The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1895-03-26
REFORM WORKIN NEW YORK
THE Police MAGISTBATES' BILL
HAS PASSED THE HOUSE.

Governor Morton. in Special Message,
Recommended Its Early Passage for the
Benefit of the Poor People-It Was Re
ferred in the Senate, But the House
Passed the Bill to which He Had Ref
erence.
Alabny, March Ex-Governor Morton
sent a special message to the senate
tonight recommending the early pass
age of the New York police magistrate
and police reorganization bills. The
governor calls attention to matter
which he regards as being of the high
est present importance, namely, the re-
organization of the inferior courts of
New York city.
Ten weeks, he says, have elapsed since
bill having this object in view was
introduced in both houses, but the meas
ure has not yet been passed by either
house. Unless prompt action is taken
there is danger that it may not become
a law. Such a result would be a public
misfortune. 1t is widely believed that
in some of the present police courts of
New York city there is to-day practical
denials of justice. The serious charges
concerning the police courts made in
the report of the Lexow committee calls
for a speedy remedy.
1t is of these inferior criminal courts
that the poor especially look for pro-
lection from oppression and wrong.
When these fountains Of justice are pol
luted the evil results TO the people are
beyond calculation.
The governor states that the bill to
which reference is made was intro
duced in the senate by the chairman of
the investigation committee above men
toned Its object is to create an i'm
proved system of inferior criminal
courts, and to give the public new
board of police magistrates. This leg
islature is a necessary step toward mu-
nicipal reform. 1t is supplementary to
the power of removal.
The governor is convinced that this
power of removal already conferred
should not be limited to administrative
officers, but should be made to apply
to the police justices. A doubt as to
the constitutionality of this bill, he
says. has been practically resolved in
it's favor by published opinions Of some
of the most eminent lawyers in New
York
The governor calls attention to the
need Of prompt reorganization of the
New York police. He says that in the
testimony before the Lexow committee
it was charged that many members of
the police force, among them officers
of high grade, were not only black
mailers and extortioners, but were
also actively in league with the Grim
inal classes. 1t is generally believed
that the extent of these alleged cor
rupt practices has not yet been fully
revealed.
The law abiding classes are naturally
uneasy under such condition of things.
They demand that police officers who
have betrayed their trusts or used
their great power oppressively shall
be ascertained and dismissed without
unnecessary delay. This request
should be needed and such legislation
enacted as will meet the emergency.
In the senate the message was or
dered printed and referred to the ju-
dietary committee.
The New York city police magis-
trates bill passed the assembly tonight
by a vote of ayes 85; noes 10. The bill
abolishes the New York city police
justices and provides for the appoint |
ment of nine police magistrates in their
stead to take Office July /.