Evening star., 1942-03-15
Civic Problems, CivicBodies
Court Merger Plan Awaits Action;
Van Ness Street Closing Protested
By JESSE c. SUTER.

The civic meetings during the past given
largely the consideration of civilian defense matters
hour practice bakou Friday night with pepara
tons of delinquent househoders for compliance
than sitting darkness further emphasis
portant emergency problem
assignments in of
the volunteer civilian posts cropping different sections
being made of conditions personnel
need be- other changes will follow promptly
District legislation progress during
week The charity solicitation charity racket bill still in the
Senate District Committee blocked objections
tions Advocates any objections If the
objecors and their disclosed
baby also before the Senate District
Committee precisely the position the bill
The identity Of the oectors and their
public Both these originated
organizations to correct serious evils
up demands some of the Negro
citizens for removal OF restrictions in the of the recreation
facilities Under the bill framed there will
system similar to that of the public schools
Chairman Manon of the House Appropriations
miee indicated that the appropriation
be taken up before May.
Court Merger Bill Conference Report Awaits Action
report the bill creating the new Municipal
Court and Municipal Appeals awaits action by the
opposition Representa-
tives from districts responsible
The of contention the making
for appointment to idgeshp on these strictly local courts It
reported
Committee restricted the appointments of all 10 judges of the
Municipal Court and the three Judges of the Mnicipa Court of
Appeals de residents of the District Columbia had
resided here and acced law in the local courts during the five
years preceding their appointment.
amendment adopted by the Senate made eligible for
residing within 10 miles of the District who
the practice of the local dur
ing years Immediately preceding their appointment The
the House in this form The House disagreed with
asked for conference.
conferees worked out compromise the eligibility of
Judges by making two of the positions the Municipal Court
nonresdens have been actively engaged
practice the five next
preceding appointment Considerable opposition has de-
veloped this provision 1t understood that there
sen demand for increase the number OF non-res-
dents judgeships
Municipal Court is of the present Municipal
Court and Police Court and all of the judges of these courts
we're required de residents of the District OF
of Appeals for the District OF
tribunal created to handle local business
The unrepsented people of the District of Com-
appoint nonresident judges on these
courts imposition helpless community AS they
adhere the longestabished policy
recognized purely local courts
District residents than there is to exempt
from actually residing here
technically therefore voting Americans in
State.
Advocates nonresident appointments, when questioned
District residents appointed to the bench IN
that lawyers residing in the
permitted the of nearby Mary
land Virginia of the nonresident
ponnents entirely different because this is Fed
eral territory.
the groups continue to hope that in
McCarran will prevail and the
the absolute justice and fair play
requiring all of these judicial appointments to be filled by resi-
dents of the District.