Evening star., 1953-05-05
Crime
Bill Passage
IsPredicted
Joint Hearings
On Measure to
Sturt Today

Legislators plotting the Dis
trict's big crime bill through
Congress today predicted its
passage at this session.
A Joint congressional hearing
on the omnibus measure was to
start this afternoon before the
Senate District Judiciary SUBJ
committee and the House Dis
trict Crime Subcommittee.
Witnesses scheduled for the
opening hearing included Chief
Judge Bolitha j. Laws of the
U. S. District Court for the Dis
trict of Columbia. Commissioner
Samuel Spencer. United States
Attorney Leo A. Rover. Corpora
ton Counsel Vernon E. West,
Police Chief Robert v. Murray
and Municipal Court Judges
Mary c. Barlow and Frank H.
Myers.
Chairman Case of the full
Senate District Committee and
a member Of the Judiciary Sub
committee said he had encour-
aged the joint hearings with
the idea adding impetus to con-
sideration of anti-crime bills in
both chambers.
Cites Two Investigations.
He said he believed the House
District crime Investigation
headed by Representative Davis.
Democrat, of Georgia in 1850
had done an excellent job" and
the Senate District crime in.
vestigation, headed by Senator
Neely, Democrat. of West Vir-
glnla last year, had produced
some administrative changes.
These Investigations also should
produce some legislation, he de-
clared.
I'VE want to 60 into the areas
where police have said they did
not have authority to act" SEN
ator Case added. II think the
Dill will commend itself to both
the House and the Senate"
After the joint hearings, which
will include a night session for
the public to express itself. the
two subcommittee will work out
a draft acceptable to both of
them, introduce it simultaneous
ly in both houses and report it
out Of their respective COM
mittees.
Senator Barrett, Republican.
OF wyoming, who heads the SEN
ate subcommittee, said he be.
lieves the preparation of an ac-
ceptable bill will be ACCOMPLISHED
promptly after the hearings.
i think there is some very
needed material in the pro-
posal." Senator Barrett said. 1T
Is quite possible that we can get
a bill that will meet the objec-
tions raised by some people and
merit the support of both houses.
I am very hopeful of getting
something through at this ses-
sion"
Points to Crime Figures.
Representative Tale, Republi-
can. OF Iowa. who heads the
House subcommittee, also ex-
pressed optimism. He said the
recent report showing the Dis
trict'S crime rate had increased
more than two-and-a-half the
National crime increase was
enough to show that something
must be done to aid law enforce
ment here.
The joint hearings, he said,
would help to expedite action and
prevent Implications of testi-
mony.
Representative Davis, author
Of about 35 different provisions
in the big bill. which also in
cludes eight bills introduced by
Senaor Nicely, said he looks for
ward with the greatest optimism
to the passage of the bill at this
session."
Commissioner Spencer, ques-
toned On your Commissioners
Report" over Station WMAL-Tv
last night. said the Commits
sioners support almost all pro.
visions Of the big bill. He ex-
cepted the provision for man.
datory minimum sentences.
which is also opposed by the
judges. He said the Commits
sionerS agreed that the judges
know best how to sentence in
each individual case.