New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-11-21
THE POLICE COTRTS.

Patrick Diver appeared upon the bench OF
the Morrisania Police Court on Monday morning
and resumed the 'dispcnsation Of Justice after
IN interval of some months. III the cOurs" ~
which he had alicrnlicd Frequently from oh
strcprrousncSS to Oblivion. been Knocked down
and out in blrrOom hrlWl AMI sind
dcrcd for continuous period of two weeks
beneath the dangling sword Of retribution. To
iudrc from the IlitcrancpS of some Of the
Tammany leaders and the scarcely less OK
prcssive silence Of others the intense desire
Of decent people 10 yet rid of Diver * gen
orally shared for reasons of their own 10y the
shrewdcr members Of the organization. They
have apparcntlv reached the conclusion that
Diver is too heavy load 10 be- carried com.
fortably 10y political machine who's" prospects
Of II hereafter are at the best dim and still van
ishing The man whom Recorder Smyih was
glad To recommend and Mayor Grant to appoint
was extremely useful and highly valued - long
rs Infamous election crimes could be- committed
with impuniy; but during the last year he has
been Il troublesome and costly investment
Doubtless Diver represents the pole" court
system Of this city nj liz worst l:ui ncvcrthe-
less the difference between him and most OF his
colleagues is not great either in kind or degree.
Though there always have been ana now are
exceptions TO The general rule If rank incompc-
tcncc bad character ana audacous insoloncc
cxcmplilcd in these tribunals II j. safe To- -
scrt that 40 civilized community on earth WAS
ever worse served than Ncw-lork has been M
der the administration Of the police courts. The
Justice, are appointed for long term az S1l
AIRY which few Of them could earn onchalf IF
ut any honest occupation I'm private lie. And
the tim. which they devote @" The city j. at
most only Two or three hours day Oh those
DAYS which they choose 10 break into 10y paying
stant attention 10 their duties. Their regular
vacations ar, long their irregular absences are
frequent their indifference 10 The just clrims
OF the community j. continual
But the cxiravlgancc ~ The police court sys
fem a. maintanrd 10y 1ammany Hall j. the
least IL the MIST ,rtunr, which II intictS The
criminal classes have constantly before thcir
ewes i'm his city the object lesson 81 ignorance.
pronigacv AMI lawlr~>nc~S made prosperous
with the consent Of society. II loose. turbulent
and wicked men invested with authority to pass
Judgment on eyildocr-. They are daily invited
10 dcspi>c The laws by I'm exhibition 81 inc
shameful way In which ihr laws are admins
tered and 10 conceive not only d>irnSi bui bii-
ter hatred of The civil institutions which PR"
ducr such a rravc>iy ~ Justice The lawbrcakrr
AT the bar who recognizes 4 lawbrcakrr on the
bench may be- excused for holding in contempt
"A system Of government which has dcsrncratr1
to sncl level There j. no NOR" important
task now dcvoyng upon those 10 whom me
people have Delegated their authority than III"
task II purifying and clcyaing The polio" courts
Of New York They not merely r'proach
ro this city. but a virulcnt poison which has In
fliratel the body polite and i steadily spread
luz corruption.