Evening star., 1943-06-20
McCarran in Favor
OF New Steps 10 Curb
District Delinquency
Senator Studies PIons
To Protect Children
In $54, 900, 900 Bill
By ]. A, O'LEARY.

BY J. A. OLEARY.
New steps that may be taken in
the pending $54,789, ,434 District ap-
preparation bill to reduce juvenile
delinquency will be discussed by
Chairman McCarran of the Senate
District Committee with Chairman
O,Mahoney of the subcommittee on
District appropriations before the
subcommittee acts on changes in the
measure tomorrow.
Senator McCarran is considering
two approaches to the problem, one
having prevention as its goal, the
other TO improve the facilities of
Juvenile Court for studying individ-
ual cases after they get into court.
Weighs Pupil Guidance.
From the preventive angle, Sena-
tor McCarran Is considering the
advisability Of authorizing expan-
sion OF pupil guidance work in the
schools. In recent years some pro-
vision has been made for pupil
guidance teachers in high schools.
One suggestion is that this be ex-
tended to junior high schools and
to the higher grades of elementary
schools.
From the remedial standpoint
Senator McCarran is considering es-
tablishment of a mental hygiene
clinic at Juvenile Court by author
izing the United States Public
Health Service to assign one psy-
chiatrist, one psychologist and one
nurse to look for factors that may
have caused the delinquency in par
ticular cases and to recommend
corrective measures.
Senator OMahoney already has
indicated his interest in the general
problem. Several days ago he asked
the Commissioners to submit in
creased estimates for foster care
of dependent children to safe
guard them from becoming delin-
quent. Further commenting on the
subject yesterday Senator O'Ma-
honey said:
Continued Observation.
IT feel that members of Con-
gress can very we'll devote some
time and attention TO all phases Of
the problem of juvenile care and
that it should be matter Of con-
tinuous observation.
Senator McCarran has been in
formed that mental hygiene clinic
was contemplated by local authori-
ties when the new Juvenile Court
Building was being erected, and that
appropriate space for it was included
in the plans.
Although changes in the bill will
not be voted on until the SUBJ
committee meets at 10 am. tomor-
row, it is expected the Senators will
approve substantial part Of the
s9S6,248 the Commissioners have
asked be added to the House total
for wide variety of miscellaneous
needs of many local agencies.
The Senate subcommittee was told
by District officials that there would
still be a balance of S512,748 in the
general fund even If the additional
items are allowed.
Wants Claims Settled.
Senator McCarran also will recon-
mend approval by the subcommit-
tee Of legislative amendment to
authorize the Commissioners to set
tie the claims of the District Gov
ernment against the Baltimore &
Ohio Railroad Co.. growing out OF
construction of the Franklin street
and Eastern avenue bridges.
The amendment. submitted by
District officials, would authorize
settlement of the Franklin Bridge
claim of s47,l7705 for 32,27983
and the Eastern avenue claim OF
s13684l4 for Sl0.999.45. The Com
missioners now lack authority to
settle any claim originated by them
selves. The Appropriations Sub
committee referred the amendment
to Chairman McCarran for study
because II is legislative provision
Another last-minute amendment
requested by District officials is for
$4,000 for additional personnel in
the auditors office to figure out the
payroll withholding tax OF all city
employees starting in July.
The District bill probably will be
l.. ~ =