Cities: he Malignant Enemy

Crime in the U.S. is certainly a matter of legitimate national concern, but its punishment — and reduction — is mainly up to state and local police and prosecutors. Although the Federal Government is limited in what it can do, President Johnson last week sent Congress a message urging that the Government do more than it has done.

Calling crime "a malignant enemy in America's midst," Johnson said: "Since 1940 the crime rate in this country has doubled. It has increased five times as fast as our population since 1958. The cost of operating our police departments has risen by...