Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1889-11-19
IA1CAsrER, PA. November 10. 1889.
Time for Them 10 Go.

OOI COuTt, We uOtts nuc tSSu
another address to the constables about
their returns, which, II seems TO have
thought, may not always be accordant
with the facts; with this idea IL kindly
offered to the constables to postpone cal
ling for their reports for another day,
that they might have opportunity
10 consider whether there were not
things going on within their bailiwicks
which the law requires them to report.
The court was so considerate of the con-
stables as to warn them that report
falsely sworn to would subject them to
punishment as perjurers and TO advise
them that If they were convicted they
would have no mercy meted out to
them for their offense.
Perhaps the Judge was surprised to
hnd that not one of the constables
availed himself of the opportunity Of
fered him TO amend his return. They all
felt confident that they knew of no
wrong doing calling for report and we
share their confidence that the court VIII
have q hard time ofever convicting them
ofknowing anything Of what is going on
In their territory, that ought not to be
going on. The constable is habitually
profoundly ignorant of anything that
II II not profitable to him to know. He
-xfid The squire have been appointed in
their opinion to make all the money out
of their offices that they can be made to
yield and they are very industrious and
fArsighted IN the chase after fees. But
they are domestic folk and do not 60 out
much at night. The bosoms Of their
families claim them in al the hours
which are not assigned to the pursuit of
fees. The constable after night is as
rare bird on the public avenues as any
Of our city policemen and everyone
knows that they are never to be met
with Notwithstanding they are supposed
TO have a regular patrol.
The law which requires the constable
10 report what he knows is very accom-
motfotiHg In relieving him from the pur-
suit Of any extraordinary means of
acquiring knowledge. Legal knowledge
the constable Is taught 10y the law
absorbing squire to be that informa-
tion which Is gained by personal
observation, and that IL is only this
kind that the witness is permitted
TO swear 10. When there is money in
seeking that knowledge the constable
seeks It; when IL is barren of the prom
ise of shekels he avoids It, In truth,
there is no creature In creation more
worthless as a conservator Of the Inv
than constable; save the squire.
To which sweeping charge there
are Of course exceptions, in decent and
honorable squires and constables but
we fear that the exceptions are not the
many. The tendency of the fee system in
the administration of justice is to corrupt
the morals Of It's servants. The justice
of the peace lives and flourishes upon
the crime and contention in the com.
munity. The more there is, the merriel
II IL for him and Il is his interest to cul
tivate 1t which should not be. 1t Is
the habit Of the sharp squire TO haul
every fish into his net that can get there
and to discharge everyone from II from
whom his costs can be wrung.
1t is the Office of official squeezing and
matchmaking. The poor man who gets
into scrapc and can muster the costs
can get out /; otherwise his case is re,
turned to the court and the county
pays. 1t would be good thing for the
community If few of these officials
were hung, annually, as an example to
keep the rest in order. II would be a
better thing If they were abolished by
the law; and, If instead, courts with
salared officials were established in the
counties, to pass upon their petty
Oiienses and contests. II is high time
for the alderman, and justice and con-
stable to go.