Evening star., 1927-04-11
POLICE COURT Jury
FUNDS ARE SOUGHT
Judge SChuIdt Appeals to
MCCarI to Prevent "Con-
gestion and Chaos"

Warning that the District Police
Court is faced with congestion and
chaos" as a result of the failure of
Congress to pass the second deficiency
bill, which contained items for the
payment of jurors and salary in
creases for IS of it's employees, Pre-
siding Judge Schuldt appealed to Con-
troller General McCarl today to seek
some loophole in the law which would
enable the court TO continue to hold
jury trials by obligating the Govern
ment ''in futorO" by the issuance of
vouchers for the service of jurors.
Judge Schuldt asked specifically an
opinion as to whether the court may
incur an obligation for the services
of jurors and employees until the end
of the fiscal year. The Commissioners
already had denied the privilege of
mourning a deficiency either for the
conduct of jury trials or for the pay
ment of salary increases to the Is EN-
ployes who are confronted with fur
Tough for period of 1872 days.
Payment Called Necessary.
Judge Schuldt pointed out that the
payment of compensation to jurors
is a necessary incident to the en-
forcement OF a constitutional guar
antee and cannot be defeated by the
anti deficiency act on which the
Commissioners based their ruling.
1.-TWO vital items for the Police
Court OF the District of Columbia
were included in the second def
cheney bill, 1927, upon which no vote
was taken in the United States SEN
ate" said Judge Schuldt in his
appeal.
lone item of SS,4S0 was included
in this bill by the House and Senate
appropriation committees for the
compensation of jurors in this court
until the end of the present fiscal
year. The amount on hand only
allowed this court to function with
jury trials until March 2S.
"There are approximately $4,000
cases pending and new demands are
being made at the rate Of 10 per day.
If through the lack Of funds these
jury trials are not disposed of. ter
rife congestion will result in the Jail.
as many of those who demand jury
trials will be unable to secure bond.
May Furl0ugh Employees.
"The other item in the bin is for
S840 due to increases in salaries
caused by a reallocation made by the
classification board under the au-
thority of the classification act and
upon it's own initiative. Unless some
means are found~to supply this item
it will be necessary to furlough some
Is employees for a period of 1872 days,
which also would seriously impede and
hamper the proper administration Of
the court as well as having a decided
effect upon the courts ability to con-
duct jury trials.
UNLESS some action is taken to rec
tify this deplorable condition we will
be in a condition of congestion, Of
chaos, and the administration of JUS
tice will be seriously hampered, if not
defeated, as we doubt our ability to
catch up with this accumulation of
cases.
THE attitude of Congress relative
to the congestion of jury cases In this
court is stern one. They have re-
peatedly expressed their strong and
fixed determination to use all means
to expedite these cases and insure
the prompt administration of Justice.
Reference is made to the hearing on
the annual appropriation bill, 1927;
the second deficiency bill. 1927, and
the hearings before the Gibson sub
committee last September.
1--WE contend that the situation
would justify the placing of obliga-
ton upon the Government in this
case. "