New-York tribune., 1873-04-10
NEW-YORK JUSTICES.
THE POLICE COURT QUESTION.


AND sTRENUOUsLY DENIED-IhE BILL oRDEkED
TO THIRD READING.
GENERAL PRESS DIsPATCIIl
ALBANY, April 9.-The House went lhto
Committee on the bill to secure better administration OF
the Police Courts In New-fOrk
Mr. Opdyke moved an amendment fixing terms OF
office at ten years.
Mr. Burns moved 20 make 1t 1Ye years Los"
Mr. opdyke's amendment was carried
Mr. Weed moved TO make the number OF Justce' 'ih-
stead Of TO- -
MIR. opdyke explained that tho larger number was
necessary.
Mr. weed insisted that thcre was good reason for
the increase Of said Justices They arc 70 receive
5000 per annum EACH and there Is no evidence that
either of them Is oyerworked
Mr. Campbell spoke at length against the provision OF
the bin which legislated out OF Office good ana trust
worthy iustices-nen who had given the fullest saS-
faction lie declared that not single charge could DC
brought against single one Of the present Ponce Jus
tees This BILL said, provides for ten Justices WINE
five justices perform the duties, aud perform Ihem
TO the full satisfaction OF the people
Mr. Crary said there were five courts, ana IL was
entirely proper that thero should be ten Justices IL
moht be that bat one Justice required In the upper
mart OF the city now but the city was rapidly grow
inc in that direction il would be well to provide for that
growth.
Mr. Opdyke said that the present cost OF the Ponce
Justices was $4,000 the bill provides for s0OO tDus
saving $4,000.
Mr. Durns asked the gentleman how he made that out
Mr.. Opdyke said he was informed that that was the
present expense.
Mr. Burns said his information was entirely incorrect
Mr. Opdyke then proceeded to say that the majority
of the present Police Justices as he was Informed were
ignorant. careless. and unworthy Ihey were lOoAeu
upon as disgrace TO any community.
There was general feeling of Insecurity In the city
as regards these Police Justices reform was there
fore demanded by the people. The measure was one
that was In fact more needed than any new charter b
was therefore incumbent on the Republican party 10
afford this relief By this bill the men are TO be changed
and the, are to be appointed instead Of being elected
by the people, as they are, in small districts. lie
said that the expenses Of these courts amounted TO
for four years. while the receipts during the same
time amounted TO only $4,000 .-.,.-- --
Mr. Campbell defended the justices from the aspersion
cast upon them and quoted figures and statistics OF the
business they transacted He insisted that no failure
in performance Of duty on part Of the justices could
be shown.
Mr. Weed opposed the bill at some length speaking
especially against the proposition 10 egslae these
Justices out OF office after their election by the people
The gentleman from NewYork OR. Opdyke) himself
admits that this proposition may be unconstitutional
He would find 10 was wrong and he could not give IL his
support He also insisted that the whole bill was made
up incongTuities unfit to be incorporated in law OF
such Important pretensions He pointed 10 one pro-
vision particular which required these justices to be
selected from persons who have pracced attorneys
and counselOrsataw. What, he asked, would this re-
suit I'm but the selection Of set of men who hang about
the Tombs aud police headquarters, and known as
shysersp r. Why, he sad it was well known that some
OF our police justices men who never pracced
law. but who were good honest, sensible men, well
qualified in respect for the position.
Mr. Opdyke followed at some length insisting that the
The speaker moved as an amendment that police JUS
tees shall be elected by the people: Lost. ,., a.,
The question required on Mr. Weeds amendment Tor
nine instead IT ten Justices, which was lost
&C Cornell moved substitute providing Tor the re-
mOya Of justices for cause also that all fines shan be
returned TO the Chamberlain monthly also, that ise
clerks shall keep record OF compliments and those
complained OF, well all other business Transacted
I'm the courts which shall be open to inspection by the
public also providing for the removal OF clerks; also
liking the annual salaries of the justices at $500 Ihls
being substitute for tho whole BILL the chair decided
Mr. Opdyke said he trusted that it would BE- enter
tained and II was, by unanimous consent considered
Mr. Clark spoke at length In favor OF the bi saying
did from the Republican party OutfrOi ihc Re
e. g. Cornell asked him II the Reform party was not
the Republican party. 1t had been 50 claimed all
Mr. Ciark-I will tell the gentleman that there no
Reform party outside the Republican party. tLaugherl
Mr. Corncl-Then, OF course, this Dl caue IRON the
MIR Clark-No, Sir not dstinctively 1t came from
the Reform eementiu the Republican party tLaugherl
He then went on to sustain the BILL not distinct
yey party measure but as one OF reform and one OF
the reforms most needed IN the city OF New-York.
Mr. Prince took the ground that this not party
measure but one IN the interest OF good government for
NewYork city IL was measure OF reform. As to It's
consuondlity, this proposition had been before the
judiciary Committee OF last session, and before this and
consuOnality. This bill was called for by the people
OF that great city, The majority here expected 10
pass this BILL containing Its essential features
They will De held responsible unless they do pass such
bill The Reform Charter and this Reform Police Court
BILL lie said midt be passed, and then this Legislature
could go home with satisfaction to the people, buC not
without.
Mr. Weed called attention TO the substitute offered by
Mr. Cornell, insisting that U far the best measure.
Mr. Bument hal next addre essed the Committee, maxi
ing comparison OF the bill he had introduced the
subject with the one under consideration. He
showed that there provisions in his bill which
superior securing both efficiency and As
the present police magistrates he thought the asper
sons cast upon their characters were entirely and
grossly unfOunded in truth ana justice but the
trary they founded petty spite which finds
expression malicious and false statements
ethen proceeded 20 consider the constitutional question:
saving that notwithstanding the opinion OF the Judiciary
Committee, he had the opinion OF some OF the most
elevated egal minds that this bill unconstitutional
Illegal unjust and unfair He did not feel disposed 10
himself against any measure on tins subject which
emanatcd from the reform element i'll NewYork. On
the contrary he would feel himself called in the
interest OF good government 10 support any
coming from that quarter; Dut nevertheless he felt that
ali that called for IL the interest OF reform and good
government could De secured through tie bill he had
introduced
MT Hustled said he had not intended to participate
this debate, ami wOuld have kept his had the
debate taken the turn il had. VINO Is it, he asked who
opposed this bill Why, the Democrats, ana lie was
surprised to the gentleman from NewlOrk who had
last addressed the Commtteehe who had been looked
upon the embodiment OF the reform movement
represented here-opposng it, Mr.. Hustled proceeded
length in this strain, and concluded by moving
that the Committee rise and report progress which
carried.
In the House, he moved that the bill be ordered a
third reading aud that called Tor the previous ques
ton, which was ordered.
The bill was then ordered TO n third reading.