Evening star., 1951-06-03
Crime-Curb Bill
Passage Urged
By House Unit
Davis Measure Up
For House Action on
D. c. Day Tomorrow

LIE mouse DlSCrlct Committee
yesterday urged passage OF the
Davis crime-curb bill to provide
more protection for the innocent
and surer punishment for the
guilty.
The 30-point bill comes up for
House action tomorrow as the
sole District measure to be dis
cusSed on District Day. Leading
the floor discussion will be Rep
resentative Davis. Democrat, Of
Georgia. who headed the special
House District subcommittee which
investigated crime and law en-
forcement here last year.
In a report to the House made
public yesterday, the committee
said the omnibus bill represents
specific remedies for the dangerous
situation the committee feels
exists in Washington.
Vigorous Enforcement Urged.
The committee combined its
analysis of the bill with an ur-I
gent request that police, prose-
cutors, judges and others con-
cerned with law enforcement
should enforce the, criminal laws
with 'vigor and full justice"
The committee also reminded
District citizens of their RESPONSE
bilities in observance and enforce
ment of the law. The report de-
clared that the safety of the COM
munity and its citizens depend
upon a continuing recognition of
these duties and responsibilities
by all good citizens as we'll as pub
lie officers and law enforcement
agencies"
In explaining the need for new
laws to curb crime here. the CON-
mittee declared that crime sta
tistics do not portray "the great
damage to and waste of human
and property resources directly
resulting from crime"
IndOrses Minimum Sentences.
"The tragic and malignant eff
feet of such criminal activity
threatens the safety of all and,
even as in the international field
Of lawlessness, must be met and
defeated if society is to have that
measure of protection necessary
for its continual growth and pros
perity," the report declared.
To meet the crime threat, the
committee started out by unani-
mously indorsing the section to
provide fixed minimum sentences
without probation or parole for
rape. attempt to commit rape,
robbery, housebreaking at night |
and second offenses of crimes of
violence committed when armed.
The committee took the view
that perpetrators of these crimes
Should be punished swiftly and
with a certainty that will deter
even the most arrant offender"
Crime Incidence.
The committee contended that
the statistics and the hearings of
the special District crime subcom-
mittee clearly show the incidence
of these crimes is especially high
In the District and that offenders
are repeaterS.
The report acknowledged that
fixed minimum sentences would
reduce the discretionary power of
the judges in sentencing and
parole but argued that diScre-
tionary sentencing has not ade-
qualtely deferred the commission
of serious crimes or repeatersI
among the criminal element.
The mandatory minimum SEN
tence provisions were the most
controversial in the bill. The COM
mittee said it had carefully con-
sidered the objections but believed
the fixed minimums would give
District citizens more effective
protection.
Fixed minimum sentences and
sitter penalties for those who
assault police officers were de-
Tended with the comment that
"the degree of respect in which
the law is held by the criminal ele-
ment can be measured to a consid-
cradle extent by the number of |
such assaults perpetrated on the
officers of the law"
In commenting on its proposed
amendments to the Dangerous
Weapons Act, the committee en-
phasized that they would not mill
tate against the right of the law
abiding citizen to possess a pistol
for his own perfection.
Flatly forbidden under the bill
is possession of a blade
knife.
Another section of the proposed
law permits seizure and forfeiture
of money, automobiles and other
personal property used in violat-
ing gambling laws. The commit
tee said this provision will hit the
gamblers and gambling rackets in
a most vulnerable spot, will en-
able law enforcement officers to
strike telling blows against the
numbers racket operators and
will laid immeasurably in max
ing the gambling racket unprof1t-
able"
After Hours Clubs Condemned,
Discussing its proposed meth
DDS of getting at the after-hoursI
clubs, the committee unanimously
condemned the existence of these
establishments.
These Sordid enterprises
threaten the safety, welfare and
peace of the community" the
committee declared. "They are
breeding places of crime and
corruption. They come into ex-
istence as frauds, masquerading
as benevolent, educational and
social organizations under the
guise of legitimacy; they consti-
tute perversion of the law under
which their charters are OBJ
tanned"
The committee reviewed all tho