The St. Louis Republic., 1904-12-16

ceent example Of the decorous baboon At the ami
NAL fair, who celebrated most elegantly by the light
| OF the moon, combing his auburn hair.
This notoriousy bad conduct on the part of these
citizens reflects extreme discredit upon st. Louis
For thing, 1t doesn't help the Million Club any
| Just now, when are trying to make this a better
place to live in aud induce greater population
IMPROVING OUR CRIMINAL COURT SYSTEM.
For years this paper has consistently urged the
sbolishment Of the Court of Criminal Correction and
It notes with strong approval the present efforts OF
citizens toward that end. The legislative movement
TO bring about the change must necessarily emanate
from St Louis. since other parts OF the State have
little knowledge Of interest in the matter The i'm
mediate and pressing needs Of new judicial scheme
at the -Four Courts should be brought plainly and
emphaticaily before the ST. Louis members Of the
General Assembly
The Three C's" Court is unnecessary evil.
The clty's system for dealing with criminals and
crimes would be better without 1t. Part Of It's pow
belong rightly to the Circuit Court and part to
Police Judges and Justices OF the Pence. Prior to
It's formation ail the powers which 1t exercises re-
sided IN other courts By its formation the strength
and usefulness OF other courts were weakened, and
supplementary tribunal created which, If not alto
gether superiuous certainly did not supply the IA
cilities and functions required under the sys-
tenn. Other courts were disabled to no good pur-
pose. On the other hand the oltices-a judgeship
two attorneyships and clerkship, representing an
nual salaries of S12 50o-haye been bones Of the
fercest contention between political parties
Another evil has been obvious In the history Of
this In theory the concentration Of jurisdic
n ify u,iSd mt nd
Independent tribunal Is of doubtful wisdom. Be-
of Its specialization the possibilities for
dering such court instrument in the hands of
evil are multiplied. That being the case 1t naturally
attracts and is subjected to attempts and exertons
Of Influences which could not be directed against
separate tribunals dividing the same Jurisdiction or
against one division Of system of courts.
1t was due in part to this consideration that the
old "St. Louis Criminal Court was abolished and
its jurisdiction transferred to the two present di-
visions of the Circuit Court Either the Jurisdiction
OF the Three C's' should be absorbed by other
courts or it should be part Of and subordinate to the
Circuit Court system. These recommendations are
offered without prejudice to or criticism CT the
listing officials Of the court.
In connection with abolishng this court, the
Legislature should consider another matter closely
allied: the improvement, strengthening and increase
Of the Circuit Attorneys Office. Two distinct
forms appear necessary, independently Of adding to
the number of the Circuit Attorneys assistants.
The Office of Assistant Circuit Attorney" should be
abolished elective office, and the Circuit At
torney should fill the office by appointment precise
ly he appoints the other two assistantS-one of
whom by the way, is not legally or technically an
assistant" but is carried the pay rolls n min
lsterial officer The Circuit Attorney should be given
thorough control over his Office and under cir
cumstances be handicapped by the election of an
Assistant Circuit Attorney who is not subordinate to
his principal; who is given by law free to the
Grand Jury and is in fact usually in charge Of that
department of the office; and who, should he in
conceivable instance be disposed. could seriously
thwart the purposes and impede the work Of the Of
fee whole The Circuit Attorney is charged
with the responsibility of the Office. and he should
have full control and the right to select his
sistants. The warrant Office, now an Independent
function, should be under the supervision and
troll Of the Circuit Attorney. Independently of these
two changes s the question Of enlarging the Cir
cult Attorneys force.
That the present number Of prosecutors is too
small every must concede who knows the
ditionS Three for the vast work Of the Grim
inal dociets are inadequate-and the criminal dock
cts, above all others Of the Circuit Court, should
be kept even with the calendar. At least four men
constantly engaged would be required to bring about
this condition, which is OF vast Importance to the
city and its people.
The system for handling crimes and criminals in
st. Louis is Incomplete and considerably below the
modern standard for metropolis Of its size 1t is
provincial, to say the least compared with the ex
cellent, methodical working systems of New York
and other Eastern cities. New York seems to pos
the model organization for this work, and,
though of the size of New York's would by
means be required for the WORK In St Louis the
legislators and other citizens who interested In
bringing about the proposed changes may we'll study
and consider the New York plan of the District At
torneys' Office which Office by the way, is
filed creditably by Mr.. Jerome. The New York
plan is to which system might be adjusted
without fundamental or serious changes.
SAMPLE OF RIGHT METHODS
The present administration merits decided lppro-