Evening star., 1961-05-21
Mcmillan Predicts
Crime Bills Passage
Sees House OK
For 5, Uncertain
On Senate
By JOHN McKELWAY
Star Staff Writer

CndlTUldl MCHllldIl VI IIlc
House District Committee last
night predicted the House will
pass at least five bills designed
to reduce District crime.
Mr.. Mcmillan emphasized,
however, that he could not
speak for. the Senate.
All the proposals are expected
to be approved shortly by the
full District Committee and
sent to the House floor within
two weeks. They are the result
of hearings last week on recent
increases in local crime.
In the package are two bills,
introduced by Representative
Davis, Democrat of Georgia,
which seek to modify past court
rulings that District police
claim hamper crime preven-
ton.
One would clarity the Dur
nam decision OF 1854, which
deals with insanity as a defense
in criminal cases. The other
would prevent a judge from
throwing out a confession solely
because a delay occurred be-
tween arrest and arraignment.
Both bills have died in pre-
vious Congresses.
Death Penalty Opposed
Another bill, introduced by
Representative Abernathy,
Democrat of Mississippi, would
abolish the mandatory death
penalty in first-degree murder
convictions in the District.
Mr.. Mcmillan also pledged
to report a Juvenile Court bill.
He would not say what form it
would take. A bill introduced
by Mr.. Davis-it would place
the court under Municipal
Court and reduce the juvenile
age from 18 to 16-began find
ing public support for the first
time at last weeks hearings.
witnesses testified they could
see no harm in juvenile cases
being handled in an adult court
and by Municipal Court judges
if necessary.
The fifth bill-to be intro
duced tomorrow by Repre-
sentative Harsha, Republican
of Ohio-would authorize a
3,000-man police force, COM
pared to the present strength
Of 2,714. Mr.. HarSha, a member
of the District Committee, has
the support of Mr.. Mcmillan.
Chairman Bible of the Senate
District Committee has taken
a similar stand. Mr.. Mcmillan
suggested the bill also might
increase the police depart
ment'S Canine Corps.
Meanwhile, crime hearings
moved to the Senate.
Members of the District
Council on Law Enforcement
are scheduled to testify before
the full Senate District Com
mittee at 10 am. tomorrow.
Decisions Defended
Police Chief Robert v. Muir
ray, scheduled as a witness,
may have some difficulty in
selling the committee on his
position that the Durham and
Mallory decisions have ham
pered police work. Senator
Morse, Democrat of Oregon, q
member of the committee, took
the floor of the Senate last
week and defended the deci-
SionS.
The hearing also could pro-
duce the first public reaction
OF Juvenile Court Judge Orm
Ketcham of the House Youth
Court bill. Judge Ketcham has
been asked to testify.
Last night, District Commits
sioner Robert E. Mclaughlin
criticized a proposal which
cropped up during last weeks
House hearings.
Representative Broyhill. Re-
publican of Virginia, said the
District Committee was study
ing the possibility that a GRIM
inal's fourth felony conviction
in the District carry a manda-
tory life sentence.
Mr.. Mclaughlin speaking over
WWDC's Report to the People
program, called the proposal an
extreme measure"
Mr.. Mclaughlin went on to
say that the city could deal
with crime more effectively if
the District had home rule.
Members of Congress have mo
basic responsiveness" to the
needs of the city, the Commits
Sioner said.
He added that he felt the
police department has done,
and is doing, a superb job"