New-York tribune., 1896-01-20
ALL FLATBUSH is STIRRED.
DISCUSSION OVER SENATOR wIEMAN's
BILL TO ABOLISH JUDGE
STEERS'S COURT. IN
OPPOSITION TO THE MOvE-THE MEASURE PRO.
vIDEs FOR TRANSFER OF BUSINESS TO

/
vrDEs FOR TRANSFER OF BUSINESS TO
CoNEY ISLANDS, THERE POLITICAL
NEGRO IN THE wooDPrLE9
Senator wieman's introduction into the Senate OF
bill providing for the abolition of Judge Steerss
police Flatbush has stirred considerable feel
ing in that locality. No text of the Senator's meas
ure yet been received but briefly stated. the
bill provides for wiping the Flatbush Court and
consolidating its functions with those OF the Coney
Island Police Court presided over by Judge
Nostrand
Senator Wiemans rcacon is on the ground Of
economy But Flatbush people. irrespective OF
party affect not to believe this They say that the
abolition of the would be great mistake. The
Senator's statement that the business of The Flat
bush and Coaey Island combined does not take
half hour daily is emphaticaly denied.
Business times in Judge Seerss court is decidedly
lively and takes the full quota Of time In which
Brooklyn police judges supposed TO work In
fact the record Of Judge teerss from January
1876, December l. 1895 bears this statement.
The complaints handled were follows: abandon
re:t, Il: attempted suicide s. homicide, l. intoxca-
tion Us; assault in the third degree. us; petit lar.
ceny. 90 In addition. 5S3 offenders sent TO jail
co TO the penitenary and 565 complaints dismissed.
Should the Flatbush cases be sent to Coney Island.
i, would. according the people there necessitate
great hardship ana delay on the part of the police as
Steerss office and eight miles away FROM some the
police stations OF his district.
Although Judge steers is a Democrat, appointed
during Mayor scEieren's incunbency 1t was pointed
out as d singular fact yesterday that Senator Vie
man, and not Senator Wray, VINO represents the
F.atDush district. introduced the bill. 1t was openly
said in some quarters tnat politics, not economy,
the bottom OF II all, and that there were
presumably no obstacles In the way of the later
tablisnment OF anOth r cour, in Flatbush In other
words Judge Steers's official scalp was the object
sought after.
from discussing the probable cause Of Senator Vie
mans action III Mr.. Weman," ne said succeeds
in abo.ishing this court. 1 viii have TO step out,
although ! have yet three and one-ha,f years TO
allowed politics to influence in the least in
my administration OF the law. My record is clean
and the records OF this court at all times open
to the puDc. Senator Wieman ought to know bet
more than half an hour daily; and too. when he
says that the expenses of this court $1,000
yearly. he ove-estimitss by $500 My district COM
prises Prospect Park station. the Twenty second.
over, my court Is neary the geographical centre of
the city. Although may be egs.ated out OF Office
l am losing no sleep over the matter
Mayor Wurser asked about the bill yesters
otherwise. District Attorney Backus who spent
hours in Judge Steers's court yesterday morn
ing said that he preferred not TO discuss the sub
ject.
Judge Hartman OF the Gates Avenue Police
Court SAID that he thought the proposed abolition
OF Judge Steerss court was mistake. Better"
said he reapportlon our districts and give Judge
Steers the Twenty-sixth Ward (f,rownsvlle).
handle fully one-thrd OF the police court business
OF the city, and IL is too much Senator W.eman
should not NEEDLE with the Grant Street Police
Court"
or Judge Steers's staff. Chief Clerk Simpson is a
Democrat; Assistant Clerk Weber the interpreter
and the two court officers are Republicans. They
would. of course. all have to