Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1893-01-14

the law does not contemplate that the funds
shall be deposited at interest in banks, it is u
notorious fact that all custodans of public
funds actually draw interest on the balances
of such funds. When the sums held were
smaller, the matter attracted but little atten-
ton, but conditions have changed. The salary
paid the custodians whether OF State, county,
city, park school, or other public funds
having been fixed when the amounts held
were small, is now, in most cases, entirely dis
proporttonate to the bond which has TO be
given and the responsibilities assumed In
my Judgment the proper course will be % pro-
vide, by general law, that all such custodians
that may hereafter be elected or appointed
and qualified shall be paid salary to be de-
termlned by per cent. of the amount of money
they handle, and that all interest or incre-
ment earned by the fund in their possession
shall belong to the fund and be accounted for
Liberty of the Cit zen.
Practically there is at present neither magma
charta nor bill OF rights for the poor or our
great cities. They have to submit to insult,
assault, and false Imprisonment, and have no
remedy except suit at law, which takes from
three to hVe years and requires time and
money to prosecute; so they are practically
poor, taken into our higher courts, no
matter on what charge, have a jury
trial and iull and fair hearing before sen
tence can be pronounced against him, but IN
the magistrates court they deprive him of a
jury trial by requiring him to advance the Jury
fee, which, when poor, he can not do, so that
he Is compelled to submit TO anything the
magistrate may do, which frequently means
anything that police officer may wish to have
done. In the city of Chicago where there are
number Of magistrates sitting at the same
time, there are from thirty to fifty men and
women tried by one magistrate in from one to
two hours each day. 1 he proceedings are not
under the criminal law as a rule, but fines are
imposed. and when these are not prompt
: lmnrlgOQmpnt a
1t would in a case of conviction tor
crime in the higher court. While Judge of a
higher court could not imprison man for an
hour without jury trial a city magistrate ac-
tually does imprisOn scores every day without
jury trial. The practice has long prevailed
| in Chicago and other cities of raids being made
! by the police at nighttime, and rs many u
hundred or more men and women, sometimes
only women arrested and carried to prison in
one night, on no specific charge of crime, bat
simply at the caprice of policeman
These cases have to be continued till the
next morning A bond is generally given
signed by a professional bailor. The Justice
charges 81 for taking each bond and the bailOr
all he can get for signing it, so that 1t IL an ex
ceedingly profitable business Tor those con
nected with the so-called police court. While
the law at present provides that nearly all
other officers shall pay what fees they col
lecU into the public treasury, and shall re-
ceive a salary for the services they render
this does not seem to apply to the magis-
trates. The law should be made more strict
and prohibit every officer, whether iu-
ducial or executive who is i'm any way
connected with the administration OF
justice, from keeping any fees under any
preteNt, for so long as be profits by the
amount OF business that is run in, there is u
standing bride to do injustice. On the other
hand, there are many cases in which the police
are rendered powerless to suppress crime by
reason of political intrigue and interference.
viii also, in this connection, direct your at
tention to the fact that our system OF admin
isterng Justice in this State does not com
man0 Hut1rp nf IA fThfa
IL due TO the fact that with our present ma
chinery litigation is so prolonged and rem
dered so uncertain, without regard TO the
merits of the case, that many prudent men
feel they had better relinuuish a claim and
submit TO an injustice than to venture into the
courts.
Public service.
It viii be our duty to endeavor to reduce the
expense OF the civil service of the State There
has been a tendency TO create unnecessary
boards. and, while some OF these do not draw
a salary. they are paid their expenses and per
diem, and they manage to draw large sums out
Of the state Treasury. Many of these should be
abolished, and their duties so far as they per
toriu any necessary service, be assigned % some
OF the regular county or state officers. who
could attend TO them without increased ex-
pense 20 the public. Again the public service
Is frequently crowded by placing many NOR.
persons ON the pay roll than are necessary Boo
Go The work. This not only Increases One ~
peuditure but destr0Va the efficiency OF tHr
service. While there are many men anxious
20 hold ofce for The honor OF serving Che
people. and without reference tn SALARY
there II no doubt that the demand d. largely
due to che fact that the applicants rlu geo
larger salaries white holding uHlce thHn tha'
can earn az thu private employment Con which
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