Evening star., 1962-01-02
Drive P| AIMED
On Corruption
BY a Star Staff Writer

~A'1 DH1aS44, 1d. jail o.
The Justice Department is CIV
ing top priority in its war
against organized crime to "a
major drive on efforts of rack
eteers to corrupt public Off
cials."
Attorney General Robert F.
Kennedy reported this to his
brother, President Kennedy, in
reviewing the administrations
1861 anti-crime activities.
While 1--WE are making FROG
ress" in the general war against
racketeering, the Attorney Gen.
eral said: I'm my opinion, ad-
dltional legislation will be nee
essary next year Q962) if we
are to maintain the pressure on
racketeers and hoodlums and
keep pace with the growing
crime rate"
His report, submitted to the
President in the closing days
of 1861 last week, was made
public at the temporary White
House last night.
He did not specify what kind
of new legislation he thinks
is needed. He noted, however,
that Federal jurisdiction is
obviously limited" in the field
of corruption of public officials
by criminals.
Halls Intelligence Setup
The Attorney General hailed
as a major development in the
anti-crime war during 1861 the
creation of an intelligence unit
within the Justice Departments
criminal division to pool in
formation and intelligence
from some Is Federal investiga-
tive agencies.
This intelligence unit, on a
day-to-day basis" he said, "Is
gathering data on some TOO
leading figures active in or as
sociated with criminal enter
prises."
AS an example of the drive
against criminal corruption of
public officials, the Attorney
General cited indictments in
Newport, KY. against the chief
OF police, a gambler, two police
officers and a lawyer for con-
spring to frame a candidate
for sheriff who had pledged to
clean up vice in the county.
He reported that betting now
has virtually ceased" in New
port, KY, which he described as
once "a major gambling CEN
ter"
Active investigations of pub
lie officials are going on in
a number of other communities
across the country" the At
torney General said.
Labor Rackets Target
He reported to the Presi-
dent that I'VE also are con-
centrating on labor manage
ment racketeering." With IA in
dictmentS returned during the
past year in this area, he said:
There are comprehensive in
veStigations being conducted in
"a number of other related
cases."
He said the new anti-rack-
eteering laws passed last year
had an immediate effect on
the gambling community" He
added that the majority of the
Nations leading race wire serv-
ices have closed down, and bet
ting on football dropped off
drastically."
One effect of the Federal
anti-crime drive, he said, has
caused the head of the Royal
Canadian Mounted Police to
warn his countrymen that some
American racketeers "are mov-
ing their operations into Can
ada"
Despite 1861 progress, the At
torney General said the fight
against organized crime sis
going to be a long-range strug-
gle which must be continued
over the next several years"
Reporting outstanding CO.
operation between Federal,
State and local authorities in
many of our Investigations"
he emphasized:
1T is essential that we con-
tinue this coordination and
cooperation if we are to make
further progress. ...
THE only final solution will
come from a complete aware
ness by all of the people of
the serious threat organized
crime poses for our way of life
and from the complete dedica-
ton and vigilance on the part
of law enforcement authorities
1 at every level of Oovarpyr1aYot -