Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-12-19
NdcNeiILe Resigns:
Scores Judge BrOWn

Continasd from Pase One
of the Municipal Court and vested wit
absolute power in II, ls Penrose-McNich
follower
The Wares are anxious TO shear Juds
Browns power OF appointment In the Mt
nicipal Court In this field the Juveui
Court II = fertile field for Job hunters fror
either side. Judge Brown holds the powt
TO appoint them The Wares are merel
able TO ask for recognition. Judge Brow
can withhold Il or not as he plcases.
Mrs. Rippln. who was formerly supervis
ing probation officer Of the Domestic Re
iations. Mlsdomcannnts' and Crlmini
branches of the Court. was appointed 20 IN
new po8ition yesterday by. Judge Brown
Judge MacNellie had been opposed TO an
her from the time she was fis
mentioned for the place
In the letter announcing his resignation
from the Juvenile Court. Judge MacNelll
asked 20 be assigned 60 another branch o
the court. lie was appointed TO the Juve
nile Court In July 1915. by Judge Brown
The appointment runs from year 10 year
unless changed by Judge Brown.
LETTER or RESIGNATION
The letter of resignation follows:
I hereby request that on the FIRST or
January. 1917. you relieve me OF my
duties as Judge Of the Juvenile Hranch
OF the Municipal Court and give me an
assignment 10 some other branch OF
the courts work.
When first assigned to tho Juvenile
Court I resolved to make every effort
to give Philadelphia the best syHtem
possible After many months OF labor
IN this direction II waB commonly con-
Ceded that Philadelphia had one OF the
greatest Juvenile Courts In the coun-
try In collaboration with chief pro-
batlon officer, Mr.. Thomas e., Paris,
tho work was syHtematized and every
thing done to make for thoroughness
and efficiency. the results OF which were
shown in the fact that the monthly
commitments were reduced to only
twenty per cent of what they had been
before.
Already my predecessor. tho Hon.
James a German. had while presidlnE
as Judge of tho Juvenile Court, worked
conscientlously and well, bringing to II
his years Of experience, from which we
benefited. and which contributed large
ly to the results we have been able TO
attain
This was done. not with any aid from
you. but In spite Of your obstructive
tactics. and just as Judge German
found his condition intolerablo, so have
/ found mine.
You have persistently ignored mo as
Judge Of the juvenile branch; you have
never consulted me about the needs OF
the system nor have you listened to
any suggestion. Time after time i have
seen strange faces In the courtroom,
and upon inquiry, have found that they
were probation officers appointed by
you without even doing ma the courtesy
OF notifying me, either by letter or IN
any other way
This position became so intolerable
for the chief probation officer. Mr..
Thomas @, Paris, that he could no
longer remain, and resigned.
] did think you meant TO give some
consideration to the Judge OF the
Juvenile branch when you assured me
that you would confer with me upon the
question Of appointing his successor.
To my surprise found you had already
determined what 20 do and was merely
waiting an opportunity to stage this
appointment
The mere difference of opinion
between you and me in this matter Is
OF little consequence, but your per-
sistence in your high-handed methods
OF completely ignoring your fellow
Judges has made II impossible for me
to be able 20 continue with any degree
OF success creditable Juvenile Court.
have always been and gtill am In
hearty sympathy with free, open and
sincere discussion OF all questions of
public import bearing upon the action
OF th0 Municipal Court, and deplore
star-chamber proceedings In any mat
ter so closely allied to the welfare of
our children. II is manifestly unfair
for the public 10 be permitted TO con-
tinue I'm the belief that the nine Judges
OF the Municipal Court are responsible
for many OF the actions that have
L. a g.aI "a
IL full time that they know the respon-
sIbility for the actions taken in the
Municipal Court belong entirely TO you.
Your unprecedented actions forced
his Honor, Judge German. to give up
tho Juvenile Court at a time when he
was rendering to Philadelphia great
service They caused the Chief Pro-
bation Ofiicer, Mr., Thomas c. Farris, to
give up tho work when II was Rt It's
height of efficiency. You have made
my position longer intoloTable and
am forced now, with many regrets, to
give up the work In which ] hope I
have been able to he OF some small
service to the boys and girls OF PhIla-
delphis in general
FRIENDS DEFEND PARRIs
The trouble began even before the post
rs made vacant by the resignation Of
lomas G. Paris last October Parrls's
lends and those opposed to Judge Brown
y Paris was "deviled" out OF the post
petty RnnoyOncos and through the with
lding OF the $4,000 Increase which was
thorized for him by the last Legislature.
this was done. Paris friends say, SO
>would get out and leave the position
en-. II was reported In City Hall before
iris resigned that the pay for the Do.
ion was raised to $4,000 because Mrs
ppln was 20 get the place as soon as
iris left. and that the money was meant
: her
Judge Brown declined 10 comment ON
dge MacNellle's resignation.
II have nothing TO say" he declared.
illng.