Evening star., 1923-02-15


seen and suggested that it be re-
drafted.
Judge Sellers told the committee
that the bill in its present form not
only fails to carry out the purpose
result in great confusion and in dis
rupting the school system.
Illustrating this she said that II
Supt. BaIlou should transfer a child
from the Dennison to the John Eaton
School, the parents would have the
right under the provisions OF the
Free bill to appeal from the action
of the superintendent in the proposed
parental court ThiS would have a
tendency, she said, to place authority
in the court, which she believes. and
in which opinion she is supported by
school and social welfare authorities.
belongs primarily to the schools.
Case Of Proba tioners.
Judge Sellers pointed out that
there were about $50 children under
probation and that about $50 of these
are in attendance at the schools. 1t
has been the policy of the Juvenile
Court that probation officers should
never interfere In any way with the
that there would be no suggestion or
encouragement or discrimination
against these children probationers of
the Juvenile Court
She attacked the bill by stating
that apparently 1t had not been drawn
by a lawyer. but by some person who
had d smattering Of legal terms. The
sentences, she said, were involved,
and in some cases did not make sense.
Some of the paragraphs did not mean
anything.
She took up section by section,
pointing out alleged defects In the
bill as drafted.
Judge Sellers opposed the change
Of name to parental court, pointing
out that the word Juvenile was now
well established and more appropri-
ate.
She did not approve the provision
to pay the judge of the proposed
court a salary of $4,000. saying that
salary OF $500, and believed that
more appropriate. II the new court
is established. Judge Sellers said
that she recently went before the
Judiciary committee and told them
she did not have enough work to
She attacked the power vested by
the bill In volunteer guardians, which,
she Claimed, was practically unlim-
tied. She characterized this as being
dangerous, and Senator Stanley Of
Kentucky concurred with her. The
senator said that he would never con-
sent to give these volunteer guardi-
ans the right TO place hSndcuffs on
people or place a stigma on their
names.
Senator Stanley said there are al
ready too many people "snooping
around" and that in his opinion these
volunteer workers are all bugs"
Judge Sellers showed that petitions
could be filed that did not have to be
sworn to and then have the action
deferred. holding this as club over
the heads OF parents.
Committee for Change.
Representative Blanton asked Judge
Sellers II she would consent to q
change in the present Juvenile Court
laws so as to have the clerk and
stenographer make record Of trials
. and commitments: the appointment OF
counsel for parents when they could
not afford to hire counsel themselves;
provision for trial by jury; to make
the law specific, so that no child could
be taken from the mother unless she
was proved to be inhumanly cruel OF
OF immoral character.
Judge Sellers said she would ap-
prove of all Of these. but thought the
last limitation too drastic.
All members OF the committee said
either that the bill should be
amended from top to bottom or that
a new bill should be drawn. They
pledged their best efforts to see that
the present situation was rem ed led.
IL possible, before Congress adjourns.