The Washington times., 1903-08-14
DAILY SESSIONS FOR
THE JUVENILE COURT
Commissioners Request Re-
sumption Of Practice.
WILL ASK FOR SPECIAL JUDGE
As the Court Is Now Operated the Mem
bers of the Bench Must Work
Overtime

The sessions OF the Juvenile Court
are 10 be held daily hereafter, instead
OF three times week, and Congress is
TO be requested by the Commissioners
20 provide separate quarters for the
court, with a special judge and staff
A recommendation to this effect has
been submitted to the Board by Commits
sioner Macfarland. acting upon the sug-
gestion OF Major Sylvester.
Congress having made no appropria-
tion for a Juvenile Court. with a spe-
cial judge and STAFF IN separate quar-
tiers. such as has been established in
several Of the larger cities of the eoun-
try, aud the need for separation OF
Juvenile delinquents from adult Grim
inals in trials before the Police Court
becoming more and more apparent. "
said Mr.. Mcfarland II took the mat
ter up with the judges of the Police
Court in 1901. with view to having the
Juvenile delinquents tried in the after
Moons, when the older persons had all
gone
Judges Helped Out.
The judges were very considerate
and courteous in the matter. and
readily agreed TO hold special sessions
for the trial Of the Juvenile delinquents
or those young persons accused as first
offenders It was arranged that the
judges would sit alternately every aft
ernoon, for the purposes of a Juvenile
Court, at a time when the Police Court
Building and vicinity would be free
from the presence of older persons.
whether criminals o. spectators. and
that the accused young persons taken
when arrested to the House of Deten-
tion, rather than to the police station
houses. should not be brought TO the
Police Court sntll the time when the
judge was ready to try them. Accord
ingly, on January IS. 1902. this arrange
ment went into effect. and ever since
then the District has had practically a
Juvenile Court without any extraordi-
nary expense.
After some time. the judges repre-
sented 10 me that it was not necessary
10 hold court daily for this special pur-
pose. but that sessions in the after
noon OF Monday. Wednesday and Fri
day would suitably accommodate those
who had to be tried and those inter
ested in them. officially or otherwise.
This was assented TO by the officials
having 10 deal with the children in qties-
ton, and the sessions were changed ac-
cordingly.
1T now appears, from the statements
OF the Major and Superintendent of Po-
lice. and from facts elected by my own
Inquiries, that the daily sessions of the
Juvenile Court should be resumed IN
view of the faithful service of the
judges in this relation and OF the addi-
tional labor which the resumption of
daily sessions will impose on them, l
move that the Commissioners formally
thank the judges for what they have
done. and formally request them TO re-
sumo the daily sessions.
Need Separate Court.
AT the Same time I desire 10 record
my belief that the District Of Columbia
should have a separate Juvenile Court.
with a judge and a staff and quarters
OF its own. and that Congress should
be asked again TO establish il. The In
crease IN the population. correspond
ing increase IN the number Of juvenile
delinquents, and the probation system
which has now been successfully estab-
lished, under the Board OF ChiIdren's
Guardians, BY the authority Of Con
sress, and which requires special atten-
ton from Juvenile Court. furnish ad-
d.tionaI arguments for the creation OF
such an independent tribunal"