Hearings

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.
Mrs. SULLIVAN. Thank you.

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 serv ices 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 a 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.

I believe a review of that would be of great help to you and the staff in preparing future work on it.

Mr. ELLIOTT. Thank you very much, Mrs. Sullivan.

Without objection, the materials to which you refer will be made a part of the record following your statement.

I want to express the thanks of the committee to you for your interest in this subject matter and for your testimony. (The material referred to follows:)

METROPOLITAN YOUTH COMMISSION OF
ST. LOUIS AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY,
March 19, 1959.

Mrs. LENORE SULLIVAN,
House Office Building,
Washington, D.C.

DEAR MRS. SULLIVAN: This organization, whose work is described in the attached leaflet, is greatly interested in pending legislation which will provide assistance to States and local communities in developing adequate programs for the prevention, control, and treatment of juvenile delinquency. Created in the summer of 1956 by joint action of the Board of Aldermen of the City of St. Louis and the County Council of St. Louis County, the Metropolitan Youth Commission has been at work in a number of areas to effect better coordination of police, court, and agency services. In all modesty we believe our efforts have been successful in a few of the areas in which we have been engaged.

As you well know, the limited financial ability of the city of St. Louis and St. Louis County prevents our undertaking special projects or activities directed at delinquency prevention and control. While both Mayor Raymond R. Tucker and former Supervisor Lumen Matthews-as well as present Supervisor Jim McNary-are 100 percent behind the Youth Commission's program and are sympathetic to its needs, they see no way possible for additional public expenditures for special projects.

We therefore would like to direct your attention to H.R. 3464 entitled "Delinquency Control Projects Bill," which Representative Elliott of Alabama has introduced in the House. This piece of legislation, if enacted, would enable this organization as well as other agencies in the community to undertake badly needed demonstration projects to show the community better methods of dealing with our delinquency problem. I enclose a proposal which illustrates the type of project which we are ready to launch in St. Louis which will have great significance to our community youth programs.

We will appreciate your active support and work for passage of H.R. 3464 on behalf of the youth-serving agencies of this community. Will you kindly register our interest in this legislation with Representative Elliott and others on the Subcommittee on Education which is presently conducting hearings on this and similar legislation.

Sincerely yours,

KENNETH R. FORESMAN,
Executive Director.

METROPOLITAN YOUTH COMMISSION OF ST. LOUIS AND ST. LOUIS COUNTY

Civil Courts Building, 12th and Market, St. Louis, Mo.

Created in 1956 by identical ordinances of the Board of Alderman, City of St. Louis, and the County Council, St. Louis County.

Composed of outstanding citizens, nine of whom are appointed by the mayor and nine appointed by the county supervisor. The chairman is elected by the commission members.

Financed by city and county funds.

Provides the framework through which citizens, public officials, and youthserving agencies can study, plan, and work together to deal with community problems and needs in prevention, control, and treatment of delinquency.

Collects information and analyzes statistical data on the scope of the delinquency problem and resources available and needed to deal with it.

Consults with official and voluntary youth-serving agencies for improvement and extension of services in delinquency control and prevention.

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