CONTENTS Hearing held in Washington, D.C., April 27, 1959 Statement of Sullivan, Hon. Leonor K., a Representative in Congress from the State of Missouri Letters, statements, etc.: Curtis, Hon. Thomas B., a Representative in Congress from the State of Missouri, letter to Hon. Carl Elliott, chairman, Subcommittee on Special Education, and a Representative in Congress from the State of Alabama___ Episcopal Church, Province of the Midwest, Milwaukee, Wis_---- Gutmann, R. B., Province of the Midwest of the Episcopal Church, Hunter, Harry P., Methodist Children's Home of Missouri, St. Louis_ Interim progress report to the Metropolitan Youth Commission on Page 267 267 287 286 286 286 287 287 269 274 269-274 Second progress report to the Metropolitan Youth Commission on National Fraternal Council of Churches, Andrew Fowler, statement- 278 286 JUVENILE DELINQUENCY PREVENTION AND CONTROL MONDAY, APRIL 27, 1959 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SUBCOMMITTEE ON SPECIAL EDUCATION, OF THE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AND LABOR, Washington, D.C. The subcommittee met at 10: 10 a.m., pursuant to call, in room 429, Old House Office Building, Hon. Carl Elliott (chairman of the subcommittee) presiding. Present: Representatives Elliott (presiding), Green, and Giaimo. Staff members present: R. C. Derrickson, acting clerk; Miss Mary P. Allen, subcommittee clerk; and Charles Backstrom, research assistant. Mr. ELLIOTT. The Subcommittee on Special Education has met to hear further testimony on the juvenile delinquency_proposals. Our first witness is Hon. Leonor K. Sullivan, a Representative in Congress from the Third District of Missouri. May I say to you, Mrs. Sullivan, that we are very happy to have you. STATEMENT OF HON. LEONOR K. SULLIVAN, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF MISSOURI Mrs. SULLIVAN. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. ELLIOTT. We look forward to your testimony. Chairman Elliott and members of the subcommittee, as you know, I have submitted to the chairman for inclusion in the record of these hearings a number of communications I have received from individuals and groups in Missouri urging enactment of the Elliott bill, H.R. 3464, providing Federal assistance for demonstration projects in the field of juvenile delinquency control. I expressed to the chairman my personal interest in this legislation and my hope that effective steps can be taken in the near future to carry out the objectives of this highly worthwhile proposal. Since then, I have received a very interesting report from Mr. Kenneth R. Foresman, executive director of the Metropolitan Youth Commission of St. Louis and St. Louis County, outlining a challenging project which the commission is prepared to undertake with the aid of the Federal funds which could be made available under H.R. 3464. Mr. Foresman, by the way, has resigned this position as executive director of the Youth Commission and has gone with Boys Town of Missouri. However, a new director, Mr. Ernest Schwartz, is going to take over as of the 1st of May. Mr. ELLIOTT. What is Boys Town in Missouri, Mrs. Sullivan? Is it similar to the original Boys Town? Mrs. SULLIVAN. That is right. Mr. Foresman is going with the Missouri group. Mr. ELLIOTT. Is that Boys Town idea spreading to the various States? Mrs. SULLIVAN. We have had it for many years so that it is not anything new with us. I am generally familiar with the work of the Youth Commission since its formation as a joint city-county agency 3 years ago, and I am impressed by the manner in which the 18 citizens serving on the commission have dug into our youth problem, an admittedly serious one in every urban center in the country. In these 3 years, the Metropolitan Youth Commission has worked hard to effect better coordination of police, agency, and court services in dealing with juveniles. As Mr. Foresman wrote to me, and I am quoting, "in all modesty we believe our effort have been successful in a few of the areas in which we have been engaged." I think he is being very modest. The project which the commission seeks to undertake, and which it could immediately undertake under terms of H.R. 3464 if the bill is enacted, would be twofold: to develop facts on how existing agencies and resources could be utilized to the maximum extent possible to reach the juveniles who need help, and to find out what additional community services might be required; and also to demonstrate on limited basis some of the techniques which could be used effectively in this area. Because of the scope of this well-thought-out project-one which, I repeat, is ready to go into operation immediately if the bill now before you is enacted and funds provided-it occurred to me that the members of the subcommittee would find it extremely useful to have this material for detailed study in connection with your deliberations on the proposed legislation. The men and women who serve on the Metropolitan Youth Commission of St. Louis and St. Louis County, nine from each the two jurisdictions, are outstanding members of the community and have the full backing of Mayor Raymond R. Tucker of the city and County Supervisor James H. J. McNary, who make the respective appointments. Both Mayor Tucker and Mr. McNary are interested in the objectives of H.R. 3464; they have informed me of their support for this legislation. I understand you have already had some references made in the hearings on this bill to the existence of the proposed demonstration idea in St. Louis as an example of what could be done under H.R. 3464. I am sure, therefore, you will want to know more about it. Consequently, I am pleased and proud to submit as part of my statement the letter I received from Mr. Foresman, executive director of the commission, an excellent pamphlet explaining the framework of the commission-its accomplishments, its present activities and future plans, as well as the full roster of present and former members and then, following that, the detailed outline of the proposed demonstration project Mr. Foresman's letter refers to. I think if we could have that submitted as part of the record, Mr. Chairman, it will give any of the committee the background of how these proposals were thought out and worked out in detail. |