New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-04-26
A GREAT REFORM Nv SIGHT.

The exceedingly welcome news which came
from Albany yesterday, that the Senate had
passed the Police Magistrates bill, will be fol
lowed today we hope and believe, by the news
that II has passed the Assembly. further acton
I'm that branch being rendered necessary Ivy the
slight amendments which the bill now carries
The Assembly responded promptly weeks ago 10
Governor Morton's earnest admonlion. ana therc
Is no reason 10 suppose that further Juggling VIII
defer final action upon measure OF VIAL III
portancc No legislative proposal OF the pcrl"d
has been more strongly and justly supported by
public sentiment than this plan for the Trans
formation Of the police courts OF this city. lhey
have been continuously VIGOROUSLY ana IN
famo,,y corrupt and oppressive for many years
Individual occupants Of the police bench have
nj intervals mp 10 this time retained Their per
sonal honor and measure Of public respect. but
the system Of which they have been part. anu
which their responsibility has been mischievously
invoked 10 shield and prolonc. Is utterly abom-
Unable
These tribunals. representing to the minds OF
tle whole criminal class actual and prospective.
,ho operation Of law. have been prolific source
and strong defence Of crime They have in
culcatod in that clement Of society which comes
rcscniful contempt for the fiction called justice,
Instead " a wholesome respect for the laws ana
for the appointed agencies hy which III" laws
are administered Ignorant. foul-mouh'l. ven
ou,ors creatures endowed with extraordinary
powers have sat Ia Judgment upon men ana
women 81 their own type. and upon unforunairS
brought by niSchancc or fraud within their lur.S-
dicion: aud they have in general 80 employed
their authority 10 atliic' and Cypress III" inh''
cent. and 10 convince the guilty that protection
was a matter of bargain and sale. Sometimes
for cash. sometimes for political service. some
times for ihc qualification - low Affect ~ "'
brutal r,scnimcnts they hav" violated ever OH
cation which m oath - rcnh"r Impartial ]u'tc'
can limos, An institution ~ society designed
10 be- 4 mlwarl, Of liberty under III" law. con
strurIcd for III" express purp1-" OF c'"i'r''hI
originally and directly with he police III '''
protection Of lie. property and r'pu'Hu'h' h'S
been converted into m instrument ~ "di"us us
crlminatlons Of civic DEGRADATION AMI p'rvaNiVr
tyranny. An agency capable - STRENGTHENING
incidentally the safeguards ~ the hnllo' haS been
ncrcle-sly employed 81 steal elections ani ne
fcnd the thieves.
This Is not an cXirava@lni recital - disputed
theories but a moderate Statement II 1chh""l
edged facts Nobody. We believe. has ''n'dr'l
20 DENY that monsirous evils hay" pr1ccrd'l
from the police court system II = admitted ny
those who have s,rcnuously cnd"av"r'd 7" pre-
vent IT'S destruction that The polio" bench needs
10 be raised 10 a standard scarcely visible from
IFS present level. but they Insist upon process
az self puriGcation The Police Justices take iha'
view Of thu matter They are 50 anxious 10 nave
Il prevail over the minds IL legislators mat ih'y
have raised large sum Of money among ihrhl-
selves 10 defeat the bill which would wip" them
ont OF official existence They have induced some
reputahlc citizens g. disparagc great reform
hv questioning It's consiiutionHlity. lis propri"ly
and rs efficiency They argue that society has
no right 10 adopt radical measures for lis saliva
ton so long as vc>'igc Of personal rrspc'id-
bility adhnrcs 10 n system which as who'd" i
productive Of sham" ana misery. W" b"li"y"
they came near 10 succeeding. but ia" danger
now seems 10 have been Ivertcd. Governor Nor
Ton deserves praise and gratitud" for his appeal
to the Legislature the Assembly gained cr'di'
by an immediate response, The Senate has
escaped utter disgrace by It's b"lated action, ana
every indication points to Il final victory after a
long and scandalous contest.