|
According to the editorial praising FJD's efforts, the creation of the
new court "would relieve pressure on members of the bar serving as trial attorneys and enable them to give
more time to other needed service the society is called upon to render." On February 9, 1936, an article in
the TIMES--PICAYUNE discussed Dreyfous and the concept of a small claims court. In light of the civic work with
juveniles in which FJD was deeply involved at the time, he noted that the special interest of establishing the
small claims court would be to protect the rights of dependent children and to render services to families in difficult
straits. He claimed that social agencies referred many such cases to the Legal Aid Society. The Society had achieved
success adjusting "differences between people of small means and settling disputes that otherwise would find
their way to the courts." FJD also stressed the fact that the small claims court would deal solely with civil
cases and would accept no cases "involving criminal law." The reporter referred to FJD's functioning
as "the poor man's lawyer" as the "latest chapter in Mr. Dreyfous' long career of public service."
In "Helping the Poor," the editorial writer in the STATES the following day was even more lavish in his
praise for FJD's willingness to "accept the leadership of this movement of this poor man's court:" FJD's
"sympathies have been consistently with the forgotten man," the journalist reminded his readers, and
he hoped that the legislature would establish the "'case court' as a further recognition of his [FJD's] commendable
public service."
FJD championed the institutionalization of legal aid for the poor because he believed that this was "one of
numerous forms of organization" that became "necessary with the increasing complications of city life."
Looking back over his "three score years and ten," he reflected that "all philanthropies merit the
attention of the individual citizen who, by helping the 'under man,' himself gets far more than he gives."
Late that spring, the Louisiana Legislature amended the state Constitution to establish the Small Claims Court
in New Orleans. At the meeting of the New Orleans Bar Association the following June, Rene A. Viosca, the president
of the organization, praised FJD in the body of the opening address. Viosca called FJD "one of the most active
members of our Legal Aid Committee" and let all in attendance know that the success of that amendment was
due to the strength of FJD's determination and leadership.
But the Legal Aid Society was just one of the many civic causes to which FJD devoted his considerable professional
abilities throughout his life. As Ruth is fond of remembering, FJD's reputation was not based upon the amount of
his philanthropic contributions, although he was generous in providing funds whenever and wherever they were required.
His real gift to his community was the time and energy he freely gave to whatever cause he championed.
Although, as Ruth admits, FJD was "not much of a churchgoer," he was proud of being Jewish and served
on the board of Temple Sinai for seven years and later became the second vice-president of the temple. His interest
in civil rights and race relations coincided with the tenets of American Reform Judaism, and, in the early years
of this century, he was appointed to be a delegate to the Union of American Hebrew Congregations where, for eight
years, he served as a member of the Committee on Civil and Religious Rights.
From the inception of the board of City Park Commissioners, FJD remained an active member. In the 1920s, when he
was chairman of the executive committee, Felix and Julia Dreyfous gave a pigeonniere, the Colombier de Carole, to the park in honor
of their first grandchild. Conveniently, Carol's father Julius was the architect who designed the small brick structure.
According to Ruth, it was sometime later that the family gave a handsome Art Deco bridge, also designed by Julius,
that crosses the lagoon on the City Park Avenue side of the park.
|