The times., 1899-01-16
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE
The Jenkins Bill to Establish
a Municipal Court.
LAWYERS WANT 1T PASSED
Great Deal of Hostility Expressed
Toward The Methods of Some Mag
fstrnteS-ToO Much Injustice Al
legged - FnvOrs for plaintiffs -
As Agents for the Landlords.

For many years the methods employ
ed by the various justices OF the peace
in the District of Columbia have been the
cause of great and repeated complaints
from the unfortunate beings who were
compelled to appear before or transact
business with these petty judges. Nor
alone these unfortunates for the great
bulk of the lawyers of the District have
also complained that under present sys-
TENS the office of justice of the peace
tended to degrade the practice OF the law
in regard TO minor cases.
These complaints have at last found ear
in Congress and as a result a bill has
been introduced in the House by Represen-
tative jenkins. of Wisconsin, which
abolishos the office Of justice of the peace
in the District of Columbia.
The title Of the bill states that its OBJ
ject is to establish a municipal court for
the District of Columbia and TO abolish
the Offices of justice of the peace and con-
stable.
This municipal court is to be court of
record which shall consist of a chief JUS
tice and three associate justices who are
TO be appointed by the President. The
term Of Office is 10 be six years. This
cases where the amount claimed to be due
for debt or damages arising out of con-
tract express or implied, or damages for
wrongs or injuries to persons or property,
does not exceed the sum of $500 and in all
proceedings by attachment. or in replevin
where the amount claimed. or the value
of the property involved does not exceed
that sum- and in cases between landlord
and tenant.
ba
place of the twelve Justices of the peace
now holding Office in the District has long
bsen apparent According to the best
lawyers in this city the poor have no rights
under the present system as maintained Ly
the justices Of the peace in their districts.
and it has become so easy matter to
secure judgment against man in the
office of justice of the peace that for a
long time the office has been regarded by
the better class of lawyers as a joke and
the proceedings in all cases as farces.
Judgment for Plaintiff.
'I'll tell you one reason why the pro-
posed municipal court should be estab-
lished," said a well-known attorney Ask
any lawyer in the city what j. P means
besides justice of the peace and he will
tell you judgment for the plaintiff"
The present Tcttenness in the Office or
justice of the peace, say those who have
knowledge in the matter, is caused by the
officer being governed and influenced in
all cases by his fees. 1t is well known
say many attorneys, that the justices OF
the peace bid against one another for the
business of attorneys and collection agen-
cies.
1t has long been argued by attorneys
that many Justices OF the peace are but the
agents OF property renters and collection
agencies and these patrons know just
where to go 10 secure judgment against
defendants.
Under such system the year is long
round of illegal levies unfair judgments
and oppression for the helpless. II is
claimed by lawyers that the poor, who are
ever the defendants in these cases. are
completely at the mercy of the justice.
who ever favors his patrons with judg-
ments. which are nothing less than bids
for more business.
Local attorneys claim that with twelve
justices of the peace in the District the
competition for fees, there being no salary
fixed 10 the office, has become so sharp that
justice cannot be expected unless any jus
tice of the peace desire TO drive his Gus
toners to other and less conscientious
brethren, and with the customer goes the
fees.
The Office OF Constable.
The people of the District are almost a
unit in favor of the abolshing of the office
of constable The constable is in legal cir
cles looked upon as a hanger-On OF the
justice of the peace, He is regarded as a
parasite, as one who lives on the fees he
manages to suck from the already dried
poor. He is proverbally credited as being
without conscience, and some recent cases.
it is charged, go far TO show the truth of
this. Since the day when Dickens held the
back clapper" up 10 contempt 1t is
claimed the constable has not i'm
proved. Those 10 know him best say
ne inflicts needless suffering upon the poor
and unfortunate, and in this city only a
few weeks since one OF this brotherhood
actually rolled Il sick woman from the one
bed in the house that he might levy upon
the bed.
Evict!ons and dunning are to him the
wine Of life and there is but one way to
rid the District of him. With the abolish
ing of the Office of justice of the peace his
Office would be gone.
Real Estate Agent.
Men who practice law in this city state
that the justice Of the peace is but a
real estate agent. He is the legal repre-
sentative Of the landlord hired by fees 10
collect the judgment against the tenant
in every case. One attorney stated that a
certain justice Of the peace in this city
had made bid for his business by prom
| Using judgment for the plaintiff in every
! case brought TO him. You will not be
/ sorry" said this representative OF the
/ blind goddess. If you bring me your
! cases. will fix you all right if you do
Difference in Decisions.
The hatred which the several justices