Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-16
part there, it could be better kept in check
than if tho Office was an elective one.

|
| than if tho office was an elective one.
ANOTHER PLAN SUGGESTED.
II had thought of plan of the judges in the
various counties being empowered to appoint
| commissions but these men SO appointed
would probably be prejudIced one way or the
| other. More conservative men would be rec.
commended by the bar associations. The plan
would work excellently. In the outside coun-
ties the judges would probably act as chairmen
| of the commissions, and in Philadelphia and
| Allegheny counties the judges would not want
| the appointment. In fact the standing of the
| court is being lowered by having anything to
! do with the question"
City Attorney George Elphinsrone, Of Allie.
] gheny echoed the above statements, and
thought it would be possible to have such a
bill passed.
John s. Lambie, however, turned the city
hydrant on the scheme by saying that he be-
lieved the courts we're getting on fairly well at
present but they could be improved on. He
did not know that a commission would be any
Improvement, and said the commissioners
would be likely to act dishonesty. He, however,
admitted afterward that an honest man might
be found In Allegheny county.
James s. Young favored the plan, and said
the courts were overburdened with work and
that there was not sufficient time given to ap-
plicants.
Josiah Cohen was seen. He apparently ia
vored the proposition, but said he would not
venture an opinion without examining the
matter further.
]. ]. Miller and s. U. Trent were also inter.
viewed and favored the suggestion.
James L. Black; ESQ.,, while inclined to
judicial function, thought the courts were
about as well employed at this kind of work as
at any other. Mr.. Black thinks they are about
further, than any other functionary that could
be found. and that the farther the work is re-
moved from politics the better. Mr.. Black
thinks that, with all its imperfections, the
Brooks law has been salutary.
HAVEN'T TRIED IT YET.
The Messrs. Carnahan, father and son, and
Colonel William A. Stone said they had not
given the law or its workings any particular
study, and were not prepared to pass judgment
on it. They have not practiced in the License
Court.
Councilman K. O. Bigham said that last wear
he was strongly opposed to the administration
OF the law. and favored an Excise Commission,
but his experience this season had given him a
better opinion of it A gentleman present sug-
gested that Mr. Bigham's clients having been
more successful this year than last. might have
some influence in reconcling him to the law.
Mr.. Bgham smiled, but gave no other evidence
of assent to the soundness Of the deduction.
Continuing, he SAID that the first years expert
ence In the working of the law had been salu-
tary in reducing the number of shady appli-
cants as only those who could make a credit
able showing on the score of character sue
ceeded in getting license. Mistakes were made,
but as rule, the successful applicants were
men who stood well. Last year. however. said
Mr. Bigham, the stand was taken that only
hotels or taverns should have license, and out
side OF that list, character went for but little.
Good men, who stood on their record, without
regard to political influence. were refused,
and the shady people, feeling that pressure
was needed. secured it and got license. This
had the effect of persuading many applicants
shat character had no weight, and that the mat
ter was lottery; hence the large number Of
Rinh
thinks will show a decided falling of of the
oh-color class. He thinks that the work of
the License Court should. begin earlier. and that
other business will not suffer of consequence.
ANOTHER ADVOCATE OF IT.
n. W. Shafer, Esq. does not like that feature
of the Brooks law which gives the dispensing
power to the judges. He thinks it an evil that
is only mitigated by the good character of the
judges. 1t is not judicial function. in the first
place, and in the second, there may come a
time when judges are not what they should be. |
Politics sometimes enters into their election as |
much as into the selection of any other official,
and bad men have run for the office. and occa. |
sIonally bad men have been elected, ana as to |
the future Mr. Shafer agrees with the |
Preacher: The thing that hath been, it is |
that which shall be, and that which is done is |
that which shall be done, and there is no new |
thing under the sun.
Mr.. Shafer believes that the combination OF |
license granting with judicial function will |
lend to the decentralization of the bench; that
,ordid interests will combine in cities to secure
The election of judges favorable those inter-
ests. This aspect of the case MIR. Shafer con-
'iders much more serious than the waste of |
line to litgants.
A lawyer. who has had much to do in the
License Court, but who refused to allow the use
Of his name. said: Il abominate the whole |
business. Little by little the Legislature puts
1uties on the judges which they are not fitted
TO perform, and at the expense of public bust
ness" He instanced the clerical work of |
counting the returns of elections and declaring
,he result, the appointment of commissioners
If various kinds to do various kinds OF work.
md said that if the abuse were not torn up by
he roots he saw no reason why they might not
70 further and usurp the functions of the City
Engineer and other officials. He thought this
mixing of judicial functions with other busi-
less especially in the Iuatter of appointments,
vii and evil continually.