Evening star., 1961-09-24

~ He explained that until NJ
against these racketeers becau
not covered by Federal laws.
With the new measures, lie
said, the investigations will be
brought up to date by Federal
agents of half dozen agencies
now cooperating in the drive
against organized crime.
For the first time since the
days. of AL Capone," he said,
we jhave some long overdue
legislation to deal with the ma
jor internal problem of organ
lied tcrime."
IA advance of the legislation,
a teloser working relationship
between the Federal investigs-
tive agencies was developed and
is now in operation. AS a result
of. these inter-agency efforts,
the Attorney General explained,
the Justice Department can take
advantage of the investigations
thai have already been made.
Face U. S. Action
THE new laws, it was ex-
planned, put the racketeerS ard
gamblers in this position: If
they, try to keep their activities
within a State, they run afoul
of State and local police. If
they move across State lines, as
they, have been accustomed to
do ia the past, they face Fed
eral prosecution.
iJhstice Department attorneys
ateHnow analyzing the new laws
to determine all the facets of
possible violation. Their analy-
sis to date shows that the laws
are. aimed at making virtual
herfnits of organized criminals.
N effect. the laws put wall
around the States. If the gam
blet or racketeer uses the mail,
the telephone, an airplane or
hishcar across State lines to
further his enterprises, he's in
trouble, too.
Here's how the Justice De-
parement attorneys have inter-
preted the new laws to date:
"a racketeer faces prosecution
if'he mails a check or a money
order, stock or a mortgage
across State lines ana the
money behind the securities can
be traced to the proceeds of
gambling, narcotics, extortion,
bribery, illicit liquor or proSti-
tuition.
H,a Chicago recketeer buys a
home in Florida and Federal
agents can show the money
came from these crimes, the
racketeer can be sent to a new
home - Leavenworth or At
lanta.
If he promotes any of these
crimes by crossing State lines
hinself, sending an agent, ship
ping a package or using the
malls, he's violating the law.
On the New York waterfront,
where longshoreman borrow at
exorbitant interest rates, the
"shylockS" have been accus-
toned to import strong arm
men to make collections. Under
the new law, both the Shy
lock" and the strong-arm men
would be subject to Federal
penalties If the debtor was
beaten up.
State Line Issue
It's now a Federal crime to
cross a State line to commit
a violent act in furtherance OF
an unlawful activity. AS a re-
suit, the racketeerS and their
henchmen face Federal prose-
cution, and much stiffer penal
ties than they would get in a
State court-if the crime ever
got into court. In addition,
Federal agents can explore the
Interstate aspects of the crime
as local authorities cannot do.
The new laws limiting in
terstate transmission Of bet
ting information and inter-
state transportation of wager
ing paraphernalia are aimed
particularly at the principal
source of funds for all organ
lied crime-gambhng. Here's
what the bookie or numbers
backer now faces:
The numbers operator can,
no longer, run his numbers
business in one State and keep
his courthouse across the
State line as many of the big
time numbers operators now do
to- escape local authorities.
The bookie can, no longer,
protect himself against big
losses by laying off his bets via
telephone to a lay-off man in
another State.
The bookie needs fast race
wire information to be sure his
customers are not trying to
"past-post" him-make bets
after they know which horse
has won. If the bookie makes a
call across State lines to get
lastSrninute track information,
or1accepts such a call, he's
violating the law.
Race wire operators usually
get $50 to $100 month for
their service to bookies. If the
bookie mails his money to pay
eral government moves in to
for the service, or sends it by
telegraph money order or takes
it in person. he's violating the
ban on interstate travel in aid
of racketeering enterprises.
The h0okie also is now pre-