Daily Republican., 1879-07-19
MUNICIPAL CROOKEDHEss. /
Hew People are SWlndleA and how
our Medei Police are Beneflit tied
by the Misf0rtnnes OF Others
How Costs are Piled up and WIN ere

tnty e 10.
The manner In which the people a,
mnlcted into enormous costs has almo,
daily recurrence at the police courr
Even upon the most trivial offenc.
this is the case. The people who hav
business before the municipal authori
ties are of that class who are in con
slant struggle with the world and hav
little means to waite in useless lit ga
tion. Never before has there been a
much complaint as at present. Tn,
heavy imposition is nothiRg less than
grand swindling operation sympa
thized and practieed under an alleged
warrant OF law.
When due regard for decency ant
self-respect is had by the officers, tn,
expense attendant upon the metein,
out of justice, is not exorbitant, but OF
the contrary is low compared to that O
Pennsylvania and other States; bu
when these low rates are taken advan
tags OF by unprincipled men With
out no other regard but that of tn.
qualification of their own sordid views
raised to amounts, that the payment
entails upon the unfortunate, weeks Of
self denial, then it becomes all outrage,
the tlagrancy Of which deserves the
utmost censure.
Cases have been known to have bee n
brought up before the Mayor and all tn at
would have been necessary to convict
would have been the officers own testi-
mony; but often instead of thus con-
tining the costs the officer has had
subpoenaes issued and some half-dozen
witnesses summoned, probably aug
menting the costs to some six or seven
dollars to say nothing of the fine.
In a case of this nature the figures
are:
Affidavit and Warrant. 80
rive witnesses Observation-Disclosures. .55
FRYING the case........ :. .......,, 20
j JuusWeut.. communicates. 10
- SSo,h"itnoht go. ...................... 20
Ofhcer's fees tor arrest. st............. .56
For five witnesses, subpoenaed. .......... 81
fees OF nve witnesses. s................... 2.6U
-
~ ~o't ss'''''sss.''' ~ W
By the above it can be readily under
stood why SO much care should be exer
cised by the police in "rorking up a
case.' In an actual suit where the
policeman's own evidence is sufficient
to convict, the cost would only amount
to So 22. The figures bear upon their
face the truth of our assertions and up-
hold the parties complaining in their
accusations against the police. The
abuse Is a palpable one and in order
.hat it may be corrected needs the au-
'horitive admonition from the Mayor
which he, for some reason or other
probably because his attention has not
,een directed to the materials thus
ar failed to give.
While speaking of this matter We
would call the attention of the people
Who have occasion to attend and give
estimony before His Honor that they
re- entitled to witness fees. In the
enerality of cases, especially where
arties are tried upon warrant, the
Osts are paid as soon as the business is
Dncluded.
These fees, in cases where some eight
ten witnesses are summoned, in ag-
regate amount to considerable, and
eing seldom called for, are supposed
go into the pockets of the Chief
p lice. Mention of fees is sci,
I'm made to witnesses. and If thav
} not ask for them the officers will not I
1t themselves to any trouble to give q
~ information which will serve to 7
lighten any one in the matter. @