Evening star., 1953-05-09
Crime Bill Retains
Controversial Fixed
Minimum Sentences
By Miriom Gutenberg

The controversial fixed mini
mum sentences for certain crimes
are going to stay in the Districts
big crime bill.
The decision to keep the man.
datory sentence provisions in the
bill. with some downward revi-
sionS in the sentences, was
reached late last night by the
Joint congressional committee
working on the omnibus measure.
Six legislators, three each from
the Senate District Judiciary
subcommittee and from the
House District Crime subcom-
mittee, attended the night ses-
sion. They heard members of
the public air their views on the
bill to curb crime and improve
law enforcement here.
At the session, the committee
members agreed to:
l. Keep minimum sentences in
the bill despite adverse tesTi-
mony from judges, prosecutors,
bar association spokesmen ard
the District Commissioners.
Pistol Curb Removed.
2. Eliminate the proposed re-
qGlrement that no one can pos
seSs q pistol here without q GER
tifcate from the chief of police.
3. ReWrite the section cover
ing assaults on police officers to
make it clear the assault is
with force" and without justi-
fication or excusable cause
4. Give further consideration
to the sweeping charges pro-
posed in gambling and narcotic
laws, particularly the controver-
slal proposal to require a pny-
sician's certificate for anyone to
carry a hypodermic needle.
5. Leave other propose
amendments to the committee
STATS to work out with UniIed
States Attorney Leo A. Rover
and Corporation Counsel Vernon
West, who are scheduled to meet
with the staffs at 10 am. Mon
day.
Smith Calls for Showdown.
The committee discussion of
mandatory minimum sentences
"a
Smith, Democrat, of Virginia
saying he would be willing to
give the staffs authority to
change anything in the big bill
but he wanted to fight out the
sentence provision in committee.
Senator Barrett, Republican,
of Wyoming, chairman of the
Senate subcommittee, remarked
that he agreed on the need for
adequate sentences but he felt
the judges should have some
discretion.
Senator Case, Republican. of
South Dakota. chairman of the
Senate District committee. said
he thought the committee should
retain minimum sentences for
assault with intent to commit
rape and housebreaking at night
but robbery covered such a va
riety Of offenses that the mini
mum might be eliminated.
The House members had a
quick conference. They are Rep
resentative Tale, Republican. of
Iowa, the House subcommittee
chairman; Representative Davis,
Democrat, of Georgia, and Rep
resentative Smith.
How about keeping in armed
robbery?" asked Representative
Smith. They have a lot of that
here"
The legislators agreed and re-
duced the minimum sentence for
second offenders from three to
two years. They also agreed to
fix the minimum sentence for
rape at three instead of five
years and, for second offenders,
at seven instead of 10 years, as
originally provided in the bill.
Earlier in the two-and-a-half-
hour session, the committee
heard these witnesses:
Chief Judge Harold M. Ste
phens of the U. S. Court of Ap-
peals for the District of Colum-
bia. who favored the provision of
clerical help for the United
States commissioner here but
urged that the director of the
Administrative Office of the
United States Courts should de-
termine what expenses are neces-
sary. AS the bill now stands, the
district colr"t would make the de-
termination.
Preston King. president of the
District Bar Association who
praised the bill as whole but
opposed mandatory minimum