Evening Star Newspaper, December 14, 1934, Page 5

CRIME INSTITUTE NEARER REALITY Conference Backs Pian for Center and to Continue War on Lawlessness. BY REX COLLIER. Attorney General Cummings’ vision of a great national “institute of crim- inology,” which would be general headquarters of a co-ordinated war on crime by Federal, State and mu- nicipal authorities, was nearer reali- gation today as a result of determined action planned by the National Crime Conference. . The conference, voting at its closing sessions last night to perpetuate itself, gave its full support to the plan for establishing in Washington a Gov- ernment-controlled crime research and educational center, destined to be the “board of strategy” in a continu- ous campaign against lawlessness. While the institute or university has not progressed beyond the nebulous stage, Cummings looks forward to an establishment staffed with a distin- guished faculty of experts in the sci- ences of crime detection and criminal apprehension. This faculty would conduct inten- sive researches with a view to im- proving old and devising new methods of investigation and would give full benefit to their findings to the Na- tion’s authorized agencies of law en- dorcement. Law Enforcement Courses. As a further contribution toward better detection and apprehension of those who defy the law, the crim- inological institute would conduct carefully planned courses in law en- forcement for police of the Nation. This instruction would be patterned after that now being given special agents of the Justice Department’s Division of Investigation. The Federal course, as developed by J. Edgar Hoover, division director, em- braces two months of “concentrated stupdy” of Federal laws, rules of evi- dence, scientific methods of detection, identification systems and ballisti ‘The last-named subject includes ac ual training on the firing line in the use of machine guns, high-powered rifles, automatics and gas equipment. Attorney General Cummings, in & final addres to the crime conference last night, pledged the whole-hearted leadership of the Department of Jus- tice in the concerted move for con- certed attack on the underworld. “It is not the purpose of the Federal Government,” he explained, “to usurp the functions of the State and local police units. It is not the desire to extend activities in violation either of constitutional limitations or the customs of our people. The motive is to attempt to meet a need which long had existed, and to assist, com- plement and serve the law enforcing agencies of America.” Cummings said the crime war must be waged along four major lines: First, development of the machinery and methods of law enforcement; second, careful selection and training of per- sonnel; third, crime prevention, with special reference to juvenile offenders, and fourth, enlistment of public sup- port. Commitiee Recommended. ‘The conference, in indorsing the Attorney General's proposal for a na- tional scientific and educational cen- ter, recommended appointment of an advisory committee to study ways and means of bringing out e.stabnshment. of the institution. Other recommendations of the con- ference were: 1. Strengthening of law-enforcement organizations within the States, coun- ties and cities on the theory that major responsibility for eradicating local crimes rests with State and local authorities. 2. Co-ordination of agencies en- gaged in preventing juvenile delin- quency. 3. Administration of “all phases of public safety by legally constituted law-enforcement agencies only.” (In- directly aimed at lynching.) 4. Tightening of parole and pardon policies. 5. Revision of code of criminal pro- cedure in the courts. 6. Cessation by certain newspapers and periodicals of publication of stories dramatizing crime and glorifying crim- inals, 7. Overhauling and improvement of “unsafe, insanitary and insecure” Jails. These major resolutions were adopt- ed out of 110 formal recommendations made to the conference during its four-day meeting. In a preamble to the resolutions, the conference held that “there has been presented at this conference over- whelming evidence of an intolerable breakdown of law and order through- out the country.” Time to Halt Crime. THE EVENING STAR,. WASHINGTON, Can This Be Florida? Unusual cold swept into Florida this week when the mercury dropped to 19 degrees at Sea Breeze. Here is what happened to the Sea Breeze golf course when somebody left the repression should still remain with the local authorities.” The conference “recognized that criminal careers usually originate in the early years of neglected childhood and that the most fundamental and hopeful measures of crime prevention are those directed toward discovering the underlying factors in the delin- quency of children and strengthening and co-ordinating the resources of the home, the school and the community for child guidance.” Leadership Is Urged. It urged State and national leader- ship through governmental and vol- untary organizations “in fostering de- velopment of co-ordinating agencies, the provision of constructive educa- tional, vocational and recreational op- portunities for youth and the pro- vision of competent, skilled service to children in need of guidance and cor- rection.” With respect to “the abuse of parole and pardon power, tending to under- mine respect for law and order,” the conference recommended that: 1. Minimum and maximum of in- determinate sentences should be com- patible with adequate punishment, re- habilitation and public welfare and protection. 