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University Daily Kansan Wednesday, Sept. 25, 1963
Crime Law Changes Asked of Congress
WASHINGTON — (UPI) — Atty. Gen. Robert F. Kennedy called on Congress today to approve two new weapons against crime—immunity for witnesses in racketeering investigations and a broader federal wire-tan law.
The attorney general was the lead-off witness in the Senate investigations subcommittee's long-awaited hearings on the so-called Cosa Nostra underworld crime empire.
The star witness at the hearings, expected to last about three weeks, will be Joseph Valachi, the underworld's most celebrated stool pigeon, Valachi is said to have called the turn on about 30 gangland slayings and to have been marked for murder himself by the Cosa Nostra.
Kennedy told the subcommittee there existed in the United States a private government of organized crime, a government with an annual income of billions, resting on a base of human suffering and moral corrosion.
He said that it was particularly difficult to expose these operations because witnesses were intimidated and corrupt public officials protect the racketeer kingpins.
Kennedy said Valachi's disclosures were significant because for the first time an insider—a knowledgeable member of the racketeering hierarchy—has broken the underworld's code of silence.
Valachi is accused of three murders. While in Atlanta federal prison about a year ago on a narcotics conviction, Valachi panicked when a new convict showed up. He told the Justice Department that he thought the underworld suspected him of singing, and had sent the man to kill him.
Valachi is accused of beating the convict to death with a lead pipe, and then spilling the whole story to federal agents.
Authority to provide immunity to witnesses would materially assist investigations of interstate racketeering in gambling, liquor, narcotics,
Soviets Pass Nuclear Ban
MOSCOW—(UPI—The presidium of the Supreme Soviet (parliament) today unanimously ratified the partial nuclear test ban treaty.
The action followed by one day the U. S. Senate's approval of the pact which bans nuclear testing in the atmosphere, outer space and underwater.
(Many European newspapers hailed the Senate vote as a victory for President Kennedy and a step toward peace.)
RATIFICATION by $x$ the Presidium—the executive body of parliament—was considered little more than a formality. The Supreme Soviet's Foreign Affairs Committees had recommended approval and the press and radio had praised the treaty since it was initialed here by the foreign ministers of the United States, Britain and the Soviet Union.
Commenting on the results of the voting in Washington yesterday, Moscow radio said it testifies that common sense has at last prevailed within the walls of the Ammerman Senate.
The vote showed that congressmen have to listen to the voice of the peoples who demand a lasting peace, Moscow Radio commented.
IT SAID that Sen. Barry M. Goldwater, R-Ariz., the leader of the "wildmen", the racist (Sen. James) Eastland, D-Miss., and senators with contacts in the military industry concerns up to the last moment continued their efforts to torpedo the treaty.
The official Soviet News agency Tass said the vote opened the way for further understanding and cooperation between the United States and Soviet Union. It echoed Moscow Radio's charge that those who voted against the pact were either racists from southern states . . . or senators who are closely connected with the munitions monopolies.
prostitution, extortion and bribery and also help root out political corruption. Kennedy said.
He said the need for a broader federal wire-tap law arose because leading racketeers make almost unrestricted use of interstate facilities, particularly communications, to direct their illegal activities.
Kennedy said the present wire-tap law not only fails to protect the right of privacy over the telephone, but also does not recognize the legitimate needs of law enforcement for authority, closely circumscribed, to use this means of gathering evidence.
"Most of all," Kennedy said, "we must encourage, arouse and sustain the vigilance of the public . . . organized crime is a national problem. The racketeer is not someone dressed in a black shirt, white tie and diamond stickpin, whose activities affect only a remote underworld circle
"He is more likely to be outfitted in a grey flannel suit and his influence is more likely to be as farreaching as that of an important industrialist."
The attorney general said that federal investigative agencies were now pooling information on more than 1.100 major racketeers. He said that a meeting such as the 1957 Apalachin, N. Y., crime convention of more than 100 top gangsters could not take place unobserved today.
Kenedy said Valachi and other informants had outlined the set-up of Cosa Nostra (literally "our family" or "our thing") and its ruling commission.
He predicted the bloody inset of a major underworld power struggle in New York if Cosa Nostra kingpin Vito Genovese fails to win release from federal prison on his appeal from a narcotics conviction.
Pointing out what a blood bath a gangland war can be, Kennedy cited the Galo-Profaci family gang war now going on in New York. Since the summer of 1961, there have been five persons murdered and 13 persons seriously injured, the attorney general said. Ten of these were shot, one nearly strangled, one beaten in a NewYork night club and one beaten and thrown from a speeding car.
Mississippi Gov. Ross Barnett, fresh from a noisy, jeering reception at one Northern university, made plans today to appear at another.
Gov. Barnett Jeered; Plans to Keep Talking
Provided by International
Barnett accepted an invitation to speak to the student debating society at Princeton University Oct. 1. University President Robert F. Goheen said the invitation was untimely . . . ill-considered and against the basic tenet of the university.
"At the same time," Gohen said, "we have no less a commitment to the principle of free inquiry and debate and it must be considered to include. I believe, the right of students to hear men with strong convictions speak on issues of public moment."
Inside, students jeered, hissed and booed as Barnet spoke for an hour and a half. The gymnasium was filled to overflowing with White and Negro students.
A figure dressed in the white, masked garb of a Ku Klux Klan-sman strolled outside the men's gymnasium at Western Michigan University at Kalamazoo when Barnett spoke last night.
Barnett said President Kennedy's proposed civil rights program would result in dictatorial control by the federal government.
"It would destroy the free enterprise system—the bedrock of our economy—and would impose intolerable restrictions on the property and personal rights of every citizen of this nation," he said.
"We don't need any civil rights legislation in Mississippi." Barnett said. "Practically all our Negroes stay in Mississippi because they love our way of life."
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Viet Nam Guerrilla War Going OK Says US Team
PARK PLAZA SOUTH
Ph. VI2-3416 1912 W. 25th Day or Night
SAIGON, South Viet Nam—(UPI)
—Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara and Gen. Maxwell D. Taylor were told today that the military fight against Communist guerillas in South Viet Nam is going well.
McNamara and Taylor, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, were briefed by Gen. Paul D. Harkins, top U.S. military man here, and his staff at the start of their mission aimed at finding out why it is taking so long to defeat the Reds in this southeast Asian nation.
adverse effect of recent political events on the overall war effort.
Sylvester emphasized that he was talking only about the military situation. He repeatedly declined to answer questions about the possible
AFTERWARDS, Assistant Secretary of Defense Arthur Svlvester told newsmen that as a result of the first day's briefings, they found out that all measurable factors in Viet Nam's war against Communist guerillas continue to be favorable.
McNamara and Taylor also are expected to meet with U.S. Ambassador Henry Cabot Lodge and other American civilian and military leaders in Saigon during the remainder of the day. They make their first trip to the war-torn countryside tomorrow.
MEANTIME, Vietnamese army troops and combat police continued the occupation of key points throughout the city that began with the declaration of martial law on Aug. 21, and continued even after the state of military rule officially ended two weeks ago.
They were thought to be stationed in the city to prevent possible student demonstrations which might mar the visit of the American leaders.
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