New-York tribune., 1901-04-20
MR.. WOODRUFF MAKES REPLY.
Defends AMENDMENT REGARDING BROOK
LYN MAGISTRATES.

Albany. April 10 .-Lieutenant-Gove
Woodruff spoke in favor to-day Of the amendment
made to the New-York Charter Revision bill which
provides for the election of city magistrates in the
borougs of Queens Richmond and Brooklyn. His
attention being called to editorial in The Trib-
une of to-day in regard TO his attitude upon this
amendment. he said in part:
The following are the reasons which led the
members of the legislature to approve Of the pro
vision relating to the election OF city magistrates
in the boroughs of Brooklyn. Queens and Richmond
and to disapproye OF any attempt 10 sfriis M IL out
Every member of the Charter Revision Commits
6er @ We9 y I Ms 5as on
Cities either approved of failed to interpose any
The city of New-York is divided into two mags-
@ s ana fhe m st and o. Of
the boroughs of Brooklyn Queens and Richmond 40
IN The d I e %be pPss sE ee to ne aes
h ergna ea eafter %as adoped entry distinct
R % cDantR the ons sr G zsp pndge In
elected for six years. while there is no such court
tn there r is city Court with judges elected for ten
years while there is no such court G in Br9oRyn;
sessions, with no corresponding court in Brooklyn
the answer is we have no longer county offices that
are not in sense city @ Offices as the expenses OF
County Treasurer Of Kings fir this reason having
simartg Between the judicial structures Of the
two divisions of the city of New-York divided by
The question Of patr0Rags does not arise in this
these courts covered by Civil Service regula-
tions with the exception of chief clerk, who is
subject to exemption by the Civil Service Commits
sion.
The increase of city magistrates from eight to ten
IN G Of m % has as en ee much for IN ahe
mented upon. was a matter of absolute necessity
for the following
In the first division comprising the boroughs OF
Manhattan and The Bronx. under the original or
present charter, there seven courts and twelve
magistrates; while in the Borough OF Brooklyn
there eight courts and eight magistrates. 1t
IS therefore obvious that the Brooklyn magistrates
each Obliged to hold court every day In the
year, including Sundays and holidays. In Manhat-
and The Bronx the magistrates rotate and
eighteen days out of every thirty. with
permitting in of sickness or absence for other
reasons. filling of the vacancy caused without
Inconvenience TO the public. In the Borough OF
Brooklyn, in of magistrates absence, some
one of the other magistrates is compelled to con-
duct the business of two courts; the prisoners.
policemen and witnesses being compelled to wait
trate dsposes Of the business Of the other court.
The reason for eight courts in Brooklyn, while
Manhattan and The Bronx have seven, Is be-
cause OF the large area OF Brooklyn. The number
of courts years ago determined a basis Of
the size of the territory, for the convenience OF
the public and upon the number of inhabitants.
provision, which has been based entirely upon the
ratio Of population TO the number of courts. The
County of Queens has under the original or present
charter, under the revised charter, three mag
istraes although the number of in the entire
county is less than each of the magistrates courts
of the Borough OF Brooklyn The number here,
consideration Of public convenience only. The SAL
ary Of these two additional magistrates, which in
the aggregate is $1,000 per annum, constitutes the
only addition to the expenses OF the entire
second division.
The election in the second division while the
magistrates are appointed in the first division, has