Evening star., 1936-04-01
PLEAF0R HEARING
VITAL TO JUVENILE
COURT MEASURE
Subcommittee Head Ready
to Let Bill Die Unless
Commissioners Act.
COMMISSIONERS GET
REPORT ON STUDY
Racing Bill and Anti-Gambling
Law Also May Die in
Subcommittee.
BY JAMES E. CHINN.


Languishing in the Judiciary Sub
committee of the House District Com
nittee, the bill to modernize and hu-
manize Juvenile Court procedure Is
destined to die unless the Commis-
sioners come to Its rescue.
Chairman Palmisano Of the subcom-
mittee made this positive announce
ment today in response to pleas Of
various civic and welfare organtza-
tions for action on the measure at
the present session Of Congress. In
fact, Palmisano said he would not
even hold public hearings on the bill
unless the Commissioners indicate an
interest in it.
The report on the bill by E. Bar
rett Prettyman, retiring corporation
counsel who recommended 40 minor
amendments, was received today by
the Commissioners. They will consider
it formally Friday. and Commissioner
Melvin c. Hazen indicated he would
approve the amended bill.
The measure then will be sent to
the Budget Bureau for approval OF
policy matters and probably will be
handed Palmisano next week.
Procedure Irks Palmisano.
Palmisano is a little disturbed be-
cause the bill was introduced without
first having been submitted to the
Commissioners. He thinks all pro-
posed District legislation should come
to the Capitol with the comment Of
the executives at the District Building.
Chairman Norton Of the House Dis
trict Committee introduced the Ju-
venile Court bill "by request" several
months ago. Since then 1t has re-
manned with Palmisano's subcommit-
tee, along with some other important
proposed legislation, notably q Sen
ate approved bill to tighten the gam
bling laws, and the bill to legalize
horse racing.
"As far as ! am personally con-
cerned the Juvenile Court bill is dead"
said Palmisano. But II the Com
missioners are interested in it, and
so notify me, will hold public hear
ings. However, I won't 60 any fur
ther and predict what the subcom-
mittee might do after the hearings"
Hearings have been held on the
racing bill, but Palmisano has shown
no inclination to make a report on
it to the full District Committee. He
and Representative Dirksen, Republ-
can, of Illinois were the only members
Of the subcommittee who took an
active part in the hearings, and the
measure is expected to die from lack
of attention.
Gambling Bill Blocked.
The bill designed to put teeth" In
the gambling laws Is destined to meet
the same fate. Palmisano viii not
even agree to hold public hearings on
it-a position which he has held te-
naciously since its passage by the
Senate more than a year ago.
Palmisano, in outlining his views on
various bills before the subcommittee,
incidentally renewed a promise he
made last year to support the Com
missioners in any move they might
make to remove the shackles of
Budget Bureau and congressional con-
troll over District finances. Personally,
he does not believe the District is
getting a square deal" from either.
The Commissioners, according to
Palmisano, should be given absolute
control over all revenues-that is,
they should be allowed to spend the
money as they see fit without any in
reference from the Budget Bureau or
Congress. He also believes the Fed
eral Government should share more
equitably in the expenses Of the Dis
trict.
1.-THE $3,700 900 appropriated by the
House as the Federal Government
share In the coming fiscal year Is
ridiculously unfair" he declared.
Cites $1o,o0o,o 200 Formula.
Palmisano said the amount Of the
Federal obligation should be predi-
Gated on a formula similar to that
recommended several years ago by
the now defunct United States Bureau
of Efficiency. Under that formula, he
pointed out. the United States would
have to provide more than $10.000,0O0
q year toward District expenses.
"The United States Government" !"
he declared, "has withdrawn from
taxation in the District, in the last
five or ten years. millions Of dollars
of valuable property. It has taken
the choice property-property border
ing Pennsylvania avenue.
mot only that, the Government
building program in the Mall area has
thrown an additional burden on Dis
trict taxpayers because the streets had
to be widened and resurfaced. New
lights had to be installed and main
tanned. Trafhc signals had to be
erected to handle the added tramc.
Yet the Federal Government, instead
of increasing its obligation, has de-
creased it to the lowest point in his
tory.
"If the Commissioners want to fight,
II help them get q square deal from
the New Deal"