Evening star., 1953-12-23
Probers Stress Need
For Bigger Staffs
And More Funds
By Miriom Ottenberd

nile Delinquency subcommittee
predicted today that many Of
the problems pinpointed in the
six-day hearings on juvenile
crime here will be solved by the
new commissioners Youth Coun-
Gil and it's 26 neighborhood
teams.
At the same time, the legis-
latorS underlined the necessity
of finding the funds to give Dis
trict agencies the tools they need
to combat juvenile delinquency.
They freely acknowledged that
Congress shared the blame for
the city's undermined stafts
and overcrowded facilities.
While they agreed that the
Juvenile Court should exchange
information more readily with
other agencies. they heSitated to
commit themselves on whether
the power to decide when juve-
nile should be tried in adult
courts should be transferred
from the Juvenile Court judge
to the United States attorney.
OF the Youth Council, Chair
man Hendrickson commented:
st feel that the council will cope
with some of the problems
brought out here"
Senator Hennings, Democrat.
of Missouri said the council
was a ."real beginning OF CO.
ordinating the many agencies
and individuals and encouraging
them to do something about the
immediate problems arising
from young people getting into
trouble"
The council, through its
neighborhood committees, he
said. will deal with the preven-
ton of delinquency at its source
1.-THE duplicating and over
tapping of agency functions can
best be eliminated in the i'm
mediate neighborhoods where
the children are known to their
neighbors and the particular
needs are most readily ap-
parent" he added.
Beyond any question" he
said. "the council will be factor
out of which much good will
come through cooperation OF
\the people to solve their own
problems-which are the prob
lens of us all. whether we fully
realize it or not"
Reactions to Testimony.
They had these reactions to
other testimony given before
the hearings closed late yester-
day afternoon:
Funds-"We need to survey
the Districts appropriation needs
very carefully" said Senator
Hendrickson. 1.-THE hearings
have definitely shown that we
haven't looked the problem
squarely in the face. It's just
that we haven't known"
Release of Juvenile Court in
formation-Senator HendrickSon
said more information must be
given out and "all these agen-
cies have to know more from
each other" Senator Hennings
said the hearings indicated there
had not been sufficient ex-
change of information between
Juvenile Court and other agen-
cies working toward the same
goals.
Transfer of the power to de-
eide where young felonS should
be tried from the Juvenile Court
judge to the United States at
torney - Senator HendrickSon
found strong and compelling
arguments on both Sides" He
said he was very much impressed
by the testimony of United
States Attorney Leo A. Rover,
but wanted to weigh it thor
oughly because we've got to be
right" He said he was satisfied
the law as it now stands is
inadequate. Senator Hennings
said he tentatively felt the
United States attorney should
have the deciding voice in cases
involving crimes of violence, but
the question needs a great deal
Of study.
Rover Outlines Views.
Mr.. Rover made clear in testi-
mony yesterday that he believes
the United States Attorney,
rather than the Juvenile Court
judge, should determine whether
Is and 17-year-old felons should
be tried in juvenile or adult
courts.
He based his argument on the
protection of the community, the
deterrent effect it would have on
young offenders to know they
might risk trial as adults and the
desirability of keeping hardened
young criminals from being con-
fined with youthful delinquents.
The subcommittee found itself
in the unusual position yesterday
of telling a District Commis-
sioner he had not asked for
enough money. Commissioner
Samuel Spencer, on the receiv-
ing end of these comments. pic
tured the city's financial plight.
Both Senator Kefauver, DEM
ocrat, of Tennessee and Senator
Hennings said they felt that the
kind of testimony they had
heard would prompt Congress to
lend a sympathetic ear to the
Districts needs.
To Reappraise Situation.
Commissioner Spencer told the
subcommittee the agencies deal
ing with juveniles were getting
some personnel increases in the
Commissioners budget but HI
added that 1T may well be tina