Evening star., 1960-09-06
House Unit
Also to Make
Own Query

Bible, Democrat OF Arizona,
announced today.
Thus the much-investigated
court will be the object of two
probes at the same time. as the
House District Committee ap-
parently plans to hold hearings
on the same subject before the
new Congress convenes.
In a statement released to-
day. Senator Bible, the COM
mittee chairman. said his stan
will seek to discover what
changes are needed to reduce
the courts ever-increasing
backlog of cases.
Eighteen months ago the
Senate group approved ap-
pointment of two additional
judges. but action on the legis-
lation was postponed by the
House District Committee chair
man. Representative Davis,
Democrat of Georgia.
House Group Report
A week ago a House District
Committee staff report said
the court was in genuine diff
Guilty" but that additional
judges we're not necessarily the
answer. The report implied
that perhaps Judge Orm w.
Ketcham was partially to
blame for the swelling backlog.
The House report made sug-
gestions, but no specific recon-
mendations. pending additional
hearings between now and
January.
Judge Ketcham said nearly
all the changes suggested by
the report we're contrary to
the findings of several other
groups which have investigated
the court.
A Senate District Commit
tee aide said the staff will begin
at once to plan the new in
vestigation.
Text of Bibles Statement
The text Of Senator Bibles
statement follows:
"One and one half years ago
this committee approved leg
islation calling for the appoint
ment of two additional judges
for the District Juvenile Court.
Although approved by the
Senate, the bill failed Of con-
greSSional clearance because
others apparently felt a solu-
tion required more than ad-
ditional judges.
Therefore, I have ordered
a full and complete study ard
inquiry by the committee staff
during the recess. The juvenile
court systems of other cities
of comparable population will
be studied. 1t is hoped this
study and preliminary inquiry
will serve as a basis for leg
islation, If needed, when Con-
gres convenes in January. We
will welcome assistance from
all interested organizations. All
the information to be compiled
will serve as a basis for public
committee hearings we an
ticipate early next year, with
all facets of the juvenile court
problems to be covered.
To Consult House Group
"The staff has been requested
to consult with, and utilize in
formation already compiled,
by, the House District Comit-
tee on this problem.
Whatever the answer to the
Juvenile Court problem here
may be, a solution cannot be
delayed any longer. We want
to find out whether additional
judges are, or are not. the en-
tire answer. what form Of ad-
ditional relief is desirable, and
whether the Juvenile Court
more properly should be a di-
rect arm of the Districts gen.
eral judicial system.
lone aspect is certain. The
case backlog has increased the
past two years, whatever the
reasons may be. The young
sters, the parents. and Wash
ington citizenry are the losers.
A present tragic situation can
not be permitted to become
more shameful.
1867 Cases Await Hearing
Testimony before a Senate
committee last month showed
that as of June 80, 1860, a total
of 1857 cases was awaiting
hearing. an increase Of 800
cases compared to the backlog
the court had 6 months before
Testimony showed that six
months to one year are re.
quired from the time a problem
comes to the attention of law
enforcement officers until the
court hears the case, something
which does not. by its very
nature, instill any great degree
of respect by wayward juve.
niles for the law or for oul
court system.
With Washington, D. c.
increasingly becoming the city
the world looks to as a show.
case, then our Juvenile Court
system must measure up tc
cope today with the problems