Evening star., 1926-03-25
CURB DEMANDED
ON POLICEWOMEN
IN PLANNED BUREAU

NOntlnued from FIRST PaRe.t
authority overlapping the province
and jurisdiction OF the Juvenile Court
by passing upon whether children
should be prosecuted or not and CON
fining them In the House OF Detsntion
without the Juvenile Court hRsing
knowledge of the fact.
Rep. Gibson, Republican, Of Yer
mont, author OF the bill, reminded
Mrs. Rafter that the subcommittee
was not sitting in judgment on the
personal charms OF Mrs. Van Wrinkle,
and Representative Rathbone, Repub-
lican. OF Illinois. who was presiding.
assured her that such personal mat
ters will be entirely ignored by the
committee.
Sees Court Power lnfringeti.
Mrs. Rafter insisted that the organi-
zation she represents is absolutely op-
posed to policewomen undertaking the
care of children except in an emer-
gency. She challenged the statement
printed in the bulletin of the Inter
national Policewomen's Association
that the National Parent Tea cher
organiza ton had indorsed the pro
visions of this bill for women and
children. She insisted that such
action was not taken, and that the
last act of the national association
had been to strike the words and
children" out of the earlier measure
on this same subject. She argued
that no matter how well trained and
experienced they may be in welfare
work. policewOmen are not qualified
to take over the powers Of q judge and
jury. She said that her association
had been a leader in establishing the
Juvenile court. and that provisions of
the pending bill infringe upon that
court.
Representative Hammer, Democrat,
Of North Carolina supported the con-
tention of Mrs. Rafter and Mrs. Kahn
bach.
Mr.. Rathbone reminded Mrs. Rafter
that certain latitude should be given
any police officer" Mrs. Rafter re-
piled that the measure now under con.
sideration lis much more dangerous
than the bill last year. and the police
women should not be given authority
to go into legislative, executive and
judicial functions" Mr. Rathbone
questioned whether Mrs. Rafter's OBJ
jectiOns were on "a moot question or
an actual evil.'
Mrs. kalmbach Tells Instances.
Mrs. kalmbach said that for about
Ave years she had been attending the
sessions Of the Juvenile Court and
she told the committee Of several spe-
cific instances under her observation
in which she believed the policewomen
had overstepped their authority. Mrs.
kalmbach also called attention to
very broad authority which would be
conferred on policewomen under the
clause preventive detective work"
Mrs. kalmbsch explained the differ.
ence in attitude with which the police.
women and the Juvenile Court ap-
prosch the subject OF children. saying
that The court tries to make the mini
mum number OF convictions, while the
police try TO make the ma ximum.
Mr.. Rathbone asked If at the bot
tom Of this controversy was the ques.
ton whether the greater Jurisdiction
or power shall be given to the Juve.
nile Court or to the Policewomen's Blu.
reau. Mr.. Hammer questioned where
the line Of demarcation lies between
the policewomen's bill and the pend.
ing general welfare bill, and whether
appeal will have to be made TO the
court for a determination as to where
they overlap. Mrs. kalmbach argued
that the Policewomens Bureau should
be established by law and that the
functions Of policewomen should be
as defined in the police manual. in.
stead Of giving them broad general
powers In the act itself
Mr.. RathbUne repeatedly urged that
The hearings should be closed as soon
as possible, and Mr.. Ha ammer insisted
hat almost all VI the testimony given
was for those who would be benefited
by the bill and that he wanted ell the
opposition given an opportunity to
show where 1t overlaps with the pro-
visions OF the welfare bill.