Mr. WHITENER. We'll make them a part of the record.

(The documents referred to follow :)

GREATER WASHINGTON SERVICE STATION ASSOCIATION ACTION BULLETIN

DEAR SERVICE STATION OPERATOR: In the past months, the members of the service station industry have been exposed to a rampant crime wave which has touched dealers across the length of the city.

To combat the elements causing this crime, the area's business groups, under the auspices of the Washington Board of Trade, have formed "The Committee to Reduce Crime NOW."

The formation of this Committee was generated by the intense concern of the entire business community for the protection of commercial property and, even more important, the welfare and safety of customers.

In addition to its support of the long-range projects attacking the roots of crime, the Committee intends to mobilize public support for action that will make our National Capital area a safer place in which to live and work.

Each of us has a personal and civic responsibility to assure the success of this Committee. As local businessmen, we cannot afford to let others carry the burden of fighting crime. Service station dealers are important "soldiers" in this battle.

For this reason, the Greater Washington Service Station Association is appealing to you, and the more than 440 other District of Columbia retail gasoline dealers for FUNDS to finance the work of the Committee.

Will you please send GWSSA a check for this purpose? All checks should be made payable to GWSSA Anti-Crime Fund, and all are tax deductible business expenses.

We thank you for your support.

RALPH COBB,

Cobb's Gulf Servicecenter, GWSSA Crime Commission Chairman, [Reprint from THE NOZZLE, Official Publication of Greater Washington Service Station Association, vol. 58]

COVER STORY.. CRIME WAVE HITS AREA BUSINESSES

A service station operator is shot at, an attendant is roughed up by some local thugs, a dealer is pistol-whipped and robbed and a station's plate glass window is smashed.

This is all happening in the Washington metropolitan area as businessmen find themselves in the midst of the biggest wave of crime and juvenile delinquency yet recorded in the history of retailing.

Also in the middle, caught between a too-tolerant judicial system and an everrampant criminal element, is the public which must absorb the ever-increasing cost of crime.

District and suburban businessmen have witnessed a proliferation of criminal activity which has already resulted in Peoples Drug Stores closing one store, the D.C. Transit System curtailing service in certain neighborhoods, and D.C. liquor dealers unable to secure insurance protection against robbery and theft.

This intolerable situation has spurred the businessmen to action. Backed by some of the largest-and hardest hit-businesses, the Metropolitan Board of Trade has formulated the "Committee to Reduce Crime NOW" and has solicited the active support of firms and trade associations throughout the metropolitan

area.

Supporting the objectives of this Committee, the Board of Directors of the Greater Washington Service Station Association has pledged $1,000 to its operation.

The money will not come from general operating funds; it will come from a direct "across the board" appeal to all service station operators in the metropolitan area.

There are close to 1400 dealers in the Greater Washington area and if each donates just $1.00, the immediate goal will be met, said GWSSA Executive Director Stan Rodman.

But the immediate goal of raising money and the long range goal of having it effectively used are two different things.

Thus, present plans of the Committee call for the hiring of both legal and public relations counsel. The story of the cost of crime must be put directly, and effectively, to the people.

Also in the plans are direct appeals to the District Commissioners and the members of Congress responsible for local government for "tighter laws." Many individuals look at crime statistics with indifference and apathy, said Rodman, but in truth they are paying the finanical burden.

This is especially the case when local retailers are forced to pass on the cost of higher insurance premiums for robbery and burglary protection to the consumer public.

Liquor retailers have been especially feeling the effect of unchecked crime. Tomorrow, the service station operator may find himself in a similar position. The present crime wave works directly against the public in other ways. Good service station operators-people who know their business-are choosing not to take stations located in the District or in the "fringy" suburban areas. Consequently, as the good businessmen are driven out, they are often replaced by marginal or poor dealers who, more often than not, do a disservice to the public. In some areas, stations have been closed because of a combination of poor location and "bad neighborhood element."

An Esso dealer, now located in the plush suburbs of Montgomery County, says that he was driven out of his station (another brand) by continued threats made against him and his attendants.

In a six month period, he experienced seven untoward incidents and a number of thefts. "The pressure was too much," he said, "and I really began to worry about the safety of myself and my men."

How can a businessmen's Committee to Reduce Crime NOW" help the situation? Basically, the Committee hopes to enlist the support of all businessmen's groups in a massive effort to communicate to the public the business picture in relationship to crime.

Thus the need for public relations counsel.

It is also the intent of the Committee to show the average person how much it costs to tolerate crime and the criminal element in our society.

People are case-hardened by all they read in the newspaper, said Board of Trade President Leonard B. Doggett. Jr. But, they may respond to across the board appeals when they find out what it is costing to condone crime in their midst.

Doggett feels strongly about the present situation. He owns and operates a number of parking lots and his attendants are veterans of battles against the area's criminal element.

