The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-01-11
REFORM NECESSARY
Ringing Address of George
L. Record at the Bar
Associations Dinner.
DELAY IN ENFORCEMENT OF TEE LAW
Fee System Denounced and
Filthy Condition of the Jail
Referred To.
TRIBUTE TO JUDGE LIPPINCOTT.
Flavel McGee's Address-Griggs'
Story Of a Patch--Gray
on Camden.

side tables one hundred and five men.
AT the table of honor sat President George
L.. Record, Chancellor Alexander T. McGill,
Supreme Court Judges Lippincott, Magic
and Dixon, ex-Mayor Gilbert Collins, Samuel
Fl. Gray of Camden and ex-Secretary of the
Navy Robson. Amidst the Gathering of
dishes and the hum of voices, as learned
counsel greeted chancellor and judge, sweet
strains of music reverberated through the
halls and corridors.
The Committee of Arrangements, which
consisted Of Messrs. Charles c.. Black, John
S.. Mahon, John Griffin, John l.. Kellar and
William F. Midlige, had lone its duty well.
Everything was as satisfactory and pleasing
as the menu was good. This is what the
members of the Bar Association ate and
THE MENU.
Blue Points on Deep Shell. Sherry.
Green Turtle n PAnglaiSe.
Hors D'Oeuvre5.
Petit Bouchees a la Financiere.
Hot House Radishes.
Poisson.
Boiled Salm on Trout, Hollandaise Sauce.
New Bermuda Potatoes.
Relieve.
Sirloin of Beef. Portolaise.
Green Peas. Potato Croquetles.
Entree.
kissolles of Spring Chicken a rAdmiral.
Punch Cardinal. Cigaros.
Philadelphia SQUAD, an Kannape, Currant Jelly.
Lettuce. French Dressing.
Moot & Chandon.
Tortoni Ice Cream. Fancy Cakes. Roquefort.
Assorted Fruits.
French Coffee. Havana Cigars.
Little did the guests imagine when ten
o'clock arrived and President Record an
100000 4ho% avnrrthf,1cr xzyac ~ 1,oodfpnc-
for the speech making to begin, that the
grand presiding officer was going to handle
truths and offending officials in the independ-
ent manner he did. He made an address
which will long be remembered by the mem
bers of the bar and will be felt with a sting
of reproach by the persons he attacked. Be-
fore becoming serious Mr.. Record gave
everyone a cordial welcome, and, in citing
some of the celebrities who had journeyed
from ~neighboring cities to participate in the
celebration, said:-SWe even nave with us,
gentlemen, a man famous in the history of
the State as al orator, and who but recently
has been acquiring considerable notoriety in
the Jefferson Market Police Court of New
York; Shrieks of laughter greeted
this remark, and the dignified Judge Nc
Grath blushed to the root of every hair
grazing his head. The Judge was knocked
out. Silence was not regained until the
presiding officer had unconsciously pounded
a hole in the linen cloth in front of him.
TRUTH PLAINLY STATED.
Proceeding, he said: III tender you the
assurance of every member of the Hudson
County Bar Association that your presence
here, one and all, is keenly appreciated. To
meet this way year after year is an intellec-
tual treat. Our meeting this year has
brought with it the usual accompaniment of
changes. Death has been here, and two
members have passed away to solve the
1000 xre4o, ~ nvic%n1,nn IF iC ON ovhi-
bition of the impartiality of the grim de-
stroyer. May eternal peace attend them.
s"fhe political changes we have witnessed
have been of considerable significance to us.
So far as political questions are concerned
we are not interested. Neither are we in
terested in party policy. But we have some
thing to say, now that the time has arrived
for a reform of the administration of law.
The result of recent elections has opened up
to us a way to prompt and speedy reform.
The urgent need of pressing reform is con-
.ceded at every hand. Delays wear out
purses and discourage the weaker con
testant. We should have law, particularly
in criminal cases heard and decided quickly,
and with some semblance of fair play.
II will cite as an instance to bean out by
argument that reform is necessary to the
proper preservation Of our judiciary, the
famous ballot box stuffing cases. Here a
Grand Jury finds an Indictment and the cul-
prits are arraigned after considerable delay
and released IN bail. Then follows the mex
plicable delay of a whole year before they
are arraigned in open court. A conviction.
is found and there is another year given
them on bail, which is virtually liberty,
while the cases are being appealed. The de-
cision of the lower court is affirmed finally
and before the terms are served a Court of
Pardons steps in and shortens the confine-
ment, which, in itself, was too brief.
= CHEERS o
'tWhat a mockery of justice. The whole
proceeding was a chapter of reproach, and
through it all, there is one, only one redeem
ing character rmeaning Judge LippincotH,
and if he had had his way those reasonable
~culprits would lave been punished as he in
tended"
''They ought to be in Jail now" interposed
a gentleman in the room.
RThat upright Judge" continued Mr..
Record, twill, l hope, be rewarded by
being called to accept the highest gift in the
hands of the people of this State" Cheer
after cheer was given in the midst OF which
Judge Lippincott's lame was frequently
shouted.
II refer to this CASE continued the
speaker, mot to praise or blame anyone, but
70 illustrate the bad traits of The administers
ton of criminal law. An indictment should
be followed by prompt and speedy action,
and / say the county should not be made
10 pay w UHO OcSSNopA 80 inv PNNNAJ
who does not call a case within thirty days
after an indictment is found. If there is any
delay after that time, | believe the Prosecut-
or should be compelled to ask for an extern
sion from the presiding Judge in open court,
giving his reasons for asking delay, and such
laws which permit the parole of such cul-
prits as ballot box suffers should be erased
from our statute books.
THE FEE SYSTEM DENOUNCED.
ssAnother reform which is cruelty necessary
is the system of paying fees to public officers
and keepers of jails. By this system Justices
Of the Peace are interested in encouraging
trouble between n~eighbors. The keeper of
the Jail is interested SO as to keep persons
accused of crime in Jail, and lastly, the
Prosecutor is interested in convictions.
GAS O result of this fee system the present
Grand Jury is swamped with petty eases, all
of which heaps expense on the county, and
l venture to say that ii the present fee sys-
tenn was not in vogue not one-fifth OF the
cases now in the hands Of the Grand Jury
would be there.
THE FILTHY JAZZ.
uAnother and still more unjust and griev-
Gus wrong Is the outrageous detention OF