New-York tribune., 1907-08-27
MAGISTRATES AROUSED
WORK COMING THEIR WAY. e.
Butts Thinks They Should Not Hare
Half Time off.

There were only ten of the city magistrates pres
ent ct the board meeting yesterday afternoon put
they made up in turbulent speechuaking for the
absent six When President House called the Doatu
TO order MAGISTRATE Butts first before tle
meeting He proposed that the eight ponce courts
in the boroughs of Manhattan and The Bronx ne
divided into two parts
..The courts are not properly conducted at pres
ont said Magistrate Butts eff the sixteen maSs-
trates worked continuously. instead Of half time
work and vacation the half of the time, the pro
cedure would be to the satisfaction CT the
public NV resolution is that two magistrates sit
in each court hear the routine business
while the other hears examinations and ABANDON
ment cases"
But that would do away with our vacations
said several of the magistrates.
1T would" said Magistrate Butts. 'but it would
tighten the work of the magistrates one-half and
would introduce better procedure into the magfs-
tr7tes' courts"
This aroused the irn of the magistrates. who de-
MED that the work in their courts was not being
done properly.
WHY" said MAGISTRATE Cornell. .if this board
adopts any such resolution III resign from my
position A magistrate who sits for eleven days,
do now. needs the eleven days following for
a rest Why if one had sit day after listen-
ing and looking criminals he would be driven
crazy. l. one, believe that a magistrate ought
to have rest occasionally and get away from the
sordidness of criminality. When my resting time
comes around / board a yacht a train and get
away from New York.
Magistrate Cornell then said that IL wasn't true
that magistrates neglected their work. This
brought Magistrate Butts TO his feet to deny that
he had accused his fellow magistrates pf not doing
their work
Magistrate Barlow then moved that the resolution
of Magistrate Butts be referred TO the charter
vision commission for consideration.
II want TO have the resolution killed right here
If it be killed ALL said Magistrate Butts
IF the magistrates want to shrink from doing the
extra work that the adoption of my resolution
would entail. that is for them to say But I urge
them to think well OF il"
Magistrate WahIe. who is chairman Of the char
ter revision commission. and who IS extremely
stout arose and laughingIy said that far the
shrinkage went he would like to shrink a little
Whereat all the others laughed Then more Sc
riousy he said he would urge that two new courts
be added should the resolution be turned over 10
the charter revision commission. The resolution
was then referred to his committee
| MAGISTRATE Otto II. Droege then asked the board
what ought to be done with vfolators OF the auto
| mobile law Opinions differed as TO whether the
| decision of Justice Truax of the Supreme Court
should be observed. inasmuch as an appeal has been
| taken.
| Magistrate Droege started the next discussion
| also by declaring that the Yorkvile court where
bo was now sitting. was IN disgraceful con-
! dition-so dirty he said. that 1t was disgrace
| 10 the city and community
cover 500 o00 has been spent IN the last year IN
| oyerbaufne the court" said Magistrate Barlow
"rben II that IS So answered Magistrate
| Droeee "it was a disgraceful waste Of money
Didn't they put in new electric fan? What DO
| YOU want for S20OO0?" demanded Battery Dan"
| Finn.
When the laughter subsided Magistrate Butts IN
| troduced a resolution for committee 70 ask the
! Interborough Rapid Transit Company 20 arrange
/ the elevated tracks IN front Of Jefferson Market
court so that the noise of trains will be deadened-
Y have been led 20 believe. he said that there
is a device for deadening the noise OF elevated
! trains"
| MAGISTRATES Butts. Finn and Droege were ap-
pointed to inspect various courts in this regard