Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-01-16
ROMAN c. HASSRlCk
On leual Aid Bureau


NNE of the chief features of the Bureau
" of Legal Aid attached TO the Depart
ment Of Public Welfare is the .Nnericnnlza-
ton of those of foreign birth who apply
there for aid. according to Roman I. llass-
rick, chief Of the bureau.
1--WE have" said Mr.. I1assrick. what
like to call legal clinic for the poor people
of Philadelphia. 1t is the business of the
bureau TO render to deserving poor persons
Of the city free legal service. so that in no
case shall justice be denied to any citizen of
Philadelphia because of inability to pay
counsel fees
Just how great this need has been is
illustrated by the fact that OH ono day last
week ninety -four persons applied to the
bureau for assistance. On the same day
100 persons scheduled as old clients which
means that they had cases here, called at
the bureau In reference to their affairs AS
80 per cent Of them were accompanied by
others. the bureau was visited that day by
nearly 300 persons.
Poor Frequently Nictmized
1t is almost impossible to realize the
methods employed by unscrupulous persons
against the poor. The sale of worthless
stock in which many poor people invest
their money in small amounts over period
of months, is a favoritc means of extracting
money from crcdulous persons, poor and not
90 poor. The surprising part of II Is that
those who seem to toll hardest for their
money are usually tDe IeaSt Suspicious Will
regard to the things for which they spend
that money or the property III which they
invest.
I'm these. as in all other cases, the bu..
reau cndeayors to get the point Of view OF
the applicant and To render courteous and
effective service. Most of those who call at
che bureau do in relation to n matter
which is apparently of more vital conse-
uurncc to them than anything else Mt that
particular moment.
ont ttnl hat II, -
be given the advantages Of the full resources
OF the bureau. even to the extent that wor-
thy cases will be prosecuted or defended in
the courts.
Only the Poor Aided Free
Not all Of the applicants receive the
services of the bureau, because many are
able. according to their own statements, 10
employ counsel. Our initial inquiry. Hd-
dressed TO all applicants, socks to develop
information MS 70 the financial standing of
| the person seeking free legal aid. and If the
| facts which we obtain indicate that the
! person can afford to employ counsel he is
! advised to engage reputable attorney.
1--WE have rule against referring the
! applicant TO any particular attorney II
| the case involves Il question Of public policy,
| then the bureau might make inquiries and
| obtain facts to ascertain how extensively
| the public II involved, SO that III" rights Of
! other citizens may be protected.
The bureau has just prosecuted success
| fully n series of complaints against II Christ
| mas Club where money was collected weekly
| from q large number Of persons and wus not
! paid back III aCCordnnCc with the agreement
! When this case came before th" cUurt there
/ were at least 100 persons who appeared
! against the defendants, indicating how
! widespread was the imposition pruct iced
against the investors OF small amounts Of
| money.
All Nations Represented
There come to Us persons Of all ma
tionalites represented in the cosmopolitan
population of Philadelphia. In order to
meet this situation effectively. the bureau
has 80 selected its personnel that twenty
| languages can be translated hy persons al
ways in Uttendanc". IN 0niY IN" instance
since the bureau has been organized hus it
been necessary 10 call IN an EtrrUrctcr from
another branch Of the city government
1t i important thut tue foreign born be
given especial attention. Tn" bureau 0lms
to exercise an AmCric0nzng influence in
the community, and it is IA drciIrd ,trn in
this direction to assist persons from other
lands who come to ny 10 obtain their rights
under our laws.
The bureau further seeks to placc jtscIf
in the position Of a friend to the foreign.
born applicant to whom h" can come in
time of trouble. provided he is without funds
aud his case is within the Niurisdictlon Of
the bureau and it Is right and proper for us
I" take it UP.
Teaching imericani>in
"IhH," applicants .uun cOr,r 10 looi, uI,o,,
the bur"uu rs an agency Uf the city pov
crnmch, "'i",i VIII assist them IN redress
ing their WRONGS ana which vii! fight for
them in asserting their rights.
I'VE even go 80 far with these nv Ia
assist them In obtaining their NATURALIZATION
Apapers. Tkis rs one of the first inquiries
n snch cases II the applicant has taken
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