The Washington times., 1904-01-22
SCORE METHODS
IN POLICE COURT
Conference of Charities
Takes Up Subject.
MAKING ARRESTS REWARDED
Preponderance of Negro Offenders Said
to Be Due to Environment in
Which They Live.

Court" was the subject of the discus
sion yesterday at the bi-weekly meeting
CT the conference class Of the Associated
Charities. at the headquarters, s11 G
Street northwest The speakers were
to have been Judge Charles f. Scott of
the Police Court; Justice of the Peace
Emmanuel NJ Hewlett. and Attorney
James p Cobb. but. owing to his rheu-
matism, Judge Scott was unable to at
tend. sending his regrets.
The first address was by Mr. Cobb.
who frankly admitted that he had no
Police Court practice. but said he was in
the habit of going there to investigate
conditions.
. Criticises the System.
Mr.. Cobb attacked the system and
practice of making the Police Court self
supporting. and thought the same mo-
tives which had caused the abolition
of the fee system in justice Of the peace
courts should operate to do away with
the present system. II was his opinion
that this plan had a tendency. espe-
cially with reference to the negroes,
to cause unnecessary arrests and con-
victions. AS an evidence of this. he
cited the boast that this was the only
branch of the Government which was
self-sustaining. He also thought there
should be organized in Washington a
prisoners aid society similar to those
in New York and Chicago. the object OF
which is TO furnish legal counsel for
in a financial position to employ coun-
sci, Mr.. Cobb thought they would be
the main beneficiaries
Mr.. Cobb expressed a desire to know
If there did not exist tendency 10
award policemen for the number OF ar
rests made in the course Of a year.
There was no one present who could
answer, but the chairman. Secretary
Weller. called attention to the scheduled
visit to Police Headquarters on Satur-
day. January 80. at which time this and
other questions could be propounded TO
Major Sylvester. Mr.. Cobb. continuing.
frankly stated that he thought many
arrests were made among negroes where
the offender should be reprimanded and
sent home.
Conditions in Alleys.
Judge Hewlett took the stand that
the frequent appearance Of negroes In
the Police Court was due almost en-
tirely to the lack Of proper environment
in their alley homes. and that il was
up to the reformer TO change these con-
ditions as the only solution. He quoted
Lombroso the originator OF the science
Of criminology, TO the effect that all
children are naturally criminals, and
took the position that negroes largely
remain children all their lives. and thus
the criminal tendency is not eradicated.
He dwelt upon the slum conditions. and
advocated the same policy now being
pressed before the District Committees
and in Congress. for the condemnation
and abolition of our most disreputable
sections.
Judge Hewlett also called attention 10
the fact that our slums are almost en-
urely populated by negroes, and that in
all comparisons between this and other
cities. the negroes should be set against
the slum population, Of whatever ma
uonality. Of the other communities
Chairman Weller made a brief talk.
combining himself TO the point that. be-
fore Offering any criticism on methods
in vogue. It was the duty of those in
terested in the betterment Of the race
to see that environment and existing
conditions be aileviated in every posi-
bic way
Short talks were made by Mrs. Mary
Church Terrell and Mrs. Sara Collins
Fernandez themselves negroes and in
terested in the betterment Of their race.