Evening star., 1936-03-05
CHILD COURT BILL
DECLARED UNJUST
Friendship Citizens Oppose
Measure as Contrary to.
Legal Procedure.

An attack against the juvenile
court bill, in which it was termed
contrary to all legislative and judi
cial procedure made last night by
Harry Friedman at the meeting Of
the Friendship Citizens Association,
resulted in unanimous passage of q
resolution opposing the measure.
Friedman, chairman Of the asso-
cations Laws and Legislation Com
mittee, declared: 1T is the most far
reaching bit of legislation ever in
troduced in the United States 1t has
beautiful sentiments but no safe
guards. The Judge Of the court is
at the same time prosecutor, jury
and probation officer, with absolute
power over all persons up to lS years
of age"
He declared any one could bring in
a complaint against any child, and
the court would then have power to
investigate and take any action it
saw fit. "It is contrary to legislative
procedure in that it is to interpret
literally. All other statutes are to
be interpreted strictly"
Right of Counsel Held Denied.
Another section of the bill de-
nounced by Friedman is the provision
denying to the child the right Of
counsel or a jury trial mo one can
be present at the hearing except
those Immediately interested in the
case, and the records of the case
cannot be made available to the
public" he stated.
The action Of the House Appropria-
tions Committee in reporting out a
District budget providing for Federal
share of only $2,700,000 also was
criticized at the meeting. Plans were
made for representative of the as
sociation to appear before the Senate
committee and urge a Federal lump
sum of at least s5.70O0 900. An increase
in funds allotted to the medical de-
partment also will be requested.
The elimination of the consents
provisions from the zoning regula-
tions. as proposed by the Zoning
Commission, was opposed in resolu-
ton adopted. Edward j. Fox. spon-
sor, declared that he was not in favor
of any proposal which would divest
citizens of the voice they now have
in Zoning matters.
Urges Discretionary Power.
He suggested, however, that the
commission be given power to refuse
issuance of license even after con-
sents had been obtained If they
thought it to the best interests of
those affected. This. he claimed,
would eliminate the racket" worked
by some persons to force the COM
mission to rezone property by obtain
ing the necessary consents.
Repeal the "red-rider" and sub
stitution of less stringent rider in
its place, were favored. c. D. Franks,
vice president of the association,
pointed out, however. that the sub
stitute rider bill still provides that
school board employees must swear
that they had not advocated COM
munism before they could receive
their salary. This. he said, would
be interpreted by Controller General
McCarl in such manner that even
the janitors and porters would have
to sign affidavits to that effect. This
is one of the Objectionable features
of the present law.
Other action taken by the associa-
| ton included: Approval Of the
pharmacy bill, opposition to the bill
to legalize horse racing in the
District, and approval Of the small
loans bill providing q per cent per
month interest.