New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-02-26
THE POLICE COURTS.

Tho Chamber az Commerce. at ne request OF
urorinept mcmbers has been called to meet To-
morrow for the purpose or peuuohihs 'no
LEGISLATURE TO pass without further dela!
"bill for the removal OF the Police JUSTICES Oh
this city and the reorganization OF mat pral'h
"of our criminal procedure This Is IN appear
10 the lawmakers in which We should suppose
that all reputable citizens would be glad 10 loin
whatever differences Of opinion may exist
among them as to other measures advocated Dy
the Chamber Of Commerce. Indeed. II - per-
fectly safe 10 be more emphatic, ana 10 assert
that an overwhelming majority of the decent
neonle of This city are convinced that the police
court system OF New York as 1t now is ana long
has been administered is a bsterng disgrace
TO a civilized community being the source OF
odious wrongs and evils. and Il constant agency
in degrading still further those elements or the
population with which il comes into immediate
contact.
The Tribune has repeatedly endeavored To mi
press on public attention the fac; that the police
courts are Of more vital Importance to the pub
lie welfare than any other part Of the judicial
machinery: but we make no claim Of original
ity for this assertion 1t has been said over and
over again. and by no one more earnestly than
exercise an influence, for good or evil. ON mu
nlcpal life more pervasve and potent than that
Of all the rest of the official circle put together
From them primarily and chiefly the criminal
classes and those tending toward criminali'y
derive either a wholesome respect for law or
a bitter contempt for It. Administered as 1t Is.
the system is an embodiment Of abomlnable In
Justice. Those who are often brought into rela-
,bor or
eyitably learn sooner or later than not good
cause hut a strong pull is the one thing nccdful.
They see lawbrcakers on the bench welding
arbitrary powers Of punishment and cxcupa-
ton over lawbreakers at the bar. They see
magistrates Of corrupt associations degraded
character and evil courses discriminating ac-
cording 10 their whims or interests between
creatures of their own kind arraigned before
Them imparting 10 one cheerful assurance
that lawlessncss is not necessarily unsafe and
Improbable and infaming another with natural
hatred Of civil institutions which are rotten at
the core.
To plead for the extirpation Of this monstrous
fundamental evil is the purpose OF the Chamber
Of Commerce meeting, and its petition will so
TO Albany not merely as the voice or few non
orable citizens whose political activity is trouble
10 vain anu tTlcky Dut "S 'hc WIZ
Of New York for 1t will be sustained with ever
increasing volume and insistence until 1T Is
granted. As to other matters Of administration
there may be honest differences OF opinion; but
1t will be a confession Of imbecilty for any
legislator to assume that the people Of this city
are willing to retain longer the police court sys-
tenn and the incumbents Of the police court
bench. If any shfty member Of Senate or AS
sembly magines that this detestable abuse can
be usefullv employed as lever In the manipula-
lion of patronage and the adjustment OF 1ea-
ousjes he will ascertain his mistake before he
is much older. We suppose that there may be
persons capable of chershing that delusion. and
therefore we think that the Chamber OF Com
merce meeting is timely and well advised. 1t
will give definite and suitable expression to pub
lie sentiment and if necessary we do not doubt
that It will be followed by still more impressive
demonstrations Of popular feeling. SO FAR as
we know, the Police Court bill now at Albany
is satisfactory measure. II 1t needs revision,
il should be revised at once. Prompt action on
some lines is imperativey demanded. No con-
ceivable change from existing methods and
practice which the wit Of man could institute
provement upon the system which has reached
its full enormty by slow degrees. But there Is
no need to accept poor and weak measure OF
reform The people have right TO expect and
the intention Of demanding something far bet
ter than that.