Evening star., 1951-02-16
Rep. Davis Studying
City Heads Report
On Crime Curb Bill

On Crime Curb Bill
Chairman Davis of the House
District crime subcommittee to-
day took under advisement a Com
missioners' report strongly oppos-
ing some of the key provisions OF
his pending crime-curb bill.
Among other things, the Com
missioners opposed provisions to
ban after-hours clubs, to fix severe
minimum sentences for certain
crimes, to revoke licenses on places
where illegal activities are going
on and to remove District en-
ployes who refuse to answer peril
nent questions from Government
officials.
Sent to Mcmillan.
Their comments. which had been
requested by Mr.. Davis, were sent
to Chairman Mcmillan of the
House District Committee. Mr.
Davis said he had not yet gone
over the report but added. lit
will be considered.
The Davis subcommittee is 60
ing over the omnibus bill at a
series of closed meetings, the next
being scheduled for the middle of
next week. Mr.. Davis said he will
hold at least one public meeting.
In their report, the Commits
sioners wrote that. while they
opposed some sections of the bill
in part and other sections in toto,
they feel "a large part of the bill
constitutes step forward and will
aid in the more effective preven-
ton, detection and punishment
of crime in the District of Colum-
bia."
In opposing the provision to
require minimum sentences of
three years for some crimes, the
Commissioners said they consider
the provision 'unduly harsh"
Discretion for Judges.
The commissioners views on
the mandatory minimum SEN
tences were seconded by Chair
man Campbell C. johnson of the
Board of Parole. who wrote
that imposing adequate sentences
should be left to the discretion
of the judges. The parole board
chairman said he seriously
doubted whether heavier penal
ties would reduce the amount of
crime.
The Commissioners also strongly
opposed two proposals aimed at
drinking places.
The Davis bill would shut down
after-hours clubs as "nuisanceS. Z"
The Commissioners contended
this section is broad enough to
apply to bona fide and respectable
private clubs which do not hold
beverage licenses. They said they
would prefer a bill to license and
regulate certain classes of places
where liquor is consumed but not
sold.
Called "Too Drastic"
They also opposed. as entirely
too drastic" a section imposing
on them the duty of revoking
licenses where the premises are
used for illegal purposes. such as
gambling. prostitution or whisky
violations. The Commissioners
now have discretionary power to
revoke licenses, and the Alcoholic
Beverage Control Board also is
authorized torevoke liquor licenses
where the premises are used for
unlawful or immoral purposes.
The Commissioners called ''un-
wise" section that would deny
jury trials where the maximum
penalty. was not over $500 or six
months in jail At present. the
law draws the line at $500 or 90
days. The Commissioners said the
Supreme Court might hold the
proposed limit on jury trials un-
constitutional. They pointed out
that the judges who held the $500
or 90 days provision Constitu-
tional in 1887 are not on the
bench now.
They also opposed a provision
to remove from Office any District
government employe who fails to
answer questions or produce evil
dence requested by a District
government official or congress
sional body. The Commissioners
contended that, if this section
becomes law and police are re-
auired to divulge sources of their
information. "the sources will soon
dry up"
The Commissioners approved
among others, section permitting
arrests without warrants in GER
tain cases, Endorsed the proposed
Council on Law Enforcement, ia
vored improvements in the system
of keeping criminal records, ap-
proved the operation of a mobile
crime laboratory, approved the
appointment of a psychiatrist and
a psychologist to advise on Grim
inal cases and approved heavier
penalties against criminals who
assault policemen.