Evening star., 1939-02-09
Women S Bar Hears
Hogan Hit Critic Of
Improvement Efforts
Questions Dual Functions
Of Judge and Prosecutor
By Labor Board

Sharp reproval of an administra-
tive tribunal official who ridiculed
American Bar Association sugges-
tions for improving tribunal prac-
tices was voiced last night by Frank
j. Hogan, president of the associa-
ton, at the 22d annual banquet of
the Women's Bar Association Of the
District of Columbia at the May
flower Hotel
Referring repeatedly to the COM
ments of an unnamed official, Mr..
Hogan said there might be answers
to the apparent weaknesses dis
played by some Government boards
and commissions, but ridicule was
no means of providing them.
IT have sufficient foundation to
wonder at the spirit of resentment
stirred up when one dares to suggest
there might be improvements in the
procedure of administrative tri-
bunals," he declared.
Mr.. Hogan suggested that rules
and regulations governing tribunals
should be promulgated after fair
hearing and should be known to
both Sides-the boards or commits
sion and the lawyers who appear
before them.
Questions Labor Board Roles.
While he said the Federal Trade
Commission had functioned success
fully despite its assuming the
duties of judge, jury and prosecutor,
he raised the question whether the
National Labor Relations Board
could combine judicial and prosecut-
ing functions with equal success.
The American people," he as
serted. don't think the pitcher
should be umpire. too. 1t doesn't
square with their ideas of fair play"
He urged his listeners to petition
Congress for whatever improve
ments should be made in the tri-
bunals to insure fair play and i'm
partial justice.
Lawyers. he said, should make up
their minds that administrative tri-
bunals are an essential and ever
growing part of government. He was
astounded, he added at the failure
OF lawyers throughout the country
to see the opportunities for legal
practice in the new field.
Lawyers, law associations and law
schools" he added, should take up
seriously the study of administrative
law and make legitimate use of it."
Representative Jessie Sumner, Re-
publican, of illinois, who also spoke
at the banquet, managed to cram
into her brief address comments on
the influence of women through his
tory, a sharp dig at the Govern
ment's spending policy and an ap-
peal to the women to justify the
faith of the suffragettes.
Sees Influence Dissipated.
women haven't advertised their
influence" she said, because in
fuence, like perfume, loses strength
when it's uncorked."
The time has now come. she said,
when women must cease to be
"back-seat drivers"
To-day the affairs which so trou-
BILE our brothers are too complicated
to be manipulated by remote con-
troll" she added. I'VE wait with
bated breath. We know not what
might happen or how soon"
She urged the women to bring
order out of disorder, fight to pre-
serve peace and defend their ideals.
eve can't afford America to be
less than 100 per cent Efficient" she
said, "and only an inefficient coun-
try doesn't have men and women
working together for their ideals"
Switching abruptly to an attack
on spending while her listeners, in
Guiding Senator King of Utah,
Democrat, were still laughing at her
witticisms, she said, "The DAYS Of
baby-kissing politicians have given
way to subtler type which weeps
for the underprivileged and spends
millions of dollars that our unborn
children must pay for"
She rallied against the "sins COM
mitted in the name of charity" and
termed them "a more subtle spoils
system"
DR.. Morrison Speaks.
DR.. Phoebe Morrison, assistant
professor in the Yale University
School of Law, stressed the need for
lawyers to know the definitions in
corporated in the neutrality law and
cited cases where legal questions had
come up in connection with defini-
tions Of war, blockade and the risks
of merchantmen.
'The lawyers" she declared, have
taken the problems of international
law out of the laboratory and into
the grim reality of commercial life.
Philosophers and legislators have
laid down the outline but the lawyers
have had to define fundamental
terms and their approach has been
realistic and cynical rather than
idealistic."