Evening star., 1916-05-11
WOULD AMEND BILL
| FOR JUVENILE COURT
Objections to the Pendinu
Measure Expressed at Sem
ate Committee Hearing.
CIVIC BODIES PRESENT
MANY DESIRED CHANGES
Object of the Proposed Legislation
Approved. But Designated Pro-
visions Are Criticised.

A large number of amendments to the
House bill for the reorganization of
the Juvenile Court of the District was
suggested a a hearing on the measure
before the subcommittee on judiciary
of the Senate District committee today
by representatives of various trade and
civic organizations and by individuals.
No one appeared in opposition to the
enactment Of the bill into law. All ad-
mitted that 1t had merit. The only
question raised was as to some OF the
details.
Matthew f. O'Brieu. a member or the
committee on charities and corrections
OF the Board OF Trade. which drafted
report on the Juvenile Court, was the
first witness He objected to those pro-
visions of the bill which called for the
establishment of a house OF detention
under the direction of the board OF
children's guardians. He SAID the es-
tablishment of such a house OF deten-
ton meant either having two houses
of detention in the District. or doing
away with the present one under tne
police department.
Substance of Objections.
Mr.. OBrien contended that there was
no need in a city the size OF Washing
ton Of having two such institutions.
and that 1t would, on the other hand,
be a great mistake to do away with the
house of detention under the police de-
partment. Il the police department were
without a house of detention. he said,
all girls over seventeen years and all
runaway children who might not come
under the Jurisdiction of the Juvenile
Court would have to be locked up IN
the police stations, along with other
offenders. He said the present house OF
detention was we'll handled. and that
the sexes and the races were eegre-
gated. Mr.. O'Brien. in reply to ques-
ton from Senator Pomerene. chairman
Of the committee, as to what should
be done to better the conduct of the
present house of detention, said new
building should be erected and that
probably the attendants should receive
more pay. Otherwise, he said, he had
no criticism to make.
H. Oden Lake, representing the Army
and Navy Union, spoke briefly, concur
ring in the recommendations OF Mr..
O'Brien with regard to the house OF de-
tention.
Commerce Chambers Suggestion.
The amendments proposed by the law
and legislative committee OF the Cham
Der. of Commerce were submitted to the
committee by Joseph D. Sullivan. Other
members of the committee present were
A. Leftwich Sinclair, chairman OF that
committee; w. Gordon Crawford, w. c.
Sullivan and H. l.. B. Atkinson.
The first amendment onered by MI
Sullivan was a provision that the ap-
pointee as Judge of the Juvenile Court
should be a bona fde resident OF the
District of Columbia.
Mr. Sullivan criticised the bill as
passed by the House on the ground
that it was too broad in some particu-
lars. permitting any intermeddler'
who desired to start action in regard to
child without proper cause, thereby
getting the case into the Juvenile
Court with the possibility that an in
jury might be done the child. He said
he feared that opportunity might be
found, unless this was restricted, to
misuse the court to the detriment of
the child.
Another provision to which he obs
jected was that which specifies that
the child is the ward of the District
of Columbia
I'VE believe, the child is primarily
the ward of his or her parents" said
Mr.. Sullivan.
Another Feature Criticised.
Another amendment suggested by
Mr. Sullivan was the striking out OF
a provision which permitted the ap-
pointment of a female probation Off
Ger as a comm ssioner to hear certain
cases He said that he believed that
the Judge should hear all cases him
self. and that a female probation Of
ficer was not necessarily of the judicial
temperament which would make II wise
to have her hear cases.
Mr.. Sullivan proposed an amendmen
which would limit the time of deten-