Only recently, four youths caught in the act of robbing one of his lots were freed the day after their capture on "personal bonds."

The problem will not be an easy one to solve, said Doggett, but at least President Johnson, who has been sent letters by numerous businesses and associations, has responded by proposing a strong program to combat crime.

In his message to Congress, the President has called for more and better youth services, stiffer control of firearms, expanded authority for police to make arrests, procedures to protect witnesses, more enlightened treatment of alcoholics and tighter bail bond procedure.

The President also requested a larger budget for District police, courts and youth activities.

As important as money and expanded programs geared to combat crime is the attitude of the general population to the problem of crime.

Where there exists little respect for law and order, law and order soon disappear. Where there is no respect for the rights and properties of others the properties of others disappear, thus destroying the rights.

This breach between what's right and what's happening is the one which the local businessmen through their Committee hope to fill by judicious use of time, money and manpower.

As service station dealers, every gasoline retailer is ultimately affected. For crime in the metropolitan area is not localized. Last year alone, more than 120 robberies were committed against service stations, and of these 69 were in the District. The rest took place in the "safe suburbs."

Jack Hoffmaster, GWSSA president, is encouraging the new Committee's efforts to get the story across. It's a job that no one group or one person can do alone, he said. Everyone's help is needed, everyone has to care.

To not care, to not contribute to this fight, said Hoffmaster, is the same as offering a blank check to the hoodlums of our society.

"And as this criminal element continues to draw upon our accounts," said Hoffmaster, "We'll all go morally and financially bankrupt."

Mr. RODMAN. One other thing, to show you do have support for anything you might do, we publish a monthly magazine which goes to 3,400 automotive businesses in the greater Washington area. are now playing up this theme.

We

Again, in retrospect, we are sorry we didn't get on the ball last year, but I can assure you that working with the Board of Trade, our Association is much on the ball this year.

Thank you.

Mr. WHITENER. Thank you, Mr. Rodman.

Mr. Karl Miller. Is Mr. Miller here?

Mr. Thomas McLaughlin, President, D.C. Bankers Association.

STATEMENT OF THOMAS MCLAUGHLIN, PRESIDENT, D.C. BANKERS ASSOCIATION

Mr. MCLAUGHLIN. Thank you. I am Thomas McLaughlin, President of the District of Columbia Bankers Association.

Our Washington, D.C., Clearing House association has previously stated that the banks are concerned over our community crime problem. So far in 1967 there have been 15 crimes in the District of Columbia against local financial institutions. In all of 1966 there were 24, in 1965 there were 22 and in 1964 only 8.

The time for real action is now. We realize one bill will not cure all the problems in the District but it surely is a step in the right direction. There must be respect for law and order.

Our law-abiding citizens surely are entitled to be safe in their own homes, their businesses and on the streets of our nation's capital. Thank you for the privilege of appearing here.

Mr. WHITENER. Thank you, Mr. McLaughlin, and all of the other witnesses we have had testifying here. We appreciate your expression of concern about the problems. We expressed our concern about this in the last Congress.

We appreciate your coming here, and I think without exception endorsing the principles of the Omnibus Crime Bill. We assure you we are giving it earnest consideration and the Congress has already indicated its desire to do something. We just hope that others will be equally diligent.

Are there any other witnesses who would like to be identified? Are there any there that we have not heard from or have called upon? Our time is up. Thank you very much.

We will insert into the record at this point copies of letters and statements from other business men and citizens on the subject of crime and crime abatement in the District.

(The matters referred to follow :)

Hon. JOHN MCMILLAN,

DRUG FAIR, Alexandria, Va., March 1, 1967.

Chairman, Committee on the District of Columbia, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, D.C.

MY DEAR CONGRESSMAN MCMILLAN: I know that you are aware of and disturbed by the increase in crime in the Washington metropolitan area, but I feel I must add my voice to the cries for help. The senseless and vicious beatings inflicted on our employees; threats to their lives; and, the burdensome loss of money and damage to property necessitate an immediate and full-scale war against these criminal elements.

Within the brief period of one week, three Drug Fair stores were victimized by armed robbers. In one instance, two employees were kidnapped from in front of their homes after closing the store. One employee was locked in the trunk, while the other was held prisoner on the floor of the automobile. Both were physically assaulted and subjected to threats upon their lives. While being held captive, they were driven around the city and finally returned to the store so that these brigands could carry out their robbery.

In another instance, several of our employees were held at gun point, threatened and physically bound while a robbery was committed. The traumatic effect these experiences have on the victims, their families, and other employees cannot be measured.

Employees are refusing to work nights and I cannot blame them. Gangs of hoodlums walk into our stores in broad daylight and openly steal while threatening the help. This, in the heart of the Nation's Capital!

