Evening star., 1936-01-12
.HAzEN APPROVES
MAC|STRATEpLAN
Commissioners Scheduled
to Take Final Action
on Tuesday.

Creation of a magistrates courts
system for the District, designed pri-
marily to relieve congestion of minor
cases in Police Court, was approved
yesterday by Commissioner Melvin G.
Hazen. It is slated for final action
Tuesday by the Board of Commis-
sioners.
A proposed amendment to the Dis
trict code, drafted by Corporation
Counsel z. Barrett Prettyman. will be
sent promptly to the Budget Bureau,
to determine If it is in accord with
the policies of the President, if the
Commissioners adopt the program.
Prospects are the Commissioners
will indorse the move, although Com
missioner George E. Allen declined
comment yesterday. Engineer Com
missioner Dan I. Sultan said he
favored the principle, but was not yet
ready to pass on details of the bill.
49,. Approve Drink Cure"
The Commissioners yesterday ap-
proved another bill for establishment
of drink cure" hospital for habit
ual drunks, at the District Workhouse
at Occoquan, Va. They directed that
the measure be forwarded to the
Budget Bureau. 1t calls for q 5000 900
appropriation for construction of a
building.
Persons convicted three times or
more in one year of intoxication
would be classed as liquor addicts
and sent to the hospital for treat
ment instead Of being sentenced to
jail as drunks. Forfeiture of collat-
eral would count the same as a con-
viction for this purpose.
The case Of each person sent to the
hospital would have to be reviewed
by a judge of Police Court at least
once every four months. Commis-
sioner Hazen and other District off,
cials championed the plan recently
when told many persons have been
sentenced many times for drunken
ness.
Would Relieve Court.
The Magistrate Court plan, Pretty
man told the Commissioners, would
be expected to take about $4,000
minor cases year out Of Police
Court. The plan proposes appoint
ment by the President, with the con-
sent of the Senate, of four magis-
trates and three alternatives. The
magistrates would be paid $1,000 q
year each. When the alternates
served they would be paid by the
regular magistrates.
The magistrates, who would hold
court from $40 to 1880 am. and
from 4:30 to $50 pm each week day
would handle these types of cases
Violations of traf1ic regulations, first
and second offenses of speeding, fail
ure to exhibit an operators permit
first and second offenses of intoxica-
ton, disorderly conduct, violation OF
police regulations, violation of health
regulations and have jurisdiction to
impose such sentences as are other
wise provided by law or any ofncial
regulation for such offenses.
The four magistrates would hold
court at designated police precinct sta
tions. They would be named for terms
Of six years each. They would not have
to be members Of the bar. Prettyman
believes retired business men or re.
tired Government officials would be
interested.
Right Of Appeal Provided.
There would be the right of appeal
from decisions of the magistrates to
Police Court. Jury trials are not pro-
vided In the plan, but II q defendant
demanded such trial the case would
60 automatically to Police Court. De-
PENDANTS, however. would have to post
$40 to cover costs II acquitted, the
sumb would be returned.
A police officer. assigned at the sta
ton where the magistrates held court
would be designated to act as clerk of
the courts. Prettyman explained the
total cost per year would be about
$1,000.
. A feature Of the plan is that charges
could be tried before the magistrates
without issuance Of Information"
by the corporation counsel at Police
Court. This is intended to save much
time.
A special feature Of the plan, Pret-
lyman told the Commissioners, is that
immediate trials Of thousands OF cases
could be held, whereas now cases must