Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-30
BOARD OF GUARDIANS
STRUGGLE WITH INTRICACIES
INVOLVED IN LAW.
Legal Tangle Will Have to Be
Slaughtered Out by Controller
of Treasury.

Notwithstanding the board of children's
guardians has inaugurated a formal strug-
gle with the intricacIes involved In the laws
relating to the commitment OF BOYS and
girls to that body by the Juvenile Court
the legal tangle II is stated. will have TO
be Strengthened out by the controller OF
the treasury. Whatever decision the board
may reach. II is declared. the question will
not be settled until the points In contro-
versy are embodied in a test case and are
passed upon by the controller In connection
with the payment OF expenses for the care
of children.
In the endeavor to find out where the
board stands, what it's relation is to the
Juvenile Court. and what powers Il has for
the maintenance OF children. the members
OF the board devoted nearly two hours yes
terday afternoon to the consideration of the
opinion on the subject given by Attorney
hugh I. Taggart, as stated In The Star
yesterday Mr.. Taggart is a member of the
legislative committee OF the board and the
paper which he submitted was prepared at
the request of his associates. and is said
to be comprehensive digest of the several
statutes passed by Congress bearing upon
the care Of minors who I'm one way or an
other become public wards
In his discussion OF the subject. which "a
dealt with at considerable length the paper
containing fifteen typewriter pages. IN.
attorney gives emphasis to the opinion that
the laws are conflicting at many points.
that the jurisdiction of the Juvenile Court
In many cases currently arising is vaguely
defined, and that there is great need M a
codificat ton of the statutes and a general
strengthening out Of the intricacies. Th.
necessity for simplification OF the nattar
~ Tue interest or harmonious administra-
tion, II Is stated, is declared to be urgent
Mr. Iaggart took up i'm detail the vari-
gus acts OF congress creating institutions
IN the District of Columbia for the care of
cniloren either as INDECENT wards or as
oIehders against the law. Among the leg
Islatlon considered was that defining the
functions OF the District reform schoals
the board of children's guardians and the
Juvenile Court. 1t was shown In the opIn-
Ion or the attorney. that these different
acts not only failed to properly harmonize
IN some OF their provisions but that in
many points they are in such actual con-
met That In some instances administrative
oHciais must be in doubt as to what course
to pursue.
Previous to the meeting the opinion had
been read by the members. each one hav-
Ing been supplied with a copy. As the ses-
sion was held especially for the purpose of
considering that matter, II was taken up
as soon as the board convened and contin-
sion until the meeting adjourned. Al
though the principal points are fully
treated In the opinion. the discussion fur
nished ground for the snnplificstion Of de-
tails for the benefit of the members. Final
action, however. was deferred until the
next regular meeting, but the paper was
formally received.
No Announcement for Publication.
The specific way In which the board will
pass upon the matter seems to be uncer-
tain. When a reporter for The Star called
during the progress of the meeting, which
was held behind closed doors. one of the
members came out and stated that the dis
cuSsion had not reached a stage where any
announcement could be made for publica-
ton. He was unable to say by what pro-
ceeding the board would express Its at
titude concerning the opinion. and added
that he did not know what force il would
He explained that the members of the
board had expressed their objection to
having the opinion publicly discussed at
that stage. Nothing further was given out
at the close of the meeting.
Questions concerning the authority of
the board of chidren's guardians to re-
ceive and maintain any children COM
nitted to its custody by the judge OF the
Juvenile Court have been given emphasis,
4 is stated in recent cases disposed OF by
Judge DeLacy. 1t IS pointed out that the
expenses occurring in all OF these cases
are submitted in the usual form to the
controller of the treasury for payment. II
the commitments are found to be accord
ing to law the money Is, OF course, paid
out of the treasury. but should the con-
trary fact be found to exist, II is ex-
planned. whatever expenses might De IN
Cured would have to be borne by the
members Of the board individually. IL Is
in this connection that the final decision
rests with the controller.