2. The Omnibus Crime Bill for the District of Columbia signed into law some 9 months ago by the President has not stopped crime in the District of Columbia. 3. The D.C. City Council's gun registration measures, which are now being challenged in the Courts will not stop crime in the District. 4. I might add that I was shocked to read a report in the Washington Post of Sept. 2, which declared that, and I quote: "Jonathan D. Schiller 21, connects the Columbia University riots of last spring with Washington's police-community relations crisis of this summer. "A six-foot, five-inch exponent of the New Left, . . . . Schiller . . . . Now a $100-a-week summer intern for the City Council helped turn out the 43-page report on police-community relations that is still being considered by the Council. "For two weeks, with his Columbia experience still fresh in his mind, Schiller plowed through reports of various crime commissions, called police and law enforcement officials and conferred with specialists from the Justice Department." I am told on good authority, by a highly respected reporter, that Mr. Hechinger and the City Council admits that the Washington Post story is accurate, and that Mr. Schiller was hired for this sensitive position in an attempt to rehabilitate him. This incredible situation cannot be corrected by any legislation short of returning the District Government to the control of the former Board of Commissioners, and completely rescinding the reorganization as suggested by Congressman Sisk earlier this year. I am delighted that Congressman Broyhill brought this matter to the attention of the Nation by including information on the Schiller case in the Congressional Record of September 17, 1968, and roundly condemned the City Council for its position-a position which borders on the frivolous, and makes a mockery of its position on police-community relations. 5. The fifth reason the adoption of H.R. 14430 and H.R. 14448 to establish a Commissioner is essential, is that no other city in the country has a fragmented police force such as we have here in the Nation's Capital. A unified police force is just as essential to wage a successful war on crime at home as a unified Department of Defense is essential to wage a war against our enemies from abroad. Let us look at the experience with Resurrection City earlier this year, on the park grounds near the Lincoln Memorial. The City Police had reports, and the newspapers reported the daily incidence of crime, rape, burglary, beatings which took place there. Yet, the Park Police considered and maintained they couldn't enter there to establish law and order. The Metropolitan Police were kept off limits by the Park Service under Secretary of the Interior Udall. The situation rapidly deteriorated. Finally, the Congress insisted that there was no justification for an enclave on park land which the police could not enter. As you know, it was the Metropolitan Police which established law and order there. If there had been a unified police force, the situation would not have gotten out of hand. At Dupont Circle, the park police have stood around with their hands in their pockets while all kinds of unlawful goings-on are permitted. Some months ago, a young white couple were assaulted. Finally, some middle-aged Negroes went to their defense, and called the Metropolitan Police. The opposition to a unified police force is centered in the very same forces who have maintained that it is "justifiable homicide" to kill white policemen, and who have encouraged this type of lawlessness, who have been responsible for the burning and looting of Washington which has not taken place since the War of 1812 and the British invasion of Washington and their setting fire to the White House. We love our Nation's Capital. We think the police must be unified so that they can establish "domestic tranquility" guaranteed by the Constitution—but which is so lacking today. Mr. Dowdy. The Committee will now stand adjourned. (Thereupon at 12:05 p.m. the Committee adjourned.) APPENDIX STAFF MEMORAndum, May 15, 1968-THE APRIL 1968 CIVIL Beginning on the evening of April 4 of this year, the District of Columbia experienced a widespread outbreak of rioting, looting, arson, and destruction of property. When the last Federal troops were withdrawn from the city on April 16, many blocks of the city were a burnedout shambles, with a total of 645 buildings and 283 housing units badly damaged or destroyed. Also, some 909 commercial establishments and their contents were destroyed or damaged. The commercial areas of 14th Street and 7th Street, N.W., and of H Street, N.E., were particularly hard hit by this wave of vandalism and arson. As a result, many small business establishments in these sections were badly damaged or totally destroyed by fire. Many of the men and women who owned these businesses have lost not only their property, but their sole means of earning a living and their entire life savings as well. While some have recouped a portion of their loss through insurance, few if any of these people will ever be completely reimbursed. The District estimates that the cost of demolishing and removing these unsafe damaged buildings or parts thereof will be approximately $300,000. Total losses of property in the riot-torn areas may never be completely calculated. The latest estimate of losses or damages to "insured" properties alone in the concentrated areas of looting and destruction has been fixed by insured underwriters at $25 million. Job losses, business losses, and hotel, restaurant and sightseeing losses, during this the busiest season in Washington likewise have been appalling and presently not determined. Widespread reports have been received by the Committee of innumerable instances attested to by witnesses, seen personally or on the various TV channels, of looting and plundering in the presence of the police, and subsequently in the presence of troops, with no apparent attempt being made by the police or troops to prevent or control same. What actual orders were issued to the police or troops is not clear from preliminary inquiry. Estimates of losses from the April 1968 civil disturbances in Washington ESTIMATED REAL PROPERTY DAMAGE No. of Buildings Damaged or Destroyed__ No. of Housing Units Damaged or Destroyed_ No. of Commercial Establishments Damaged or Destroyed--- 645 283 909 8 OTHER LOSSES Estimated cost of insured property losses or damages, including inventories, as revised by insured underwriters (making Washington's losses, under these preliminary estimates, higher than those in any other U.S. city) (million). Job losses in riot-torn areas.. (This is an elusive figure. There was testimony before the Com- Cost of Federalizing the National Guard and Bringing in 14,000 Army $24 $5.3 ESTIMATES OF COSTS TO THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA GOVERNMENT OF THE RECENT DISTURBANCES GOVERNMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, EXECUTIVE OFFICE, Washington, D.C., May 3, 1968. Mr. JAMES T. CLARK, You will note that the footnotes on pages 3, 4 and 5 indicate the purpose for which the money was used. D. P. HERMAN, Budget Officer, D.C. SUMMARY OF INDICATIONS OF AGENCY COSTS OF DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA CIVIL DISTURBANCE 1 Indicates figure includes "Capital outlay costs." See explanations for details. * Indicates total includes anticipated $200,000 grant from Federal Government to Licenses and Inspections Agency to help finance the estimated $300,000 costs of razing dangerous buildings and removing debris. |