Evening star., 1923-09-08
ANOTHER DC. JUDGE
ASKED BY COUNSEL
Stephens, in Report, Says
Police Magistrate Might
Clear Court Docket.

Appointment OF an additional Police
Court Judge to relieve the congested
docket is urged by Francis II. Ste
phens. corporation counsel of the Dis
trict, in his annual report to the Com
mi ssioners. The Commissioners are
asked TO recommend legislation pro-
viding another Judge at the next ses
sion of Congress.
There is much complaint over the
delay in bringing to trial persons ar
rested for violation of the Volstead
act and the gaming laws, most Of
whom demand jury trials" said Mr..
Stephens. Traffic violations also take
up~ much time Of the court. 1t is
thought that the solution lies In the
appointment OF another Judge"
Informations numbering 4S.s73 were
filed against offenders in Police Court,
the report pointed out. and fines ag-
gregating S352.S44.l4 were collected.
This represents an increase over the
preceding year of 3.64I cases and
sso.764.49 in fines and forfeitures.
Mr.. Stephens said that the Supreme
Court Of the United States decided one
case in which the District was a
party. the decision being adverse. The
corporation counsels office also repre-
sented the minimum wage board be-
| fore the Supreme Court.
The Office also represented the Pub
| lie Utilities Commission in the mat
! ter of the valuation of the Potomac
Electric Power Company. in which
case the court held that it was with
| out Jurisdiction.
Cases I'm Court of Appeals.
| Twelve cases in which the District
| was interested were decided in the
Court Of Appeals. Five decisions were
| in favor and seven were adverse.
Three cases are now pending.
In the District Supreme Court in
| actions at law sixty-seven new suits
were instituted in which the District
was a party. OF the cases tried dur
ing the year nine resulted in favor of
| the District. two being appealed; ;
trial. in two of which appeal has been
noted; four were settled and consent
! judgments entered against the Dis
| trict and four were dismissed by
plaintiffs.
Thirteen new equity suits in which
! the District was a party were filed
| in the District Supreme Court. -Four
cases We're decided in favor of the
| District, of which two were appealed,
| and one case was decided adversely
| and appeal noted;
| forty nine condemnation. cases were
| pending at the beginning of the fiscal
year and twenty-three new cases
were filed during the year. OF this
| number, thirty verdicts of condemna-
tion were finally ratified: nine We're
| discontinued, two cases failed through
| inability of the jury to find benefits
| equal to the damages and thirty-one
! cases are now pending. Petitions
have, not been filed in two cases in
| which the Commissioners have or
| dered condemnation proceedings.
| Habeas Corpus Cases.
l hoh
| filed against the District, and all the
I petitions were dismissed. Fourteen
plevin suits were filed in the Munici-
pal Court and the District Supreme
Court against the police department
and in twelve the claimants were
| pending.
In the Municipal Court. exclusive
! of actions of replevin, two suits were
pending and thirty-seven new suits
a party. OF this number, sixteen were
decided In favor Of the District. two
| adversely by consent, four were dis
missed by plaintiffs, and seventeen
| are now pending.
|, Lunacy proceedings were instituted
in the cases of 705 persons. OF this
/ number, in inquiries before a Judge
| and jury. 576 were found to be of
unsound mind. twenty-four Of sound
mind and discharged Eleven died and
trial, and twenty three petitions were
! dismissed.
Juvenile Court Record.
In the Juvenile Court, 1903 cases
were filed, which, with pending cases,
involved 3,77S court hearings. Mr..
Stephens reported that $50 District
employees were injured and given
| medical treatment. and 106 of
this number received compensation
amounting to $5,605.7o. In addition.
$4O4o45 was expended for widows.
minor children and doctors and hos
pital bills,
Mr.. Stephens renewed his recommen-
dation that the special assistant COR
poration counsel now on a special pay
roll and the inspector of claims, paid
from the lump sum appropriations, be
transferred to the regular pay roll.