Evening journal., 1888-07-11
WEDNESDAY, july II, 1855.
BoW IT WIZ BE TREATED

AOW II WILL BE IREAIED
We republish to day the first signi-
aicant expression of the Morning News
ON the Cummins affair, which ap-
peared this morning. Naturally the
editorial is introduced by an apology
for not saying something before on
this extraordinary case, but It ends in
a very sensible suggestion. AS the
EVENING JOURNAL pointed out the
other day there are three different
methods Of prosecuting and punkhing
Judge Cummins for his scan
1ialous violations of honor and
law. His defrauded creditors can
and should bring suits; the bar OF
New Castle county can and should
disbar him, and the Legislature Of
Delaware can depose him from Office
by a simple resolution. When these
three things are done his punishment is
ample; before they are done justice
stands unavenged in the most con
spicuous instance in the history Of the
state.
The indications are that the bar Of
New Castle county will perform it,
duty before very long. However char
liable the older members of the bar
may be disposed, it is pretty certain
that the younger lawyers, who are
feeling the full effect of an impaired
public confidence in their profession
because of Cummins's villainy, will not
permit the matter to rest where it
is now. The bar Of New Castle county
has reputation for leniency. Judge
Cummins is by no means the fret
offender against the canons of the
profession by taking criminal advao~
tage of his position, but his is un
5Dnbtedly the most aggravated case
However, the LvENING JOURNAL has
sositiye assurances from several Of the
'lder lawyers Of this city that the bal
Tssociation will speedily have an op
~-pruniiy TO paEs upon Cummins's
sielinquencies
The act creating the Municipal
Court has been found wholly made
auate to meet the present situation. i
~as a purely partisan measure, passed
by the legisla ure Of 1883 to despoil o
Republican mayor Of the legitimate
honors and perquisites Of the office
and 10 provide a berth for a young
Democratic lawyer. Unfortunately
for the honorof the city and the in
tegrity of the court. and unfortunately
for himself in all probability, the
late Harry Sharpley, Esq, re
fused to accept the office after
il was created. and thus the
s2rcsent incumbent became its oc-
rupant. His eminent respectability
was put forward as an offset to his ad-
1aitted preeminent mediocrity. He
was installed and after a years bitter
and sarcastic fusilsde on the part of
The Republican press of the city be
wRH allowed 10 hold the office in peace
and indifference until the exposure Of
his crooked financial operations a week
or two ago.
Judge Cummins's commission was
issued by Ex-Governor Stockley on
May SO, 1888. Il provided for a term
of twelve years, expiring on May 80.
1895, or almost seven years hence.
The salary is $1,000 year. The com
mission in conclusion is as follows:
s'This salary you shall draw during
your term, if so long you ehall well
and truly behave yourself" II he
does not 'well and truly be-
have" himself the remedy lies
alone in the Legislature which
created the Office. The act re-
guires the clerk Of the court to give
bonds for his good behavior and makes
him amensble to the judge Of the
court, but the judge himself is amena-
BILE TO no authority and to no one, ex
cept the General Assembly, although
rs has been shown he holds from time
DO time all the money collected by the
court.
1t will be seen that the act creating
shis Office is on par in his defects and
amissions with great deal of legisla-
ei0n that has been done during the last
ten or fifteen years for this city. But
will the next Legislature depose Judge
Cummins If he persists in holding on
90 the office and the salAryS We think il
VIII. Thus far we have heard from
three Democrats who are conspica-
onsly named as candidates for that
body. and they have all agreed that
one of the first things to be done by
the General Assembly of 1889 would
be the impeachment Of Judge Cum
minis. AS the next Legislature will in
all reasonable expectation be Demo
cratic, the chances are excellent thai
iks honor and that of the city will bG
promptly vindicated.
So far as we can learn from leading
Democrats in this city there is an i'll
concealed anxiety to rid the party al
soon as possible Of all responsibility
pr Judge Cummins's acts.
NEWSPAPER OPINIONS.