Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-07-02
D. {. Officials
Favor Bill on
Open Arrests
Would Require
Police Records to
Be Kept Public
BY Don S. Worren

IA 6A4AS V4AO JAAAXN46&4J 6A0OO11k1x14U@
tee Of the Senate District Com
mittee to enact a law to require
that records Of the arrests made
by the Metropolitan Police be
kept open to public inspection
Solid Endorsements Of the
measure were voiced by Vernon
E. West, corporation counsel.
speaking for the Commissioners;
by Police Chief Robert v. Muir
ray and j. r. Virgins, manag-
ing editor of the Washington
Post and Times Herald.
The District, as most cities,
has followed the practice of
keeping open records of arrests.
Mr.. West, however, explained
that under present law this is
not required. He rendered an
opinion last January that the
police chief could keep records
open but was not required to.
Murray in Favor.
Chief Murray said he was
very much in favor of the bill.
He said:
81 do not want the discretion
or responsibility to say which
arrest records may be open to
the public and which may be
kept confidential.
81 do not think should have
that discretion. I do not think
any chief Of police should have
it."
Mr.. Virgins said that while
the District had long-standing
practice of making the arrests
books open there should be no
doubt about it.
1.-THE menace of secret arrests
has become clearer in recent
years under the pratices of die
tators like Hitler" he said.
Crippa Conducts Session.
This was one of a half dozen
measures considered in a two
hour hearing conducted by
Senator Crippa, Republican, OF
wyoming. He is newly appointed
to the Senate to succeed the late
Senator Lester Hunt, Democrat.
Of Wyoming.
District officials also strongly
supported a measure. to include
the crime of robbery in the def
milton of crime of violence. Mr..
West explained that robbery was
left out of the list apparently
due only to an oversight when
Congress passed the dangerous
weapons act of 1882. He said he
could find no other explanation
as to why larceny was included
but robbery omitted.
The principal effect of the
proposed amendment would be
to permit judges to levy extra
punishment on a person con-
victed Of robbery. For first
offense the added punishment
could be up to five years, for a
second offensive 10 years, and
for third offense 80 years.
Has Rover Backing.
United States Attorney Leo A.
Rover, indorsing the bill, said
Everybody is in favor of the
bill except the robbers"
Police Chief Murray Endorsed
Mr.. Rover's statement.
Several witnesses urged APP
prevail of House-passed bill tn
authorize a grant by the United
States of $475.00O toward the
construction of a grade separa-
ton in the vicinity of South
Dakota avenue NE. where the
extension Of New York avenue
NE. will cross the right of way
and tracks of the Pennsylvania
Railroad. New York avenue
must be extended in order to
connect with the Washington
Baltimore parkway.
Total cost is estimated at
around $95O,000. If the bill is
passed the other half of the cost
will be borne by the Federal
Government. If the bill fails of
passage the remaining cost will
have to be shared by the District
and the Pennsylvania Railroad.
Railroad Protests.
Frank j. Mccarthy, assistant
vice president of the railroad.
protested that neither the Dis
trict nor the railroad should
have to pay for the grade sep
aration structure because the
project. required as a connec-
ton with the Washington Balti-
more parkway, was strictly an
intercity, interstate highway"
In any event, MIR. Mccarthy
said. the railroad should not
have to pay more than 10 per
cent. under the regulations Of
the Bureau of Public Roads. He
predicted completion of the new
parkway to Baltimore would
mean a loss of revenue to the
railroad. The railroad, he said,
should not have to pay anything
This project is a benefit only
to our competitors" he said. 1--WE
don't want to pay for our own
destruction"
Brig. Gen. Louis w. Prentiss
Engineer Commissioner, and
other city officials said the
q District had no objection to the
bill.
Other Bills Considered.
Other bills considered would:
Authorize the District to
appoint guards with police pow
ers at District institutions in
Maryland and Virginia.
Amend the District Credit
Unions act so as to put the Dis
trict Credit Unions under the
jurisdiction of the Bureau of
Federal Credit Unions of the
Department of Health, Educa-