New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-12-30
chances of T. r. Barker arc not good ~ they were
fow days go.
TIRE COMMITTEE ON CRIME.

CONCLUSION or THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
ExCe BETWEEN AsSEaBLYNAN CAMPBELL AND
! pIsrEfCT-trroRN PhELps-wHY MIR. PuELrs
WOULD NOT APPEAR BgForE THE COMMITTEE
| The Assembly Committee on Crime closed It's
a.ors yesterday and adjourned sine die. There were
present Thomas Cooper Campbell Chairman. and Messis
Dessar MoGowsn and Hess No testimony was taken,
but the correspondence between Assemeiynan camp
bell and Di5TictAtOrncy ihap6 IVES made part o. the
record Prior to the adjournment Mr. Campbell said that
the Committee wished thank the press most heartily
for the publicity they had given to the proceedings OF
the Committee ard said that except through that pub
lcity The improvements which had taken place would
occurred The following are abstracts OF tbe
correspondence mentioned:
The first letter. dated Dec ~. IS from Distrc;Attor
ncy Phelps to Assembym Campbell in response to an
invitation 10 appear before tae Coinnittee and make
suggestions % 10 The points which IL authorized to
investigate. Mr. Phelps declines to appear, and gives
consideration which, he thinks, abundantly Jses lin
in thinking he could DO good by appearing before the
Committee: "The whole Of proceeding before
yor adopted and carried ont by your counsel has been
such rs to create and confirm very widespread
impression that the object sought was not 40
much any reform, either in the law or its
administration, a. to weaken public confidence IN
certain individuals engaged in that administration
lie conpla that Of the "eDSnt men who have
heretofore held Office eminent advocates OF long
perience have been invited 10 give their views as to
existing defects in law practice relating to crime
The time of Committee he says has been mainly
occupied ia listening TO the complaints OF convicts Or
sggreveG cOmpainsnts discharged CLERKS IA so the
disposition OF individual eascG" He catTns that time
Vas wasted at the Penitonary in examining eonyics
under 10 years Of age, and that tho counsel Of The Com
nliee seemed wish give the impression that there
something Illegal in the commitment OF sGch con
yics, though he fuaiiy discovered that such commit
mcnts discretionary with the Court lie also charges
thar the counsel PIT in evidence that ,l00 indictments
were Gissing the clerks Office. without suggesting
"vat the counsel knew perfectly well IT the time" that
they were the District Attorneys Office. Ia conclusion
lfT. Phelps
will not weary you with tina reeitsi Of the
similar ease. ia Whig. tEe hluct VI the aYss sation
hes been lead 10 suppose tIat tEc oigcf OF
try and, II pHssiDe, convict 9ncefG
on the eve % an rather taan 20 ascertain defects
aud devise ed- IN law and practice Ana additional
color .s given this idea by The statement repeated
Attorney WISHED 20 explain the Committee YOU'D be
iapay 20 bear him at any tme Under
al these circumstances !Od cabiDt al i'befShd tat
my iG1 -nen there 81 nOt such desgoe 0i mutual
conGcnoc cslStnz betw, en- TIE COMMITTEE, o. faer s
COUNSEL sna mysci 10 "cGid pc gsotha4 40 .h"f any
Suggestions Oh my part ciheE welcome o. profitable.
In Nil Cmpbclls answer, Dee. g. he says ne thinks
ifr Phelps entirely wr0ns IN his conclusions He has
not heard any impression thai the object Of The Com
mit.ce was "to weaken confidence In certain IN
iyaugis" and any such IN pre- ssion would be erroneous
"a 20 general OF The Committee be IL was
considered iucious " 10 invite IRON the public iGrna-
ton abuses claimed 81 have taken place, instead OF
c..at, an. ,c. IN ia trri al ~ a b4 ads
o - -. - a. -
OF departments anu oi cAPcits Ia LILO ''iA""S
branches within the scope OF inquiry. risij
,r,,.,t ,,-,t, ,tiou ,,as mazda OF All tho nforpa
-. - .
lOh tHai vas bIouSA' oci"iC 1Hc Co'"u'itloo
IN All Of tue departments, eight in number. through
,;, ON, i,r,si,cti,u ran the heads and rsspeusibc
VIM ' - -, -.
FuHcS were saih"cu hiteI the 'i"so u UT SPooi"o
cases make such explanations they deemed proper
-, =. a. = ,a .,.,.,,i subio,t of tboir
'1' W ~ ''''''N 80 '' w. 80
duties In r"saId 10 lhe iue spent 10 ufe'.iShS the
coia tmaug 30 Ito peuteniary Oh young t1ngicts Mr.
f,.,.u ,,y, ,h,t 10 "ieft +, fir, Committees cnu.
N"''fY0'' $500 - -.
sdeatoh tr lax more IupOItt oupIdct oi ole "c941d
biy OF change III tue law 80 rs 10 render 10 inQisSio"
70 commit vouup children 10 thu Pepifo1itary,
- t,.o, ..i,,.,n It
tH'.o 10 Hero WIN n'i"eiru oI'-in'l' ~
the Committee was wrong thlj "~5 one OF tHe
n,pts i,nor winch Mr. Pheus eould have made SIG
iops IA .-.r to ne alleged missing udictme!lis Air.
~. 4 nd. t. rt.. ~.