Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-05-08
House Group Okays
DC. Desertion Bill
Measure Would
Force Fathers to
Support Children
BY ALEX r. PRESTON

Legislation to bring the Dis
trict in line with the rest Of
the Nation in catching up with
deserving fathers was approved
today by a House District SUBJ
committee.
The measure now goes to the
full District Committee, which
has not yet scheduled its next
meeting.
The Senate District Commit
tees Judiciary subcommittee,
headed by Senator Clark, Demo-
crat OF Pennsylvania, will hold
hearings on the nonsupport
legislation at 10 am. May 16.
The House District subcom-
mittee, headed by Representa-
tive Abernethy, Democrat Of
Mississippi, was told that II or
more additional persons would
have to be added to the staffs
of the corporation counsel and
Municipal Court, to enforce the
law.
Third Version
The bill. by Representative
Smith, Democrat of Virginia,
is the third version dealing with
this subject offered by him at
this session. This one has been
Endorsed by all affected sroups
and agencies. including the
courts and the bar association.
Corporation Counsel Chester H.
Gray and Lowry Coe, former
president of the District Bar As
ISOLATION and a member of its
committee on uniform State
laws. said all States have some
form of reciprocal legislation
dealing with the matter of en-
forcement of support.
Absence of such a statute here
has made the District a haven
for runaway fathers, lodging re-
sponsibilities to their wives and
children. Mr.. Gray said.
Municipal Court Judge God
frey Munter. who Endorsed the
legislation. was asked for "a
dollars and cents" estimate of
the additional cost in order to
enforce the law. He said he was
unable to DO so, but said the
court would need a supervisor.
two docket clerks and two
stenographers for the additional
work.
Mr.. Gray said that since the
additional duties on the corpo-
ration counsel's Office his needs
would include three additional
assistant corporation counsels:
four clerk-stenographers; three
investigators and two or more"
clerical assistants.
No Cost Estimate
Although none of the wit
nesses gave Mr.. Abernethy the
dollars and cents" estimate of
additional costs he sought. Mr..
Gray told reporters later that
his estimate was $4,000 a year.
This. he estimated. would not
include any needs of additional
personnel by the court.
There was some difference in
opinion as to the effect of the
bill on the Districts finances.
The impression is" MIR. Gray
said, that the District has be-
come a haven for deserving
fathers. Therefore we can ex-
Ipect the number of cases to be
handled to be larger than would
be normal here"
Mr.. Abernethy wanted to know
If the amount of additional work
wouldn't taper of" in future
years.
"On the contrary" Mr.. Gray
replied. ''it probably would in
crease"
For example, he explained, the
courts would order support for
certain illegitimate children.
That would be a continuing or
der. subject to enforcement until
the child is Is years old and
every year would bring an addi-
tional crop of new cases."
He agreed with Mr.. Aber-
nethy. however. that the bill
would end the situation where
the District is regarded as a
haven" for runaway fathers.
Judge Munter said. personally,
i don't think we're going to have
as many cases after this thing
(the new law gets going"