Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-09-13
RAISES PROTEST
Much Objection TO Action Report
ed to be Contemplated
by Supervisors
IN CUTTING OFF FEES
Understood That Measure Will Elm
mate Fees for Magistrates in Cases
of Disorderly Conduct.

Attorneys. officers of the legal and
police departments of the county anu
Rock Island and Moline are exercised
over the reports that the board of SUI
pervisors at its present session may
take another step toward economy by
means of cutting off all the fees OF the
Uolice magistrates of the two cities III
cases where the charge is dlsordeTIS
conduct A resolution adopted by the
board asking the sheriff for a report
On the cases OF disorderly conduct IN
the wear where the defendants were
sentenced to the county jail. Is 10 be
followed. it is understood. by the intro
duction of a resolution cutting off all
the fees of the police magistrates for
their services in the prosecution OF
these cases On the ground that such
action is false economy and will work
an injustice to the community at large
as well as to the magistrates. the meas
IRE is being opposed by all who are
connected with the work of bringing
petty criminals to justice. and If the
resolution is introduced there will b a
strong fight made on it.
Former Action of Board.
The economy of the board through
the cutting off of fees for justices OF
the peace and police magistrates has
been carried through several years.
The first action was TO refuse fees in
ali cases unless the defendant was con
victed. thus placing a premium on con-
viction. and giving the defendant n dis
advantage justice might spend a
r,saI r.t,1 tssy /
es. and unless he found that the defend
ant was guilty. or the evidence sutfi-
cient to indicate guilt, ne received no
pay whatever for his services. The
next action along this line was TO cut
off fees for vagrancy cases, and then
last year the board passed a rule thai
the justices and magistrates should re-
ceive no trial fee for disorderly con-
duct cases, but allowed the fee for /
making out the necessary papers.
Only for Magistrates.
The contemplated action now. it is !
is intended to apply only IL |
the two city police magistrates, and
will deprive them of all compensation |
for their work in the prosecution OF
disorderly conduct cases, though no
difference is made with the justices of
the peace.
The effect of such action. according
to those who through connection with
the work of prosecuting criminals.
should be in position to know, will be
that the police magistrates will follow
one of two methods-either send all
defendants in disorderly conduct cases
Ir |
at an expense of 40 cents a day for
board. or 70 refuse to issue papers in
such cases. leaving this business to the
justices. who will receive their fees.
About two-thirds of the petty criminal
cases of the cities is done under charg
es of disorderly conduct. this charge
being used where the evidence of a
more serious offenSe is insufficient, and
in cases where the defend
ant is under suspicion of more serious
crime and the authorities wish to hold
him pending an investigation The
charge covers the great bulk of petty
Dffenses.
Should the magistrates care to do so,
instead of collecting a small fine for
such offenses. send the defendants to
The county Jail, the county will in the
end be at greater expense. it is point
ed out by those Directing to the action.
than would be the case if the magis-
irates were allowed their fees.
The board. on completing it's bust
ness yesterday afternoon, which was
almost entirely of a routine nature, adj
jOurned until tomorrow morning, and
today the majority of the members are
AZ the Joslin fair, with the Rock Island |
delegation. II