The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-10-26
West FaVOrS a Change
in Police Court
System.
MACFARLANDIS OPPOSED
Major Sylvester, Long an Ad-
vocate of Magistrates. IS
Asked to Draw UP Plan

FOR the nrst time in many years a
District Commissioner has declared
himself as inclined 10 the belief that fl
might be advisable TO establish magls-
trate courts I'm Washington. instead or
The Police Court for the punishment OF
petty offenders against the law.
Commissioner West said today that, as
q result Of long conference he had
held with all the captains and Heuten-
ants and with the Major of the police
force. and of his study OF tine local con-
diuOns. he was inclined 10 favor the
establishment here of a system by
which three or four magistrates shall
trsr in the precinct station houses all
petty crimes and misdemeanors, reserv-
ing the regular Police Court with one
judge. FOR jury trials.
To Draw Up Plan.
Although NOT finally committing him
self TO advocating the change before
Congress. Mr. West has authorized Ma
Jor Sylvester 20 draw up a compreheu-
sive plan. which may be put I'm the form
of a Congressional bill for the establish
ment OF the magistrate system.
Major Sylvester. Who mas for a long
time earnestly advocated such a plan.
is now engaged in formulating the paper
authorized by COMMISSIONS West.
Commissioner Macfarland. when asked
his position i'm the matter today, said he
was opposed 10 il. he called attention
10 the fact that the magistrate system.
which prevailed here prior 10 the estab-
Ishment Of the Police Court in 1870 had
H0t given satisfaction. He prefers the
present centralized Police Court
The argument that the OLD system
was unsatisfactory in the District over
thirty years ago has been met before
D@ the advocates OF the magistrate plan
with the assertion that conditions have
changed in such way since then that
10 is now necessary TO have the new
plan IL has been pointed out that the
volume or ponce business has increased
enormously, and that any measure
which could dispose OF cases more
promptly than ls now the rule with the
Police Court ought 10 be adopted.
Would Save Police Force.
The great recommendation for the
new scheme submitted TO Commissioner
West, and used by all its advocates. is
that IL would save the police force much
time which is now lost by the police
men having 10 hang around the Police
Court waiting for their turn 90 testify
on arrests made by them. IL is ar
gued that the force Is small, and 10 Is
important 70 take up as little or its time
as possible
The plan is 10 have four magistrate
an most. VINO -lEl divide the ten police
precincts into convenient circuits and
visit them once or twice daily holding
court ln The main office of each station
house llis would result iu dispOsiug 0+
cases more quickly than al the Police
Court IL is also argued that only one
Police Cour- Judge would have 10 be
employed
Much money could be saved. ii is
claimed by cutting OF the necessity OF
feeding prisoners SO ioug at the expense
Of the District This ID IS said W0uld
De- avoided bT the prompt disposal OF
cases.
No Comment on Scott's Remark.
The Commissioners today refused 20
discuss the remark made by Judge
Scott of the Police Court, during their
absence, characterizing as ..ridIcuIous'
their order of last summer that Prose
culor Pugh shall not take collateral nor
-try cases iu his office
IL ls understood that the Commission
ers tnluk Judge Scott spoke hastily.
without due knowledge OF the circum-
stances, and they believe he win not re-
peat the remarks. Ar Eugh, 10 has been
pointed out. is directly under the con
troll of the Commissioners and has no
choice save 20 obey their orders ina
TlleItiy-
IL is thought that the Commissioner
took tne ground Jhar 81 is improper for
the executive 20 crltlclse the judicial
branch 0f the Government. and vice
versa So Tar as the Commissioners are
concerned. the afrair IS "a closed incident