The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1926-03-13
BODIES
SPLIT ON LAW

Quiet, polite warfare ii raging
along the local social service front
today. and probably will be brought
into the open next Friday, in con-
nection with proposed legislation.
to increase the powers of the Juve-
nile Court.
It became known today that two
or more influential groups Of Wash
ington social workers are seeking
the same goal--adequate court juris-
diction over dependent or delinquent
minors but by such widely diver
gent paths that it is unlikely a
compromise can be effected in time
to bring forth an agreement on
the legislative program at this ses-.
sion.
The judiciary subcommittee Of.
the House District Committee yes.
terday opened hearings upon the
Underhill and Zihlman bills to widen
the powers Of the children'a court.
and at that time 1t became evident
that the lines of the opposing
social engineers were tightly and
unyieldingly drawn.
Both bills probably will undergo
several drastic changes before the
subcommittee is ready to report on
them. due to the law abolishing
certain municipal social agencies
and consolidating all remaining de-
partments of the kind under q well
fare board. The bill authorizing
these changes has passed the Sen
ate and House, and now awaits
the Presidents signature. At be-
comes effective July next.
The Board OF Chiidren's Guard
ians. which Is mentioned in the.
Underhill bill, is one Of the bureaus
to go at the beginning Of the new
fiscal wear. In fact, the board
figures SO prominently In the Tn
derhilI measure that the stIbcom-
mittee may drop that measure en-
tirely. and concentrate upon the
Zihlnan bill.
According to the terms of this
act, there woulds be created in the
District q Juvenile and Domestic
Relations Court, the Judge to be ap.
pointed BY the President, subject
to confirmation BY the Senate.
The court, It Is stated In the blu,
shall have original and exclusive
Jurisdiction over children under
the age Of Is years who reside in
or who are found in the District Of
NOluIHD1ay dnNA-<NA O Oh ASAAAAAkse1eesSe
dependent or neglected.
N this bill the first definition Of
delinquency, as applied to local law,
is given. Neglect and dependency
also are defined at length.
The proposed court would handle
nonsupport cases. illegitimacy and
other matters In wy.ch children
are vitality concerned.
rteA
allow the court TO commit a de-
linquent or dependent child to the
Board OF Children's Guardians, or
to a reform school.
Organizations ana individuals.
who in the past have supported the
guardians, board, viii speak in
favor OF the legislation at the sub
committees hearing on next FRI.
day.
ments are powerful forces, whose
spokesman is former Juvenile Court
Judge william III. DeLacy. The
contention Of this faction Is that
the laws governing the Juvenile
Court should move as far az pos
sible from the idea of allowing
the State to stand in place of the
parent to the dependent or de-
linquent minor.
A special branch Of the District
Supreme Court to handle Juvenile
Court work il asked by those WHO
oppose the Zihlman and Underhill
bills. They also would limit the
jurisdiction OF the court to children
OF sixteen years or younger, rather
than the eighteen years Of tha
Zihlman measure.
The temper Of the full District
committee on the legislation is not
known at this time, but Represeu-
tatives Blanton and Houston of the
yesterday indicated
advocated by Judge DeLacy.