2. Paroles should be granted only by a full-time, salaried board of duly qualified persons. 3. Full information should be avail- able and sought for the use of the board as to the prisoners’ records, habits, environment, family and pros- pects. 4. Names of all persons indorsing a prisoner for parole should be made public on request of the press or any responsible person or organization. 5. No parole should be granted ex- cept where adequate employment and rigid supervision are provided. 6. Adequate appropriations must be provided for obtaining requisite data and furnishing necessary supervision. 7. One parole officer should not be expected to supervise more than a number to whom he can give adequate attention. 8. No political or other improper influence shall be tolerated. 9. Machinery should be provided for the prompt revocation of any parole when continuance at liberty is not in the public interest. Six Suggestions Made. The conference suggested that there be inserted in the code of criminal procedure provisions for: 1. Giving the accused the privi- lege of electing whether he shall be tried by jury or by the court alone. 2. Permitting the empaneling * of alternate or extra jurors to serve in the case of the disability or disquali- fication of any juror during the trial. 3. Permitting trial upon informa- tion as well as indictment, and, where indictment by grand jury re- mains a constitutional requirement, allowing waiver of indictment. 4. Providing for jury verdicts in criminal cases by less than a unani- mous vote except in the case of certain major felonies. 5. Adopting e principle that a criminal defendant offering a claim of alibi or insanity in his defense shall be required to give advance no- “It is inconceivable,” the conference | tice to the prosecution of this fact announced, “that this Nation can con- | and of the circumstances to be of- tinue to permit murders, pillaging and | fered, and that in the absence of racketeering with impunity.” The conference urged “effective co- operation by all departments and agencies of Federal, State, county and local authorities.” Referring to “the deplorable condition of disorganiza- tion which exists in local law enforce- ment units,” it was recommended that the States consider co-ordinated con- trol through State departments of Justice or other means. “Modern conditions demand modern methods,” it was stated. “The Federal Government should stand ready with- in the limits of Federal law to offer a.d and support as and when needed. In many such instances local, county and State activities can thus be effect- 1vely assisted. It wss emphasized, however, that the “major portion of the task of crime Check Your Coats —and Parcels while you do your Christ- mas Shopping. COAT DEPARTMENT 2nd FLOOR, Lanshurghs 7th, 8th and E such notice, a plea of insanity or a defense based on an alibi shall not be permitted upon trial except in ex- traordinary cases in discretion of the Judge. 6. Adopting a rule permitting court and counsel to comment to the jury on failure of the defendant in a crim- inal case to testify in his own behalf. ‘The conference said it “deplores the practice of unduly dramatizing sprinkler system turned on. —A. P. Photo. stories of crime and glorifying the criminal” and, at the same time, it commended activities of publications which have lent aid to law enforce- ment authorities. In a broad resolution the confer- ence condemned: 1, possession of fire- arms by irresponsible persons and known criminals; 2, activities of lawyer-criminals; 3, protection too often given professional criminals and racketeers by persons in profes- sional business, political and official positions; 4, generally prevalent abuse of bail. Establishment by the Federal Gov- ernment of a national university for the training of young police officers was proposed to the conference yes- terday by Andrew J. Kavanaugh, chief of police of Fairport, N. Y. Kavanaugh suggested & regular four-year course leading to the degree of “bachelor of police science.” The coilege would teach all the sclences which can be applied to the solution of crime and the apprehension of criminals. He suggested that States create police training schools of a preparatory nature. Mrs. Norton Speaker. Representative Mary T. Norton, chairman of the House District Com- mittee, told the conference that “to get at the root of crime we must start with the child.” Mrs. Norton, incidentally, praised Supt. Peak of Lorton Reformatory for maintaining what she described as “among the best governed Federal prisons in the country.” The conference closed with & re- ception in the Pan American Build- ing last night, given by Attorney Gen- eral and Mrs. Cummings. PROSECUTORS PLAN CONFERENCE HERE County Attorneys Will Meet to Co-ordinate