Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-06-15
The Police Court.


GESTIoNs. N NV
Saturday last Judge Smell. Of the Police Conrt
made the following report to the District Com.
miSsioners:
while the Police Court has been the source
Oh considerable revenue In the past, the receipts
nom fines have been decreasing, and II NAV he
this result. -' Ao'
/. There are fines imposed amply sufficient tn
Yield large revenue. During the current wear
the amount imposed In District and United
states cases exceeded S34 600. This would have
shoToed net revenue OF S20,000, as expenses or
Ine court are not 81, 600 per month, as stated In
IHE STAR or yesterday, but much below that
nSuTe What are the causes Of nop-plyment of
nnes? l. poverty Of criminals The war left
lie poor criminal classes possessed of some
money. This Is now gone Employment fur
nlshed means for some time the largest recelDts
nave always been in the summer months when
there was plenty OF work. When there ia no
work. poor man fined for diSor1erlV conduct
goes to prison.
p Diminution of drunkenness and disorder
Inerefrom. have had 100 cases on the 9Th of
July; IS and so Christmas and New Years
morning. but now boat races and fair days. only
add a lew cases. had On the occasion OF the
d Hsnlan ana courtney race but one person SEN
slpiy anected Dy drink on the public streets.
when 6o,OOO persons were out to witness the
scene: My table used to be covered with razors
ana pistols In the morntng-they are now rarely
seen. The rigid enforcement of the staf1lta,
against second offence of petit larceny. has
thiDned out the crowd of thieves, and they are
largely represented at Albany. Crime has
last ten years; pickpockets, burglars, rapers
ana murdefers are promptly tried and when
guilty convicted and punished.
Alotler cause OF diminution OF receipts is q
peTVeTSlon or United States statute designed
10 relieve United States criminals of revenue Of
lenses, when large fines are imposed (See I'd
e eat9 J.: s. Statute p LOOP sec. 3295) This
statute was not invoked until about three wears
and used so effectively that In all offences
where large fines should be imposed which
Moui9 eau Ior imprisonment from two to six
menus, the court Is compelled to impose i'm
prfsonment instead OF fine " 18th the alternative
pl imprisonment; otherwise the prisoner is
DIonght before the United States commissioner
al Inc END OF thirty days, and released. This
mas compelled the court to cease Imposing large
nnes, ana mas largely diminished revenues. An
o tdI cause Is the law allowing parties to tes-
erect OF the statute may be good, it causes
great many small cases to fail when Darty Is
squarely contradicted by party, there being no
from which some dminution of revenue nrn-
cee0ed during the last three years. was the sus
pension OF the board Of health ordinances.
I I1,,, recent ratification by Congress viii
have called the use of the United States
statutes pervers1on of the law. / am sure
congress tha,g never dreamed when they passed tt
who violate our local laws. / Would racom.
mend men that this be corrected by legislation
VINE ! nave taken the liberty to call your
a 1,.s , to some of the causes, which have
within two or three years diminished our re O.
nues allow me to say, that courts are not est b.
llshed as aid to the revenues; and most co f..
dentiy believe that you would not have nv
magistrate 1n this District in trying the un or
tunate classes brought before him. consider 10
one moment whether his decision is to ,It
money hie1 IN your treasury, but YOU would have
MN determine the question Of guilty or MOI
guilty" and the amount of punishment upon
grounds OF justice and right, alone.
In conclusion, it is plain We impose fines
enough to yield about 5000 net revenue il
paid. If not paid the prisoners serve out their
1lme In default because Of poverty. 2 Tn.
United States Statutes rendering the imposition
OF large tines impossible should be amended by
ploVidlng that 1t should not apply to this NUM-
clpahty. 3. The police force should be in
creased to correspond to the increase of popula-
lton and business. III You will refer to your
attorney for an examination OF this subject
am very sure you will examine and report upon
lhe matter and present his reasons for concur
renee or disagreement in regard to the siIpres
lions herewith submitted