Crime Bill For Washington

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32252, 21 March 1970, Page 11

Crime Bill For Washington

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

WASHINGTON, March 20.

The United States House of Representatives last night passed and sent to the Senate a sweeping anti-crime bill for the nation’s capital which President Nixon has vowed to make a model in his campaign for law and order, United Press International reported.

The measure, passed on a| 294-47 vote after 10 hours of; debate, would allow police to) detain dangerous suspects for, up to 60 days without bail and would expand search and) wire-tapping provisions already part of law. Liberals fought a losing battle throughout the day-' long debate to water down I the bill on the grounds that) the detention, search and, wire-tapping provisions were unconstitutional. The measure

was passed by a grouping of Republicans and Southern I Democrats, however. [ The bill, which conflicts with a series of Senate-passed . measures and which will have Ito be reconciled with them, I would allow a “no-knock” ! procedure whereby police [might enter premises in [search of evidence without ) first giving a warning. i Judges would be empowered to decide whether a suspect arrested for a “violent crime" was dangerous and order him held for up to 60 days without bail. The limited number of cases of Federal offences now approved for wire-tapping would be expanded for the District of Columbia to include the electronics surveillance for instances such as a suspected conspiracy to riot. The Administration backed the omnibus measure which also reorganises the district’s court system in an attempt toj speed up trials and strengthen j juvenile trial procedures. i Backers of the measure' pointed out that the crime rate in the capital increased six times since 1958 during which time a serious crime, such as murder, jumped from 79 in 1958 to 289 in 1969.