Evening star., 1941-01-15
DC. Bar Association
Weighs Amendment
To Admit Women
February Vote Expected;
Removal Of Library
From Court Probable

The more than 1900 members of
the District Bar Association today
pondered a formal proposal by one
OF their committees that the associa-
ton. limited to men since its organ
ization in 1871, admit women.
An amendment to the bylaws to
this effect was offered at meeting
at the Mayflower Hotel last night
by the Committee on Relations With
the Woman's Bar Association.
Edwin G. Dutton. chairman, told
the group of comforting several times
the past year with committee from
the woman's association and of hav-
ing been informed by the women
that all State bar associations and
all except two city bar associations
admit them. These two, he was
Informed. were those of the District
and Baltimore.
Vote Expected Next Month.
There are 275 woman members
Of the bar here, so of them in active
practice, Mr.. Dutton said. He offered
the amendment to the bylaws.
which will be voted on at next
months meeting, after the women
had renewed their request for ad-
mission, he added.
Other members of the committee
are Walter C. Clephane, William c.
Ashford, Samuel Beach, L. Russell
Alden, Arthur C. Elgin and James
B. FLYNN.
William E. Richardson, asking for
discharge of the Committee on Ex-
tension of Library Privileges he
heads. told of a meeting with
member of the Attorney Generals
Office in regard to admitting colored
members of the bar to the library,
which was voted down at the last
meeting of the association.
In a short time, Mr.. Richardson
said, the Attorney General may re-
quire the association to remove its
library from the District Court
Building on the grounds that it is
occupying public space without au-
thority.
Named in Suit.
The Attorney General and the Bar
Association are defendants in a suit
that is now in the United States
Court of Appeals asking that they
be made to show cause why the
association is permitted tc keep its
library in the Courthouse. The At
torney Generals office has indicated
that it does not wish to defend the
suit, Mr. Richardson said, and, since
it must file an answer by February
l, the association may be required
to move its books before then.
Francis Hill. jr., president of the
association, who participated in the
conference, also saw a real posi-
bility" of being requested to leave.
Mat Mahoney suggested that space
be sought in the new Municipal
Center Building now under con-
struction, and Austin Garfield sug-
gested the possibility of renting the
space in the court building.
Richard E. Wellman called for
unanimous consent to reconsider
the entire matter, but several men,
bers objected. Later in the eve
ming Milton King said that the cost
of renting 5000 feet of Office space
in a private building for the IL
brary would cost about $4,000 an
nuallv, and the moving of the
$4,000 books valued at about 100000
would cost $4,000.
Indorse Court Site.
A resolution indorsing the site
where the Old Pension Office
Building is located as desirable for a
proposed new District Court build
ing was passed. William A. Rob-
erts. chairman of the Committee
on the New Courthouse, said the
old structure was designed in 1919
and renodeled 100 years later. with
the number Of judges increasing in
this time from 3 to IL. He asked
association members to oppose any
move to locate the building on
Capitol Hill.
Harlan Wood. chairman of the
Committee on Relations With Mu-
nicipal Court, offered resolutions,
which passed, calling for elimina-
ton of bonds in replevin cases when
stolen property held by the court
property clerk is sought and for
appeal as a matter of right from a
Municipal Court suit for more than
$500. which would eliminate the
necessity of filing a petition for a
writ of error.
Others making reports included
Craig Peacock. Louis G.. Caldwell,
William R. Valance and A. r.
Pilkerton.