Efforts in Drive on Crime. ‘The Nation's county prosecutors, the men on whom falls the task of actually carrying out the national war on crime being mapped by Federal agencies, will gather in Washington next September to co-ordinate and make more effec- tive their efforts. The coming conference was an- nounced this morning after a meeting of Gordon Dean, special attorney in the Department of Justice; Herbert Munro of Detroit, secretary of the National Association of Prosecuting Attorneys, which is sponsoring the meeting, and Curtis Hodges, executive director of the Greater National Capi- tal Committee. ‘The National Association of Prosecut- ing Attorneys said it would inaugurate a campaign aimed at bringing every county prosecutor in the United States to the conference. “We are sure that the Attorney General's conference on crime, which has just ended in Washington, will result in very effective measures in protecting the public against crime,” said Munro. “But if the most is to be secured from this conference we must insure continuous and whole- hearted co-operation in this move- ment for the detection of crime and the adequate punishment of criminals of those closest to the local crime problem in all its phases, the county prosecutor, or ‘State’s attorney.’ Our association aims to be one of the most effective units in this permanent anti- crime crusede.” THE GIFT STORE FOR ALL THE PEOPLE For the 42nd Christmas Wash- ingtonians ar e coming to A. Kahn Inc. for... DIAMOND PLATINUM Dinner Ring 7 Dia- monds Set in Platinum Jewelers Stationers DIAMONDS e WATCHES—SILVER LAMPS AND CLOCKS Platinumsmiths A.Kahn Jnc. Arthur J. Sundlun} Pres. 42 Years at 935 F St. JAIL SENTENCES HELD WAY TO CURB NUMBERS RACKET (Continued Prom Pirst Page.) and nobody cares, but when the run- ner has to serve his own jail sen- tence it makes a difference. “Many of them turned against the big shots when they found that the promised legal help could not save them from a jail sentence and we got plenty of information from them. In nearly all cases we. had bail set Christm D. 50 high that the bosses of the racket wouldn't put it up and that made the sellers sore. In one case—where we had a special reason—a judge set bail at $50,000. The shyster lawyers squawked and talked about Consti- tutional rights, but we had them stop- Two Types of Bosses. “We found two types of bosses be- hind this game. One was the little fellow who was running a local racket on a shoe string in some sector of the city. The other was the pro- fessional criminal, most of them ex- liquor barons, who were going in on a big scale They were the ones we tried to hit, because the little fellows C., FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1934. merely provided an outlet for an amount of gambling that would go on anyway. But you have to keep after them all. “I don’t know what your District law 1s, but what you should have is one eliminating the need of indict- ments and jury trials. Also, you should have a law that makes the operator or seller of policy slips a felon and makes the buyer a misde- meanant. With that kind of a law you hit at both sides. An operator who faces jail won't be so anxious to operate and a player who sees a $10 fine for possession of a ticket will think twice also.” ‘Two other viewpoints on the racket and how to combat it were expressed by conference delegates. Harold E. Chasmar, vice president of the Commercial Crime Commission, an organization incorporated in New York State for the purpose of repre- senting business in a fight against crime: “There isn't a racket operating in this country that couldn't be stopped by the co-operation of determined business men. They form the foun- tain-head through which the con- sumer pays for all crime—pays for it in high taxes, high insurance rates ard high prices for goods. Get your busi- ness men back of this campaign, arouse them to a point where they will outlaw the kind of business man who finances these rackets and then you can put the pinch on the whole game.” Chief of Police Henry Copenhagen of Rochester: “We don’t have the numbers game as suchfi but we had some trouble with race tickets. We pinched the sellers for possession and closed up the places they operated from until we drove most of them out of town. “In the way of discouraging the spread of gambling among children we are getting best results from the work of a special squad assigned to the Board of Education. These officers have no other duties than to visit the schools, become friends and advisers of the children, talk before Parent- Teacher organizations and in similar ways effect a law respecting influence upon youngsters. We find that it gives the kids confidence in the police and a feeling of some pride that they can talk to the officers on familiar terms. The plan has served to check un- healthy influences in the schools.” “Here’s where I pull one out of the bag for the poor neglected males Our giftis a*7.50 saving on a keen new lot of Bolton Worsted Suits For this event tfl’re EOi"E at Why should we men again take the well known back seat, just before Christmas? 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