill.
Disputes also arose over some
provisions of the omnibus Davis
bill restricting the carrying or pur-
chase of firearms. Some changes
also were suggested for sections
dealing with sex offenders.
Chairman Davis of the District
Crime Investigating subcommittee
took a strong stand in favor Of
mandatory minimum sentences.
Similar views were taken by Rep
resentative Smith, Democrat, of
Virginia, member of the SUBJ
committee which has been inquir-
ing into law enforcement here for
about two years.
West Questions Proposal.
Another supporter was Repre-
sentative Simpson, Republican, of
Illinois.
But fears that the mandatory
minimum sentence plan would not
prove effective In the attack ON
crime were reiterated by Corpo-
ration Counsel Vernon E. West.
It was brought out also that SINH
lar views are held by the District
Bar Association, and the District
judges.
The hearing also saw Mai. Rob-
ert j. Barrett, superintendent of
police, voicing a positive declara-
tion for the minimum sentence
plan.
In my earlier days on the po-
lice force" he told the commit.
tee. "the judges gave top punish-
ments. To my mind, that's the
answer to the criminals.
Stiff Sentences Urged.
The only way to keep criminals
from coming here to operate is to
let them know they're going to
get stiff sentences"
The bill in its present form pro-
vides for mandatory minimum
sentences Of one year for persons
convicted Of attempted rape, rob-
Dery and HOUSEKEEPING at night,
1t steps up the minimum manda.
tory imprisonment to three years
IN the cases of these previously
convicted Of crimes Of violence,
It also provides still heavier man
datory minimum sentences in the
case OF some other violent crimes.
The hearing recessed about
noon. It will resume at a date to
be announced later.
Anticipating argument over the
minimum sentence provision. Mr..
Davis told the committee his SUBJ
committee had revised down.
ward some Of the minimum SEN
tences originally proposed. This
was done, he said, because of OBJ
jections raised by District officials
and the Bar Association.
Many Cases Are Cited.
But he cited case after case Of
persons recently convicted of
robbery. armed holdup, or mar
cotics charges. who had been
given what he called short SEN
tences by the District courts.
And in these cases, he said.
reading extensively from his files.
the persons convicted had long
records Of other crimes Of
violence.
Mr.. West said he thought the
revisions made in the original bill
met most of the objections of the
District government, but he de-
clared:
I have never felt that mimi
mum sentences add anything to
law enforcement. The jury win
take mandatory minimum sem
tences into consideration, and If
IL thinks they are too high, they
Will acquit the defendant"
Bottle Club Plan Included.
Representative Smith argued
tnat under present law "if the
Judge goes to court one morning
FEELING fine he can say to a man
convicted of some crime won can
go free and sin no more"
Mr.. West rejoined:
yes, that could happen, but in
tnaG case you do have record
OF conviction"
Included in the bill is a nro-
vision recommended by District
officials. Attorney General Nc
Grath and some members of Con.
IgreSS. to license and regulate ths
|after-hours bottle clubs.
All Would Be Licensed.
Ihe Davis subcommittee origi.
nally had proposed use of q "nui.
sance" statute to permit them tn
be hquidated. Under a new pro-
vision, all such clubs would have
70 be licensed by the Alcoholics
Beverage Control Board and the
commissioners would have author
- " AS6AAdoC tl1G1T hours or
operation and to inspect the
licensed premises.
Chairman Mcmillan, in the in.
terest of getting speedy action on
this bottle club provision, has sug-
|gested it be made a separate bill
and sent Promptly to the House.
A companion bill, not including
all the other provisions of the
Davis crime bill, has been spon-
sored jointly by Senators Neely
Democrat, Of West Virginia. and
Case. Republican. of South Da-
kota.
In his arguments for manda.
tory minimum sensences. Mr..
Davis declared:
You just can't break up crime
IN narcotics. or housebreaking or
the like, where person convicted
repeatedly Of such offenses comes
before the court and gets SEN
tence ranging from 20 months to
go months
Firearms Curbs Questioned.
The hill r1rnf10SoS 11ou, roctra S,,x~