Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-12
BY JAMES E. CHM.

Plans for the adoption of a new pro-
cedure to expedite jury trials in Police
Court were revealed by District officials
during hearings before the House Sub
committee on Appropriations on the
Districts appropriation bill for the 1882
fiscal year.
Discussion of a recommendation for
an increase of $1,000 over the appro-
priation this year for jurors fees dis
closed that the additional funds are
wanted for larger jury panel Officials
brought out that, Notwithstanding the
general increase in jury trials, the
Police Court Is operating with 80 Jurors
the same number it has used for the
last 20 years.
Under present procedure, the jury
branch of the court engages the first
panel of II. AS soon as the District
branch completes the days business of
locked-up defendants it refers its un-
finished business to the United States
branch for trial. The District branch
then takes its first jury trial case.
While the second panel OF Jurors is thus
engaged the first panel is ready to
deliberate on its verdict.
Time Lost by Waiting.
This condition, it is pointed out,
leaves the jury branch without a panel
OF jurors to proceed with the next
case. Thus, witnesses and police off,
GERS are compelled to lose time waiting
for the trials to begin. The delay also
congestS the court docket.
The $1,000 increase in the item for
jurors fees, it was said, will permit
the court to impanel a third jury and
expedite the disposition of jury trial
cases. The jurors are employed for
five days week at rate of 81 day
Outstanding among other items in
the bill for the courts are $4,000 for
painting the District Supreme Court
and $4,000 for painting and repairing
the Court of Appeals Building
One of the major items in the appro-
priations sought by the Board Of Pub
lie Welfare provides an increase of
$58.750 for the workhouse and re-
formatory. The additional funds will
be used to increase the employees, food,
clothing and other supplies for an en-
larged population expected at these in
situations in 1882, particularly at the
reformatory, where the completion of
new housing facilities will enable it to
care for large number of District
prisoners now confined in Federal peni-
tentiarieS.
Children's SanatOrium Item.
Another large item of the Board of
Public Welfare calls for an appropria-
ton of $3.50, 900, together with an unex-
pended balance of approximately
$4,000, for beginning construction of
the Children's tuberculosis Sanatorium
on the site acquired for this purpose in
Maryland. The bill also proposes to au-
thorize the Commissioners to enter into
a contract for the complete construction
and equipment of this sanatorium at
cost not to exceed $508,000
Increased appropriations are provided
for the Office of the building inspector
to complete the reorganization of the
inspection force authorized this year in
the 1881 appropriation act. The new
items propose six additional positions
a first deputy inspector of buildings, an
assistant computer, a junior concrete
inspector, complaint inspector, and
three elevator inspectors.
The additional employees, it is believed,
will end much of the criticism of the
building inspectors Office in recent
years for alleged lack of proper super
vision Of inspections. Specifically, it
will be the duty of the first deputy in
spector of buildings to supervise the ac-
tivities of the inspection force in it's
actual field duties Col. John w. Och
mann, the building inspector, it was ex-
planned, does not have sufficient time to
supervise or check the field men because
of his many administrative duties.
Check on Applications.
The assistant computer will be as
signed to check the applications for
permits to erect gasoline stations, ga
RACES diaries, ETC., which under the
coming regulations require the written
of surrounding property own
ers. The junior concrete inspector is
needed, it was said, because of an in
crease in the number of structural and
reinforced concrete buildings. The
inspector will be used to re-
ieve the inspection force of the work of
Investigating complaints.
The provision for the three additional
elevator inspectors was included in the
Dill, it was explained, because the pres
ent force has been unable to give the
proper inspection required by the ele-
Vator regulations to freight elevators.
The regulations require an inspection
Of these elevators every six months, and
this cannot be done, it was declared,
with the nrnSpnt incpeptiOn fnrna