Needless to say, the loss of money and damage to property have contributed an additional aggravating circumstance that casts a shadow over our business community.

The police department has extended full and complete cooperation in a determined effort to dam this destructive tidal wave of crime, but it is not enough. More men or legislature—or both-must be provided to launch a full-scale, all-out offensive against this menace to the safety of our community.

I have always been and will continue to be aware of the needs and problems of the underprivileged and to try to help correct and improve these problems— but, I am also aware of the need to protect the lives and property of all citizens, including the majority of these same underprivileged!

I respectfully urge you to marshal all available resources for an immediate attack on crime in the metropolitan area.

Sincerely yours,

MILTON L. ELSBERG, President.

THE NATIONAL FURNITURE Co.
Washington, D.C., March 2, 1967.

Hon. JOHN MCMILLAN,

Chairman, Committee on the District of Columbia, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, D.C.

DEAR SIR: The mounting wave of crime that has beset our city is of major concern to all the business community. Customers tell us they do not like to shop in downtown Washington, particularly after dark and the downward trend of business activity during evening hours is indicative of that feeling.

While I am not losing sight of the long range efforts to combat the "roots of crime" as mentioned by Senator Tydings, I feel that emergency measures are in order. The police force should definitely be strengthened and police jobs should be made more attractive in order to enlist desirable element into police ranksmore "visible" patrolmen on the city streets would be a strong deterrent, especially during the evening hours and I would recommend legislation that would make it difficult for any but proven law abiding citizens to obtain guns or rifles.

These views are held by all the merchants within the vicinity of the concern I represent and anything you can do to present them to those of your associates who would normally be involved in District matters would be greatly appreciated. Very truly yours,

CHARLES WOODS,
General Manager

Hon. JOHN MCMILLAN,

SAFEWAY STORES, INC.,

Landover, Md., March 3, 1967.

Chairman, Committee on the District of Columbia, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, D.C.

MY DEAR MR. MCMILLAN: We at Safeway are very much concerned with the crime situation in the Washington, D.C. area-not so much from the monetary loss from holdups and robberies, which are on the increase, but more importantly for the safety of our employees and their families, as well as the public.

I am confident that the stockholders, employees and customers of Safeway Stores join me in pledging our cooperation in your efforts to bring about meaningful legislation to correct this situation and bring law and order to our Capital City. Very truly yours,

BASIL M. WINSTEAD, Division Manager, Washington, D.C., Division.

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA REPUBLICAN COMMITTEE,
Washington, D.C., March 6, 1967.

Mr. JAMES T. CLARK,

Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on the District of Columbia, Longworth House Office Building, Washington, D.C.

DEAR JAMES: In reply to your February 11 letter concerning H.R. 826, I believe we should follow the leadership of Congressman Whitener.

I thought last year's bill was carefully worked out to meet the standard of recent Supreme Court decisions.

I hope H. R. 826 can be moved along.
Sincerely yours,

CARL L. SHIPLEY, Chairman.

Hon. JOHN MCMILLAN,

WOODWARD & LOTHROP, INC.,
Washington, D.C., March 6, 1967.

Chairman, District of Columbia Committee, House of Representatives, Washington, D.C.

DEAR MR. MCMILLAN: I know that you are well aware of the concern of every individual in business over the rising incidence of crime in the District of Columbia. Over the past several years our Company has experienced substantial increases in inventory losses resulting from theft. In December of last year there were Seventeen thefts of money from cash registers in our Washington Store. The safety of our employees while at work and on their way to and from work has also become a matter of increasing concern to us.

I am writing to you to offer the wholehearted support of myself and my associates au Woodwar 1 & Lothrop. We will assist you in any way we can in your efforts to make the District of Columbia a safer and better place in which to live and work.

DEAR CONGRESSMAN MCMILLAN: The members of the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce are quite concerned with the growing menace of crime we in this ration face. In fact, the increase in crime is alarming.

We recognize that many social ills help aggravate the conditions which contribute to crime and delinquency, but these will take time to change and correct. What we want is immediate action to solve the problems that can be solved now. It is easy to keep talking about the problems of poor housing, unemployment, etc., which cannot be corrected overnight, while the rapings, robberies and muggings go on even in broad daylight.

The pendulum of concern for the rights of individuals, even the many times criminal, has swung too far, and the multitude of law-abiding citizens are the ones having their rights-life and property-placed in jeopardy. Police officials across our Nation, and especially in our Nation's Capital, must have the support of government and civic leaders.

We are alarmed at the easy freedom gained by criminals because of some minor technicality. When a mere technicality makes it possible for a committer of a major crime to be freed within hours, to continue his practice, then something must be done. Persons who are tempted to take the wrong path leading to crime must be taught that the penalties for taking such a path are high, and the risk not worth it.