Evening star., 1951-11-03
Funds 10 Defray
Fight on Police
Quiz Pledged
Association Votes
To Support Barrett
In Court Bottle

The police revolt against the
financial questionnaires sent out
by the Senate District Crime In
vestigating Committee today Is
headed for a showdown in District
Court with the District Commits
sioners temporarily restrained
from forcing policemen to fill out
the forms.
Judge James R. Kirkland, in
response to a suit brought by
Police Supt. Robert j. Barrett,
signed temporary restraining
order in District Court late yester-
day.
Maj. Barrett last night won the
overwhelming support of the Po-
|licemen's Association of the Dis
trict of Columbia in his defiance
Iof the Commissioners order di-
Irecting policemen to answer the
i, $50 questions in the Senate COM
,mittee's QUESTIONABLE.
Will Defray Court Costs.
With roar of approval that
could be heard almost a block
away, more than 600 members Of
the association at a meeting at
Odd Fellows Hall voted to defray
Iall costs of the court fight against
the order.
If necessary the fight will be
carried to the Supreme Court, an
association spokesman said.
Inspector Clarence Lutz, presi-
dent of the association, said at
tendance at the meeting was the
largest in the history of the as
Isociation which has also mem
IberS.
Inspector Beverly Beach intro
duced the resolution pledging that
the association would expend its
Ientire resources, if necessary, in
the fight against this unfair and
.uncouth situation
Writ Expires November 13.
The temporary restraining order
will remain in effect until No
Ivember 13 when Judge Kirkland
will hold a bearing to determine
whether a permanent injunction
should be granted.
The hearing will be held two
days after the expiration of the 10
days granted policemen to fill out
the questionnaires, swear to the
truthfulness of their answers and
return them to the Senate Crime
Committee. Originally the police
were given only three days to
answer the questionnaires but
Arnold Bauman, counsel for the
crime committee. granted them
an additional seven days shortly
before the restraining order was
issued.
Undecided on Court Fight.
Mr.. Bauman said ne has not de-
cided whether he will intervene in
the court fight.
I think a court test is just
something some one who doesn't
want to answer would use as a Ge-
laying tactic, having in mind that
the committee is due to expire
January 81, 1852.
This is QUESTIONABLE. Mr..
Bauman added, which no honest
man should be afraid to answer
and any refusal to do so can serve
only to undermine public conf
dence in the Police Department.
y. therefore, hope that the police
officials who have received this
QUESTIONABLE and are still to re-
ceive them will comply with the
request of the committee and the
directive of the Board of Com
miSSioners.
Policemen Receive Forms.
Maj. Barrett announced his de-
termination to fight the ques-
tlonnaire in court shortly after
policemen began receiving the 27-
page forms by registered mail
Thursday afternoon. Maj. Barrett
was among the officers to whom
the QUESTIONABLE was sent.
The police chief pointed out
that his financial standing had
been explored thoroughly by the
grand jury investigating gambling
in the District. The grand jury
has power to compel any police
man to reveal his finances under
oath, the police chief said.
In the Injunction suit filed by
Attorneys Charles E. Ford, Austin
Garfield and William T. Hannah,