Evening star., 1952-02-24
Lid Is on Notions Gambling
But Enforcers Cross Fingers

sW~SsWWs
esme elieetlve January q, 1851,
Altheugh 10 Was introduced before
the creation OF the KefauyeF eDIls
mlttee, lt n theuaht likely the
eeInmlttee's revelations eentFlhs
Ntea 10 the sentiment Tor passage,
Since the measure became law The
Federal Bureau OF tnvestlgatien
has selEed ll,99s slet machines
valued OF ea,9aerale,
interest In another pre-
kafeauVeF measure, the prepesal
10 restrict tho interstate tFanR-
Mlsslen Of gambling information,
also was heightened by the COM
Mittee inquiry, The bill, which
would have knocked the props
from under such 0utilts % Con-
ltlnental Press Service, was re-
ported out but died on the Senate
calendar,
Senator Kefauver followed UP,
however, with the introduction Of
three bills aimed at what he
called the heart of illegal gambling
and the principal source Of reve-
nue. for mobsters -hookmakin
The bookies were held to be vul-
nerahle on two points within
reach, Of Congress: The interstate
now Of specialized gambling In
formation and the bookmAker's
dependence on Interstate facili.
ties in placing lay-off and come
back bets 70 insure against exc
cessive losses.
Pressure in this field forced the
Western Union Telegraph Co. "a
propose new regulations for the
traflsmission Of horse and dog
racing news. These rules were To
have gone into effect last Febru-
ary l but the effective date wa
POSTPONED until May ! BY the
Federal Communications Commits
sion.
Wants 20 Investigate.
The FEC said II wanted TO de.
termine for itself whether Western
Union ID violating State or Fedora
laws, whether the proposed new
restrictions would DO effective II
withdrawing the wires from tht
use Of gambling interests Ane
whether the proposed regulationl
would violate constitutional pro.
visions for freedom OF speech afie
press.
A complete detailed appraisal
OF the results OF the kefauvei
eemmittee's work IA not possible
partly because OF their scope ant
partly because no action was takeF
on one OF the committees MAR
recommendations,
This recommendation appeared
In two forms, iiFst as q propose
for q permanent Federal CON-
mission to conduct q continuing
study and surveillance" OF erimt
conditions, and subsequently % {
non. Governmental National criEn'
Co.ordinating Council. ,
Had such q council been set W
II would have provided o clearing
house for information on critnt
conditions throughout the country
New Commissions Bet Up.
Some new crime commission
have been set up and existing oiiel
energised. Grand juries and loca
enforcement offcers have re-
doubled their vigilance As theS
, became more aware Of the fiatur,
OF the problem. A number Of loCa
officiAis were fired or indicted be-
cause OF testimony before tn
committee. Senator Lucas, Demo
. crat OF Illinois, was defeated To-
re selection by disclosure OF crime
politics tiesups In Chicago. Zen
. at0r Lucas himself was not In
! velVed.
The list OF incidental results
D q Ions one. Scattered leads dug VI
! by the committee have appeared
constantly In testimony before On
House subcommittee new lhVestl
eating Internal Revenue Bureau
] scandals, A current Senate lhVes
tiRatieR OF crime In the District O
Columbia, passed up by Senate
] IxefauVer, IA drawing on facts un
, covered by the committee In ethe
|. communities,
Televlsien breadeasts alone hal
saV.Eeaehlne effects, one OF Whiel
> was 4 series Of television drAmati
Rations from the committee liles
J, The bFoRdcasts projected Rudolph
! HALEY, chief counsel for the com
: mittee, into the presidency OF tn
New York City Council, They gav|
Senator Kefauver q flying start II
,. his campaign for the Democratic
presidential nomination.
Television brought the damn
> and squirming hands of Franl
Costello into millions OF Twins
! rooms and gave millions Of voter
an insight into the workings Of I
congressional committee.
|. AZ SILENT WITNESSES
I All told. the committee sough
D contempt Of Congress citation
: against A witnesses who refuset
. to answer questions.
The most famous Of the silen
. witnesses was Costello whose re-
cent contempt trial In New Yorl
(; ended with q hung jury. He vii
. be retired In March. Also In Ne,
York, James j. Moran, friend ami
political pfotege Of former Mayo
a william 0'Dwyer, was eenvietel