The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1951-04-05
Washington Report
BY United States Senator
Herbert X. O'COnOr

tleS, insofar as hearings are con-
cerned.
BY special permission of the Sen
ate, however, the Committee has until
May LIST to digest the vast amount of
testimony it has collected, and to
make legislation or other recommen-
dations for correction of the unsavory
conditions which its studies disclosed
i'm many phases of law enforcement
and government functioning.
Apparently, the people of the coun-
try feel that the Committee has done
an excellent job-so much so, in fact
that the thousands of letters received
by me and the other members of the
Committee voiced a general demand
that the Committee continue its ac-
tivities.
They apparently feel that there are
many other phases of interstate crime
and corruption which should be
brought to light
Views of the Committee as to the
desilability of further inquiry is in
general agreement with that of the
publc-with this exception. that their
is no unanimity of opinion as to the
desirability of extending the life of
the present Committee.
The inquiry just completed, cover
ing many sections of the country,
has been a time-consuming task. This
is a consideration that applies with
particular force in the case of the
writer, who happens to be one of
only two Senators in the entire State
with five major committee assign
mcnts. With just so many hours in
the day in which to work it is pos
siblc, as l have found, to spread ones
efforts so thin, in so many directions,
as to make it most difficult to handle
satisfactorily all the activities at
tempted.
With all this said, however, am
firmly convinced that the very worth
while work of investigation which
has been carried along so successful
ly by the Committee should go on, in
SpllC eltCLiNc lOlll' w IldlcNcl ulItC-
tion this inquiry may take is up to
the Senate, of course, to determine
but the work is there, and the deplor-
able situations in certain fields must
be explored
Unquestionably, the pernicious in
fluence of gangsters, money and in
tluence among public officials in many
sections, to the detrment of honest
and capable law enforcement, is a
glaring deficiency in American public
life which must be corrected in the
general interest.
Among the aspects of crime activi-
ties which, recent disclosures show,
deserves immediate and fullest at
tention, is the traffic in narcotic
drugs. There is particular urgency to
an inquiry in this field because of the
shocking increases reported recently
in drug addiction among young
people. Not only are these victims to
be found among the "hoodlum" ele-
ment but even our high schools and,
to some extent, even grammar schools
are having to combat growth of mar
cotics use among their students.
This is undoubtedly the most hor-
rible aspect of crime-for-p profit which
any one can imagine. 1t completely
destroys the moral as well as the
physical forces of its victims. Also,
in a great majority of cases, it forces
the addict to criminal activities in
order to secure funds with which to
continue purchasing of drugs.
The great number Of persons who
have written me almost without eX-
ception insist that the work by the
Committee is of such a nature that
it must not be permitted to stop now.
The force Of public opinion will, be-
licve, persuade the Senate to take
some further action so that all the
major fields of interstate crime may
be investigated. Only thus can the
facts be disclosed upon which more
stringent legislation or more effective
law enforcement may he ba ed, to
the cHu IndJ monsters Wl.cIi We set
up their gangs may be controlled
payments to corrupt officials for con
nivancc in criminal operations may be
stopped, and the harmful effect of mar
cotics and other crime violations upon
our citizens be suspended.
People Support Hoover Bills
Responses from the general public
to the introduction Of various Senate
legislation proposals to reorganizo
the government in accordance with
the recommendations of the Hoover
Commission indicate a strong anC
growing support for efforts to bring
about increased efficiency and lower
costs in government
AS one of the original sponsors OF
legislation to authorize effcctuatior
of the Hoover Commission program
it was my privilege to introduce
seven of the recent bills and to be d
cosponsor on six additional measures
Among them are a number of far
reaching proposals which, | am con.
WINGED, would do much to bring dowr