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

the Legislature. While it may be true that
the law does not contemplate that the funds
shall be deposited at interest in banks it is a
notorious fact that all custodians of public
funds actually draw interest on the balances
of such funds When the sums held were
smaller, the matter attracted but little atten-
tiOn, 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
prOpOrtionate to the bond which has to be
given and the responsibilities assumed In
my Judgment the proper course will be to 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 OF our
great cities They have to submit to insult
assault, and false Imprisonment and have no
remedy, except a suit at law, which takes from
three to five years and requires time and
money to prosecute; so they are practically
without any remedy. Any man, rich or
poor, taken into our higher courts, no
matter on what charge, can 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, 80 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
a 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 he proceedings are not
under the criminal law as a rule but fines are
imposed and when these are not prompt
ly paid Imprisonment follows, just as
it would in n case of conviction tor
hinpaT "a nyAn Of "a
higher court could not imprison man tor an
hour without jury trial 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 as many as a
hundred or more men and women, some times
only women, arrested and carried to prison in
one night, on no specific charge of crime but
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 bail0r The Justice
charges 81 for taking each bond and the bailor
all he can get for signing it. that it is an ex-
ceedingly profitable business for 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
lect into the public treasury, and shall re-
ceive 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 in any way
Justice, from keeping any fees under any
preteXt, for so long as he profits by the
amount of business that Is run in, there is n
standing bribe 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 al
tention TO the fact that our system OF admin
istering justice in this State does not com
mand the entire confidence of the public This
Is due to the tact 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 relnquish 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 q 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 70 draw large sums out
of the state Treasury Many of these shouldb be
abolished. and their duties. so far as they per
torn any Unnecessary service, be assigned TO some
OF the regular county OF state Officers, who
could attend TO them without increased cX-
pensc to the public. Again. the public service
is frequently crowded bY placing many more
persons ON the pay roll than are necessary Co
do the work This not only Increases the eN-
peuditure but destroys the efficiency of the
service While there are many men anxious
20 hold uihce Tor the honor ot serving che
people aud without reference to salary.
there is uu doubt chat the demand o. largely
due to che fact that the applicants can set
larger salaries while holding uHirc thau theY
can earn at Che private employment fur which
willing tu pas nir salaries Ter lhe services
rendered Yft tHn question iH Hurih HuuHiHTf.
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