Evening star., 1952-05-15
House Group
Reports Bill on
Juvenile Court
Measure Will Permit
Wider Use of Records
On Judges Approval

The House District Committee
today reported to the House a
Senate bill permitting wider use
Of District Juvenile Court records
but only at the discretion of the
court judge.
The House Committee made
two minor technical changes. The
bill is to come up for House action
May rs. Passage there will send
it back to the Senate for accep-
tance of the amendments.
The issue over secrecy of Juve-
nile Court records last year stirred
controversies in the court staff
and among outside welfare and
police groups. The latter said
they needed court data for their
own work.
The pending bill is a compro-
mise measure. But it is in one
important aspect a victory for
Judge Edith Cockrill of Juvenile
Court. because it upholds her stand
that the juvenile judge should
have discretion over any nom
court use of case records and
social work files.
Groups Indorse Bill.
The bill has the general in
dorsement of Judge Cockrill, the
Commissioners, the District Bar
Association and a number of the
social agencies of the District.
The amended bill was one of
seven measures reported today by
the House District Committee.
All are ready for action May 26.
One of the bills would transfer
title to Columbia Hospital from
the United States to the Hospital
Board. This would make the in
stitution eligible for loans and
grants under an amendment to
the Washington Hospital Center
Act.
Other Bills Reported.
The committee also reported
favorably the following bills:
A Senate measure providing for
liens on cars and trucks stored or
repaired at garages. The objec-
tive is to make it easier for the
garage keepers to collect overdue
bills.
A House bill to restore the SEN
tority rights of Sergt. Albert o.
Raeder of the District Fire De-
partment. He lost some standing
for promotion due to year of
service in Japan in fire control
work for the Army Department.
A House bill to permit the Dis
trict Boxing Commissioned sell its
Investments and to use $25, 900 of
the receipts for operating ex-
penseS.
Delegate Bill Delayed.
Three Of the more important
bills pending before the commit
tee were held over.
One Of these is the Harris
Auchincloss bill providing for the
Dlection Of a District delegate in
the House. The delegate could
Introduce bills, debate issues and
serve as a member of the District
Committee. He would have no
vote in the House or in the COM
mittee.
This now is scheduled for de-
bate at special meeting of the
full District Committee scheduled
Tor next Wednesday at 10 am.
This measure is suggested as
, small substitute for the Senate
passed Washington home-rule bill.
the latter has been tabled by the
Harris subcommittee.
Committee sources say there is
yome determined opposition in the
District Committee, even to the
delegate bill.
It was by-passed today, 3or one
reason, because of lack of al
quorum. l.
GaS Tax Held Up.
The committee also held over a
bill to raise the Districts gasoline
tax on July from 4 to cents.
Principal reason for this delay was
The absence of Representative
smith, Democrat, of Virginia. He
vas attending a meeting of the
House Rules Committee. He is
chief sponsor of the bill and
chairman of the fiscal subcommit-
100 which recommended its pas
lage.
Also held over was bill to ex-
iend the Districts rent control
Rw, without change, for one year
rom July 1. There is some oppo-
Iition to the extension, officials
laid. Also, some thought it better
10 wait for the pattern to be set
lor extension of Federal controls.
The committee delayed action
IN several minor bills. One of
lhese would authorize memorial
10 Floyd D. Olson, former Cover
aor of Minnesota, in the triangle
1t Twenty second and @ streets
NV.