Evening star., 1937-08-15
NEW JUVENILE ACT
AMONG 9D.C. BILLS
PASSED BY SENATE
Licensing Of Realty Brokers
and Statesmen Is Also
Approved.
NO ACTION is TAKEN
ON TAXI INSURANCE
Both Measures Now Go to Confer.
ence for Possible Compro-
mise Changes.
BY j. A. O'LEARY,

BY j. A. OLEARY.
In drive to clear its calendar Of
District legislation before adjourn
ment, the Senate yesterday passed
nine local bills, most important Of
which provide 4 new code for the
Juvenile Court and licensing Of real
estate brokers and statesmen.
The Juvenile Court measure was all
tered materially. however, from the
form In which 1t passed the House
more than fve months ago, and is ex-
pected to go to conference tomorrow.
Supporters Of the move to improve and
modernize the procedure in juvenile
cases-an effort that has been under
way for number Of years-preferred
the House measure as a means Of ac-
complishing the desired results.
While the Senate amendments
change in several respects the House
plan for conducting the work of the
court, the provisions of both bills still
are subject to further consideration,
and possible compromise, in confer
ence.
Two Minor Changes.
The real estate licensing measure
also had previously passed the House
and the Senate made only two minor
changes, which the House may either
accept or send to conference. If
final adjustment can be worked out
this week on these bills Congress will
have disposed Of two District prob
lens that have been pending over an
extended period of years.
Only one important bill that was
ready for action failed to win Senate
approval yesterday-the taxicab in
surance measure-and this may be
taken up again before adjournment.
The six other bills the Senate ap.
proved yesterday were:
A bill to enlarge the Washington
Airport.
An amendment to the District code
to make sure that person who kills
another while committing a felony
could be charged with nrst-degree
murder. This has not passed the
House.
A resolution changing the names
Of the four driveways extending
through the Mall to Maine, Missouri,
Ohio and Oklahoma avenues. This
has passed the House and goes to the
President. The drives are now named
after Presidents Washington, Jefferson,
Adams and Madison.
A bill already passed by the House
granting q charter to Southeastern
University of the Young Mems Chris.
tian Association. 1t goes to the Presi.
dent
A resolution. still requiring House
action, authorizing the District, Mary
land, Virginia, West Virginia and
Pennsylvania to enter into a compact
for publication Of the Potomac River
and streams in its drainage area. The
compact would have to be ratified by
Congress and the State Legislatures.
A Senate bill to regulate the sale
OF serums and toxins here in accord
ance with Federal requir irements still
requires House approval
A bill requiring the Commissioners,
the Park and Planning Commission
and the Treasury Department to reach
a mutual agreement before closing Of
any streets in the proposed new public
building area west OF Nineteenth
street, bounded by New York avenue,
E street and the Potomac River.
COnferees Named.
As soon as the Juvenile Court bill
had passed. the Senate asked for
conference with the House, and named
the following conferees: Senator's King
Of Utah, Copeland of New York. Tyd-
ings of Maryland and Austin of Yer.
mont.
Copeland, who took the lead in OBJ
tanning passage of the measure yes
terday after 1t had been on the CAL
endar for several months. told the
Senate the legislation was favored by
the late majority leader, Senator
Robinson Of Arkansas The changes
made in the bill yesterday were put
forward by Senator Gerry of Rhode
Island After stating that he had gone
over the amendments with Gerry,
Copeland added, And feel satisfied
II his amendments are accepted and
the bill is passed, in the conference
We should be able to work out the kind
of bill we desire"
One Of the major changes proposed
by Gerry eliminates the section that
designated an officer of the Juvenile
tigation and determination as to
whether the court should take formal
jurisdiction over child. His amend
ment substituted the assistant cor
poration counsel regularly assigned to
the court as the one to receive prelim-
mary information concerning juvenile
cases. An ofiicer Of the court then
would make the necessary inquiry and
study OF the home, but would report
back to the corporation counsel, who
would determine whether Jurisdiction
should be taken and . petition filed
As 1t came from committee the bill
provided for trial by the court, but
allowed the person cited to demand a
jury. This was changed to require
trial by jury unless the person cited
voluntarily valves the jury right.
Another last-minute amendment
struck out the House section allowing
the Judge to designate a social worker
Of the court as commissioner to con.
slider cases coming to the attention Of
the court and either work out dixpo-
sition or direct the filing OF a petit
ton. The committee previously had
amended the House provision to re-
quire approval by the District Com
missioners Of persons to be appointed
as court commissioners.
The bill as originally drawn was
based on the standard juvenile court
act. The committee report emphasizes
that the bill seeks to make Juvenile
Court . new type Of tribunal based
on the principle that the child who
comes before 1t 10 not to be regarded
(see D. G. BILLS, Page B-3)