Evening star., 1951-01-02

xens of the community. as a bull
wark against the criminal. House.
breaking, assaults, robbery, and
other predatory offenses which
plague the community carry highly
salutary penalties whose invocation
would safeguard citizens for many
years from the repetition of such
offenses by those convicted thereof.
No malefactor convicted in the
District of Columbia need go I'M
whipped of justice because of the
tnadequacy of its organic law. :.
u X X u sA
It is noteworthy that authority
exists in the Districts laws for the
imposition Of additional punish
ment on persons previously con-
victed of criminal offenses. Like
wise, authority exists for the i'm
position of added punishment for
the commission of crimes of vio-
lence when armed. But these. like
other reservoirs of statutory au-
thority to deter criminals and to-
discourage crime, have fallen into
USuSc.
POLICE PERFORMANCE.
Much credit is due the force for
its success in the solution and ap-
prehension of persons committing
crimes of violence. Your subcom-
mittee takes cognizance of the fact
that many officers and men of the
force are imbued with courage, re-
sourcefulness, and such peinstaking
devotion to their duty that through
personal sacrifice of what should be
their leisure hours and the appli-
cation Of their own rest and holiday
periods a much higher degree of
protection is afforded the COM
munity than would otherwise be the
case. Your subcommittee takes
cogniZance of the fact that the
overwhelming majority of the men
and officers of the force are persons
Of high integrity and devotion to
duty If its strength were adequately
augmented and its members af-
forded the opportunity fer better
instruction and advanced training
1t doubtless would demonstrate full
capacity to make the District safe
for law-abiding persons and place
to be Stunned by those otherwise
disposed. The force can take pride
In the accomplishments it has
achieved under the difficulties with
which it is obliged to cope. 1t has
merited and fully deserves the full
support and confidence of the COM
munity . :.
AFTER-HOURS CLUBS.
For many years statutes of the
District of Columbia which properly
authorized persons to associate with
one another in the organization of
corporations dedicated to charitable
and other non-profit humanitarian
activities have been subverted and
utilized by persons of dubious pur-
pose and criminal background to
foist upon the community enter
prises strongly suggestive of racket
characteristics and to maintain for
their own pecuniary benefit premi-
Ses where the only facility afforded
is the service of set-ups for so-called
members drinks. Such organiza-
tions in the District of Columbia
are commonly known as after-hours
clubs, although in other communi-
ties they are more aptly named.
No Social Benefit.
Persons founding such organiza-
tions did so in fraud of the COM
munity's laws and their intendment.
Some flourished, but no community
endeavor of a social or governmental
nature benefited thereby. Rather,
the community as whole suffered,
for the tone and reputation of its
law enforcement was understand
ably affected by their very existence.
They invariably bred crime, afforded
prostitutes and panderers con-
venient base Of operations, and
criminals of recidivistic tendency
the means of playing host to those
who patronized them. They existed,
and some still exist, in fraud of the
law and its purposes.
The elimination of such places as
those concerning which your SUBJ
committee heard evidence would
benefit the community and, in the
opinion of your subcommittee, legis-
lation declaring them to be the
nuisances which they are and au-
thorizing their suppression in like
manner to that authorized for the
suppression of houses of prostitu-
ton should be enacted into law.
BONDSMEN.
-. The evidence before your
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