New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-02-08
ORR POLICE COERTS.

With a laudahlc desire 10 give useful in
| formation to it's readers "Thc HERALD has
| printed series of brief biographies of the Po-
| lice Justices OF this city. Newly Workers have
never been in the habit of dilating with pride
when our Police Courts Ire spoken OF, but only
those who are familiar with the characters
records and eputationS of many OF the justices
understand how Scantily that bench Is furnished
with either conscience or capacity. Cur cltl-
zens do not expect much from tho bosses who
have been parceng out patronage and filling
their own pockets for years on Manhattan
Island. But patient and much-enduring as
they are some Of the appointments which our
MAYORS have made in the criminal courts have
been so dsgraceful and outrageous that they
should have excited even the most careless and
Indifferent TO effective protest. The most repre-
hcnsiblc work of the most degraded. reckless
and unscrpnlous of ward politicians has been
rewarded hy long term in a place in which
dignity, integrity and sef-restraint should be
found The salary is IS, 0o0 per year. l he
term Of Office is ten years. For such compcnsa-
ton for such a term the city ought to secure the
services of hiah-mnded and wcll-cquirpcd law
ycrS. who would strive necessarily to make the
best uses of their uncquallcd opportunities for
raising the fallen. guiding the unwary. reform
ing the wavering and restraining the obdnrate
4 Police Justice of intelligence, experience,
svmpa,by and breadth of view, can do n great
deal for the community. But if most of tho
present occupants of the police bench feel any
sense of duty or arc governed by any high pur-
pose to be useful to their fellow-mcn they have
not made anything of the sort visible and
effective.
The sketches of the lives of orr Police JUS
tees show chat one OF them was for years
professional gambler the daily tranSgressor Of
the criminal laws which he is now supposed TO
enforce Fine schooling that for a judicial
Office Two Of them were bartcnderS moi many
years ago. and one of them kept noted " all
highland open Sunday" gTogshop, in which the
statutes Of NcW-York were constantly doiicd.
An excellent preparation for the bench sure
lv, Another got into trouble with the Grand
Jury, and never gave trial jury chance to
pass upon the question Of his guilt or limo
ccncc. Still another got his training for the
courts or the platform of a Strcet-car One Of
the others is VIGOROUSLY incorporate, and may
be seen rccling around blr-rooms almost any
evening. Others have habits. records and asso-
Citations little more wholesome. II is a strange
and motley collection indeed. Out of the
whole fifteen not half dozen can
be considered really respectable, not
half dozen Of them are looked upon with
any thing but contempt by hard-working,
sober. serious citizens. Their lives and ways
have not been clean enough to earn for them
the goodwill Of those whose esteem IS OF value.
There are three or four Of them who are tolcT
ably competent and reputable, but this little
caycn is far from covering the lump.
How deep in degradation is the major part
of lhc Police Court bench Of this capital, How
foul and fcculcnt is the stream Of justice thai
flows from so polluted sources. The wrctchcd
people who come before some hard listed mean
S0uled politician. who does rs little rs lc can
for the -. 900 Of the money OF the taxpayers
that is worse than wasted upon him, are often
treated with outrageous oppression and w1nt9n
barbarity, unless they can secure the intervcn-
ton Of some ward worker in the Justices fac
ton Ney-Yorl, has many things to be ashamed
Of but few 50 dcplorablc and Infamous rs the
ordinary workings Of the Police Courts. Mayor
Grant has done much 10 deepen the ctyS dis
grace. Perhaps in time the people may revolt
against these in:olerable wrongs, and at the
polls so express their will that we may secure
at the same time sound city government and
an intelligent representation at Albany. Then
with the Stlte House and the City Hall in har-
mony, our Police Courts might be cleaned. But
the day IS probably distant.
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