CRIME IN AMERICA

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 37, 7 November 1933, Page 14

CRIME IN AMERICA

Influence of Politics COMMISSION SITTING “Crime ,is by no means unknown in the United States,” writes a touring New Zealander from one of the large industrial centres of that country. “These are, in round figures, included in the list for the last statistical year: 12,000 killings, 50,000 robberies, 50,000 burglaries, 3000 kidnappings, and 5000 cases of arson. Of course it has to be remembered that this covers a very mixed population of over 120,000,000 people, still it is not a bad record for ah enlightened civilised country in this year of grace, 1933. “The trouble over here is that politics are to, a great extent so inextricably mixed up with crime. All except Federal judges are elected by the people, so you can easily imagine the influence which can be. brought to bear upon people who only hold their positions temporarily. Gangsters have control of plenty of money. I quote a few words from a statement made the, other day before the Crime Commission by a witness of good standing. Said the paper:—‘He -urged the commission to study some plan to effectively remove the courts from the in j sidious influence of politics. There was no reason why the country should be made a part of a political system. A judge’s right to continue in office should only be based on his integrity and ability.’ “When a prisoner here is sentenced to, say, ten years’ imprisonment, it does not mean that he is going to serve that term. If he behaves himself and is politically useful outside, he gets parole after some two years or a little more. To give you an idea, the figures for the Michigan prison for the first six months of this year are 1641 paroles. - The Governor of the State is allowed to grant paroles, which really mean pardons, irrespective of the judge’s comments at the time of sentence. As governors are elected it can easily be seen how political influence can be used t,o induce pardons. “I quote the following from a leading article in a daily paper here on the subject of lawyers:—‘Facts known in every large American city confirm the Attorney-General’s statement that the professional criminals get from members of the bar, nominally in good standing, expert advice as to how to commit crime, how to avoid detection, how to escape capture, and then use besides all their bag of tricks when capture and prosecution do occur.’ “A commission is now sitting to devise means for dealing with such lawyers. It has a very difficult task. The lure of the big money is the reason which actuates such lawyers. They charge very high fees, and are usually paid, in advance, and, in addition, get large bonuses. Gangsters are rolling In money, especially the ’bosses,’ and can command such services by paying for it.”