Resignation of City Planners, Proposal For State of Emergency Raise Dispute

Police and other municipal officials were quick to ridicule City Councillor Alfred A. Vellucci's proposal yesterday that a state of emergency be declared in Cambridge starting Monday because of Saturday's M.I.T. riot and the two Harvard Trust Company holdups this week.

Councillor Edward A. Crane '35 asked "how can we wait until Monday if it is an emergency?" Mayor Edward J. Sullivan, meanwhile, declared himself ready to take over the police department if the Monday council meeting passes Vellucci's order.

Under the city charter, a council majority can declare a state of emergency which empowers the mayor to supersede the chief of police and enact whatever measures he feels necessary to cope with the situation.

Vellucci charged yesterday that police protection in Cambridge is inadequate. "Where were the police during the M.I.T. riot?" he enquired.

Police Score Plan

A high police official called this charge "a stupid publicity stunt by a new councillor," and asserted that "the mayor is not a trained law official and is incompetent to handle the police department. Cambridge's crime rate is less than one-half that of Somerville or Medford. The citizens are getting excellent protection."

Crane indicated that he and several other Cambridge Civic Association-supported councillors would vote against Independent Vellucci's bill.

Robert W. Newcombe, assistant vice-president of the Harvard Trust Company, meanwhile, doubted that the thieves would try to loot the Harvard Square branch of the bank.