New-York tribune., 1896-12-26
STRAW Bail.

There is an impression deeply rooted IN some
minds that he giving Of a bail bond in this clty
is mere matter of form and that there Is ho
intention on the part of The oihclalS cohcerh'"
10 hold the bondsman TO strict performance or
his contract Some sporadic attempts nave peei'
made in recent wears to remove this impression.
but owing 10 the laXness Of administration oi
the Di,trict-AttOiney' office by inen put th're
ro carry ont the behestS of Tammany Hall they
nave amounted 10 little. Now that the once
has been pla 'cd in control of competent f'"-
yer. who can have no desire hut 10 serve '"''
community faithfully and enforce The laws VIII
ont fear or favor. it is to be hoped llat sweep
ing reform will be- made in This department ~
well as others that the giving of Il nan poho
shall he regarded as a solemn ana hhdhg a''
and straw bail shall cease 10 exist IN the Guy
and county If Ncw-lork.
This same matter has been nnder conSidera-
ton for some time by Mr.. 1ackus, the efficient
Disirict-Attorney OF Kings County,. WI" vas
oInc,,1 in opposiion 10 the ring candidate .
vear ago Mr. Backus believes that h' mas
found solution of a veXatiou- problem ana
MT straw nund~men ont of business III BROOK
iyn. " ihout venturing To offer advice to DE-
rir,. Attorney Ocott nj the beginning az iIS new
vML W. venture 10 suggest that he ma. iihoi
f. advantageous - look 'n,o the methods eh'-
plnvei Oh the 0lhcr Nid" % the river WIN harheh
>u.rcSs The prin.ipl" which Mr. Backus has
followed is not only 10 ascertain that each one
az the bonds given j. good nj the time ol lis ac-
,rptancc bat TO .r.. that 1t * kept good 80 long
~ il continues 10 force. Moreover. he Keeps Tue
records Of his ofiicr - carefully that he can tell
at any time by whom bonds We're furnished
what property Was given rs security ana
whether it is still owned by ,he persons Offering
il. Every person proposing To become bonds
man ha, to hc Identified. and Il thorough search
is made Of the properly on when the hohu j. 10
he issued. Then every day the recorded con
vevanceS Of The previous day ar" compared WITH
the names of the bond>men on the Dislrictat-
iorn.v's list ana il one OF them has transferred
hi. ur,pewv a warrant is forthwith issued FOR
tl,. defendant No one ls allowed 20 become a
boudsman who IS shown by the books TO be al
ready on sufficient number ~ bonds FRO
frsslonal boadsmen' have accordingly had 10
r.tr. from business Ia Brooklyn. and District
, .to,ney Bacl.ils inds that tle number OF ban
,ases hg. iArs been reduced resulting In the
morp speedy punishment of criminals.
If ;l.,s .vSt.m works well in Brooklyn i there
any reason why il. or such modification e. D;
as NAV seem desirable, should not he "mp"yr'
IN This city: II i time that an end was pvt ="
IN, farce VI giving bail thai affords no prot"'
lion 10 the community. The people are the 81
cnt of the Istricl.AiOrncy. VINO should l''i
bound 10 administer ;hcir Affairs with ~ Keen
and waichful solicitude a. if employed 10y pri-
yofe client We Look tn Mr.. Olcott 10 make
straw bail an impossibiliiy in N"w-Iork for the
canning wear and 10 introduce such checks ana
sofeeuards as will make return to tl" old SyS-
tom ,ut ~ tlc uurstion at any time in the future.