Evening star., 1941-03-06
Federation Is Praised
For Long Service on
31sf Anniversary
Judge Cuyton Tells of
Court Solution in Plan
For Consolidation


and heard speeches extolling the
work of the organization.
Judge Nathan Cayton of Municipal
Court, the principal speaker, out
lined to the group the proposed bill
to consolidate Police and Municipal
Courts, saying the measure would
relieve District Court of about a
third of its law cases and i'm
mediately and permanently solve
the congestion problem in Traffic
Court.
Discussing the bill drawn up by
the Justice Department and soon
to be introduced in Congress, Judge
Cayton was high in his praise of
its provisions.
This is no shot in the dark" !"
he observed, adding "I fatty predict
it will solve the Traffic Court prob
lem Immediately and permanently" :"
Judge Cayton praised the work OF
the federation for the community.
Cites Suffrage Leadership.
"You have been in the front ranks
of those who have fought for suf-
frage," he said. 1T would be tragic
If your efforts in these directions
should be relaxed"
Three members of Congress added
their congratulations to the fedora
ton. Senator McCarran of Nevada
promised to give my very best effort
to things I believe for the welfare
of the District" as a member OF
the Senate District Committee. He
also said he would "go through"
with the consideration of whether
a constitutional amendment shall be
presented to the people"-a refer
ence to the national representation
measure pending in Congress.
Senator Capper of Kansas, who
said he has spent 20 years here with
never a dull day, said the Fedora
ton stands in well at the Capitol.
And as long as I'm here" he
added "I hope they keep me on
the n strict Committee"
Chairman Randolph of the House
District Committee said the COM
mittee looked with favor upon the
representations of the Federation.
StulI Sees Better City,"
Federation President Harry N.
Stull, as POSTMASTER. began the
celebration by saying: I'VE believe
that during the 81 years OF the
Federation we have made this city
a better place in which to live. And
any organization or group that
thinks it can do a better job" he
observed, "is at perfect liberty to
try it"
Mr.. Stull read to the group let
ter from Theodore w. Noyes, editor
of The Star, congratulating the
delegates on their achievements and
predicting for the future "an even
finer record not only in material
development of the greater Wash
ington but in the Americanization
of, the people of the Capital, giving
them through voting representation
in Congress and the electoral COL
lege the vital rights, privileges and
benefits to which all Americans are
conditionally entitled, who are
neither convicts nor lunatics."
Outlining the court consolidation
measure, Judge Cayton said the
civil branch would have jurisdiction
of cases up to $4,000 instead of
$1,000, which would have the effect
of relieving District Court. A f1ex-
ible system of rotating judges will
be employed under which Municipal
Court judges would sit in Police
Court and vice versa.
II suggest that this is the perfect
solution to the Traffic Court prob
lem," he declared, because under
this system an additional judge
would be provided. That judge
would be available for assignment
to the Traffic Court, or, indeed,
to any other court which was be-
hind in its work or in need of spe-
cial attention"
Successful Elsewhere.
The proposal, he continued, is
based upon successful experience in
other cities.
"I have presented this proposal
to you," he said, because I am
thoroughly convinced it presents the
real answer to many a problem in
our lower court system. 1t presents
the ultimate answer to every poten-
tial criticism of the administration
of justice in those courts"
In his discussion of the work OF
the Federation, he praised its ef-
forts in the field of zoning, taxation,
District reorganization and its sup
port of the Small Claims Court, OF
which he is called "the father"
And perhaps most important OF
all" he insisted, you have insisted
on the right of the people to par
ticipate through the ballot in the
affairs of their Government"
Element of Fun Injected.
An element of fun was injected by
q black-face comedian introduced as
Congressman Jet Black" who twit-
ted members of Congress, District
officials and even members Of the
Federation on some of their foibles.
"I thought Senator McCarran
would laugh himself to death" a
guest at the head table observed.
Congressman Black" who said
he came from a town in Michigan
where the gangsterS gave the po-
lice "a hours to get out of town,
discussed briefly the brilliant dis
play of red, green and amber lights
known as "the Union Station laby-
rinth." He also alluded to another
of Traffic Director w. A. Van
Duzer's achievements as Gen.
Thomas dilemma"
When and if he becomes Presi-
dent, he promised to include in his
cabinet Federation Delegates Jesse
C. Suter and Harry Wender as joint
Secretaries of Labor.
They can't get along now," he
observed by way of allusion to the
frequent debates in which the two
have engaged in the Federation
meetings.
Mrs. Doyle an Honor Guest.
Other honor guests included Mrs.
Henry Grattan Doyle, president of
the Board Of Education; John No.
len, jr., of the National Capital