Evening star., 1954-01-16
'Probers 70 Hear
Mrs. Hobby on
Subcommittee Also
CnIIs Murtho Elliott
And Dr.. BrowneII

Welfare Secretary Oveta Culp
Hobby was, called before the Sem
ate Juvenile Delinquency SUBJ
committee today to give her views
on what can be, done about the
Nationwide increase Of children
in trouble.
The subcommittee, completing
its picture of how Federal agen-
cies are coping with. juvenile
problems, also called DR.. Martha
NJ, Eliot. chief Of the Children's
Bureau: DR.. Robert H. Felix, di-
rector Of the National Institute
Of Mental Health and DR.. Samuel
M. Brownell, Commissioner Of
Education.
The juvenile delinquency in
vestigators yesterday asked the
Senate for $175,0O0 and another
year to Complete their inquiry.
Senator Hennings. Democrat, Of
Missouri. put in the record q
statement by the subcommittee
chairman. Senator Hendrickson.
Republican. Of New Jersey. call
ing for the extension Of time and
money to cope with what the
chairman called "a problem Of
sharply increasing severity"
During its hearings yesterday,
the subcommittee covered a va
riety Of subjects. ranging from
the need for more Federal pro-
baton officers to- the need to
make drivers understand they
must lock their cars or risk losing
them.
Heavy Probation Load.
The heavy case loads of Fed
eral probation officers was
brought out by Henry P. Chand-
Ter. director of the Administra-
tive ONCE Of the United States
Courts.
Mr.. Chandler said that. If
youths are carefully selected for
probation and adequately super
vised by probation officers. pro-
baton affords much the best
chance Of rehabilitating them.
But he said supervising juveniles
takes a lot of individual time and
attention and the average num-
ber Of cases under supervision by
each officer during the past fiscal
year was Ola cases. In a num-
ber Of districts. he said. the
number runs as high as 125
cases.
He pointed out chat the cost
Of probation in the Federal
system in 1853 was $96.41 per
person. compared with a cost of
imprisonment of $l.295.75 per
person.
Most Wait In Jail.
Overburdened probation Of
f1cers. he said. try to give priority
to the cases Of juveniles awaiting
hearing. but juveniles still have
to wait-usually in jail-nearly
three weeks.
When the conditions in most
of the jails. even the best. are
taken into account. particularly
the communicating influence Of
association with other and older
offenders" he said. lit is realized
that spending any substantial
time in jail is likely to have a
very injurious effect upon a
juvenile"
The public's negligence in
locking cars was brought out by
William j. Davis. secretary
manager of the National Auto
Theft Bureau, who was called
because the subcommittee is con-
cerned at the high rate of car
stealing by juveniles.
Mr.. Davis reported thefts are
increasing at a greater rate than
auto production. He said. in
answer to questions, that there
is no such thing as a theft-proof
lock.
Look For Opportunity.
But you don't need it." he
said. Juveniles 60 down the
street looking in cars for what
they can pilfer and they see a
car with the key in the ignition.
Why bother to force doors on a
car when you can just get in and
drive it away?
If the public would only use
common sense. Would you leave
a pocketbook on the street? No,
but they'll leave a $4,000 car
unlocked on the street with a
$1,000 fur coat in it,"
MI. Davis recommended educa-
ton of both juveniles and adults,
better lighted streets and adop-
tion of the certificate of title
system in all States.