Evening star., 1947-04-02
Space Hoarding
Probe Asked in
D. {. Court Tour
House Group Hears
Justice Lows Coll
Congestion Terrible
BY Harold B. Rogers

By Harold B. Rogers
The congestion in District Court
has convinced one member In the
House Public Works Committee
that "hoarding' Of space In execu-
tive departments Of Government
here should be investigated.
Representative Bender, Republic
can. OF Ohio, said today he saw
enough troubles of District Court
in tour with congressional dele
cation yesterday to raise questions
about "hoarded" space elsewhere.
There is no doubt about that
court needing assistance" he as
serted. With other members of the
Public Works Committee, he had
seen prisoners locked up in a dark
tomb-like cell block. He had heard
Chief Justice Bolitha j. Laws de-
scribe conditions of the court as
terrible" and scandal"
The situation he said. caused him
to turn today to other places down.
town.
Raps "Boondogglers.-
There are q lot of hoondoggIers
around Washington occupying space.
hoarding space, who ought to be
made to see what's going on here,
he charged I thing we ought to
do something about that"
The opportunity may be provided
next week when the Public Build
ings Subcommittee OF the House
Public Works Committee considers
q pending bill for q new Federel
courthouse here. Public hearings
on the courthouse bill win be held
alto am. April 10. In scheduling
these hearings Chairman McGregor
of the subcommittee emphasized he
considered the court building as an
emergency" The bill authorizes
planning, but no construction yet.
The Congressional delegation,
headed by Representative Dondero,
Republican. of Michigan, chairman
of the Public Works Committee,
yesterday delved into crowded cor
ners, into small rooms too full Of
desks, and into basement storage
space now full of files but formerly
used rs boiler rooms.
Four Cases Mt Once.
Into the Domestic Relations Com
missioner's Office, Justice Laws took
the delegation, pointing to several
desks. Because of the pressure Of
space, he said "they sometimes hear
four cases at once, within earshot
of each other"
wives have to tell of the delin-
quencles of their husbands right
here before other people the jurist
explained. This is really scandal"
THE case load is so heavy" he
added, that officials don't have
time to go into homes to see If
children have the proper care. We
tried to get the Board of Public
Welfare to do it, but they couldn't. "
Austin Garfield, president Of the
District Bar Association, who was
with the group, commented: "And
right here is where we try to con-
troll juvenile delinquency"
Probation Officer Joseph Y. Reeves
showed the few members of the
delegation who could squeeze into
his little room, crowded with desks,
how difficult 1t was for his staff
to do business.
Takes Records Home.
"He is so cramped for space"
Justice Laws said, that he has had
to take some of the official court
records to his own home to store
them"
TN this little room," Justice Laws
told the group, tit is necessary often
to interview three or four prisoners
at time-men charged with rape,
gambling, murder, violations of the
narcotics act-ail Kinds of crime"
Asked by Representative Muhlen-
berg, Republican, Of Pennsylvania
about the pending bill and the pro-
posed site for the courthouse. Jus
tice Laws explained 1t was hoped
to get authority for preparation Of
plans now.
TT would take nine months or q
year to get plans drawn" he de-
clared, "and VIE hope to start right
away, If possible" The site. he ex-
planned, is on Constitution avenue
between Third street and John
Marshall place NV, now owned by
the District government
George Morris Fay, United States
Attorney, escorted the group through
his Offices, where most Of his as
sistants are crowded, two or three
to room.
Library Called Good
The library in the courthouse
was pointed out as a good library"
so far as the collection Of books
goes. But Mr.. Fay complained
there is no place for at orneys and
clients to go for privacy in prepara-
ton of cases"
A story told by Justice Laws as
the group visited the Assignment
Commissioners Office emphasized
the congestion in the courts. Be-
cause of the fact that judges of
District Court are divided between
the old courthouse and the new
Municipal Court Building. Justice
Laws explained. persons often get
lost after leaving the commissioners
Office.
Once" related the jurist," I had
to send out attachments for two
witnesses. Finally they were found
in another courtroom. They had
been there all day, from 9 am. to
4:30 p.m.-in the wrong place"
Miss Margaret Ellison