The Washington herald., 1913-08-13
new juvenile
COURT URGED
Present Structure Is Declared
to Be Totally Un-
suitable.
OFFICIALS FAVOR PLAN
Proposed Building Probably Would Be
Located in Judiciary Square, -
Suggested Several Years Ago.
OFFICIALS FAVOR PLAN

The plan to erect q new Juvenile Court
building daily is growing in magnitude.
ard before long steps doubtlessly will be
taken to provide adequate and suitable
quarters for the tribunal
For several years officials of the court.
aided by persons interested in its work.
have been striving for an appropriation
for the erection of new building to sup
plant the present one in + Street North
west. between Eighteenth and Nineteenth
Streets. Some time ago q bill was intro
duced in Congress providing for the cree
ton of q new structure, but 1t carried
with il several Objectionable features.
and consequently was lost.
Several years ago the District Commits
sioners recommended in their annual rs-
port the construction of a new home for
the court. but no action was taken in the
matter. During his term upon the bench
Judge William H. De Lacy worked inces-
, sanity for q new building, and several
times it seemed that his efforts would be
crowned with success. Now Judge J.
Wilmer Latimer, his successor, is taking
up the crusade, and there is no doubt
that long before his term expires the ri
bunal will be occupying a modern. well
equipped building.
Favored by Commissioners.
The District Commissioners are unani-
mously In favor. of the erection of a new
courthouse, and II Is possible that men,
ton of the fact will be embodied in their
annual report. The proposed structure
unauestionably will be located in Judi
ciary Square, in accordance with a sug-
gestion made several years ego by those
behind the project. 1t has been proposed
to erect a building similar to the Court
of Appeals structure. and to have it at
the east side of the square for the sake
Of symmetry.
Commissioner Frederick L. Siddons yes
terday expressed himself as being en-
tirely in favor of the project. He said:
Il earnestly hope that Congress will
see fit to make an appropriation sufficient
to provide for building Tor the Juvenile
Court.
1T is a mistake. I believe, for the gov
eminent to rent quarters for its offices
q its courts, when by investing a little
capital it can buy buildings suited ex-
actly to its purposes on which II need
pay no rent fees. that in the aggregate
cost more than the building.
1.-THE Juvenile Court should by all
means be properly housed. 1 have seen
the present quarters. and they are wholly
inadequate for the purposes of the court
The present building was erected for a
residence, and never intended to be used
as it is at present. and the need for new
quarters Is most urgent"
Views of Mr.. Williams.
Assistant Corporation Counsel WILL
Jams. who Is prosecuting officer at the
Juvenile Court in the absence of Gus A.
Schuldt, also declared himself yester-
day in favor Of the erection Of the new
courthouse.
Any one who has visited the present
tumbledown shack in which the court is
held must instantly see the need Of
new courthouse" Mr.. Williams said.
1t is assured, understand, that the
court will have to find new quarters on
account Of the condemnation of all of
the property on which the court stands
to make way for the new building of
the Geological Survey.
las the Court of Appeals building now
stands in relation to the City Hall, there
is exactly the proper space east of it