Evening star., 1935-05-14
JUVENILE LAW
CHANGE URGED
Social Work Director Also
Advocates Facilities to End
Delinquency.

Juvenile delinquency in the District
would be greatly reduced II recrea-
tional and vocational facilities were
afforded the idle youth, particularly
boys Miss Louise Mcclure, director
of social work in the Juvenile Court,
declared last night in an address
before the Kalorama Citizens Asso-
citation. Miss MCGUIRE covered
varied field of youth problems, also
explaining the functioning OF her
position.
She cited the need for change in
the present law to permit investigation
of juvenile cases before they were
brought to court, asserting this could
not be done under present legislation.
She also recommended a change that
would permit less formal hearings,
adding that the court should not come
under the criminal system.
Places should be established she
declared, where the youth, partlcu-
larly the boys who, having finished
high school. cannot get employment
could occupy themselves with Voca-
tional and educational as well as
recreational training. The present
school system is too rigid. BY tnat l
mean the precisement and uniformity
is what should be gotten away from
and in its place workshop "nere
work could be done when ard now
desired. This would greatly reduce
delinquency in the District. Many
criminals records are traced back to
the juvenile age
Advocates Child Care.
Miss Mcclure advocated more ade-
euate facilities for caring Tor cnlloreh
at the District Receiving Home. Inc
home is supposed to care for children
only temporarily, she said. but often
keeps them for weeks. She told OF
the conditions there, declaring recent
lv she was notified l6 of the child
inmates slept on floors.
Children and years OF age are
thrown into contact with the older
classes, she declared, many of whom
are diseased. The younger children
also pick up bad traits and learn OF
stealing and other such vices through
the older inmates. Conditions such
as these should be corrected, she told
the association.
the association, who presided at last
nights meeting, suggested that the
members of the association visit the
home together some time and witness
conditions at the receiving home.
Miss MCGUIRE praised the splendid
conditions afforded the inmates OF
National Training School for Boys,
citing the recreational and educational
facilities given them.
During the discussion after Miss
McGuire's address Mrs Wiley de-
clared there should have been Wom-
an appointed in the district attorneys
Office
Out of Is members present the
association voted down to 2 a reso-
luton advocating bona fide District
residents for District government jobs.
Miss Eta L. Taggart introduced the
resolution. declaring that if the right
of franchise had been given the Dis
trict of Columbia such an injustice
would not prevail. She referred to
the recent appointment of physical
director in the public schools here as
an example, and also to the appoint
ment of Dr. Rutland as District health
officer as cases where residents OF
Washington could have filled the po-
sitions equally as well.
Deplores Lack Of Vote.
"It is a shame" Miss Taggart de-
clared, that the District of Columbia
Is deprived of the right of suffrage
Only through demanding such things
as the resolution advocates can we
hope to ever secure the right of
franchise" Opposing members as
serted it might quite often be neceS-
sary to secure the most talented per-
sons to handle Government jobs from
outside the city.
In another resolution introduced by
Miss Taggart Traffic Director William
A. Van DuZer was asked to make a
survey of traffic -burdened intersec-
tions of the city with view to abol
ishing left-hand turns. The resolu
ton was adopted.
At the suggestion of Mrs. Wiley it
was voted a resolution be sent the
District Commissioners commencing
them for their stand in favoring the
present system of the long-ton meas
ure of coal instead of changing to
the short ton.
Mrs. Wiley also commended the
safety campaign now under way here.
Mrs. Edna Johnston and Warren
Haines were elected first and second
vice presidents of the association, re-
spectively Miss Irene Pistorio was
elected a delegate to the Federation of
Citizens Associations. Mrs. Wiley
was elected president and also a dele
gate to the federation at last months
meeting
The association voted to adjourn un-
til the second Tuesday in October.
The meeting mas held at Mrs. Wiley's
home, 2345 Ashmead place.