New-York tribune., 1908-01-28
BAD TINE FOR DR0EGE
CITY MAGISTRATES 4CT
Condemn His Conduct, but Refuse
to 4sk, Him to RESIGN.

Magistrate Otto II. Droege. who has admitted Of
fering $50 a reporter for the suppression of
story dealing with his management of judicial af-
fairs in the night court. came in for trying two
hours session yesterday afternoon at the meeting
of the Board of City Magistrates Afo.r he had
been severely arraigned by Magistrate Butts and
advised by Magistrate Crane not to ''open his
mouth" resolution vas passed that efnpha tically
condemned" his attempt to keep from publicity a
story that to have shown the ethods en-
ploved in handling probation subjects.
Since Mayor Mcclellan wrote to Magistrate
Droege requesting his resignation full explana
ton has been expected from him. He spoke only
few minutes yesterday however, and only said that
while he welcomed thorough investigation OF any
of his acts he thought that under the circum-
stances he should not make statement This fol-
lowed an animated discussion in whiEh Magistrate
Crane and several others said that inasmuch as
the District Attorney and the grand jury to
look into the matter ii would not DE proper now
for them take up the case.
There present at the meeting yesterday Mag
istrates House. Wahle Barlow. Breen. Butts, Kerno
chan Moss Walsh. Finn. Corrigan, Harris. Stenert
Cornell Herman Crane and Droese. At the cleo
ton of officers the CIing year the candidates
for president Wahle and Bal low. After
ballot Magistrate Wahle moved ttiat the vote for
Magistrate Barlow be made unanii nous. This was
done Magistrate Harris was ciicst for vice-presi-
dent pending action by the Legislature creating
that office Philip Bloch re-eiected secretary.
MAGISTRATE Wahe read report oui the work of the
ma gistrates courts during the last year
The resolution condemning Magistrate DrOege's
action was introduced by Magistrate Butts. and
originally drawn placed the board record
agreeing with the Mayor in asking for his resigna-
ton Following heated dsCuSs!Jf m it was amended
bv cutting out the resignation request After .'e-
hearsng Magistrate Droeges admission 1t then
read:
Resolved That this board finds the OF the
said MAGISTRATE improper and reprehensible and
ennbatfcallv condemns the sauK
The amended resolution was voted on by all eH-
cept OF course. Magistrate Droage. The only mega
tive votes were by Magistrates Butts. Finn,
Herman and House II was believed that they
favored the original resolution considering the
amended too mud and nosl-committal Magls-
trate Finn later changed his vote
MAGISTRATE Wahle IN mis- report said that during
tb- wear 1917 there were arraigned i'll Inagis-
,rates' courts the First Division Ofanhattan ana
The Bronx) 149. .494 prisoners OF wnom 1861
males and - S67 females. THIS increase
The wear before OF II l5 and a decrease OF 2s73
in the number of He made special appeal
for a system whereby more satisfactory records
could be kept. considered the mere list or
Inadequate, since pers1n may be arraigned
many times IN year.
lie recommended the foc wing legislation
First-Either the city utlorities the Legislat-
IRE creating a separate and independent courtroom,
for The night court with necessary facilities and
SecondNProvding for tie appointment of a po-
lice clerk for the night cCI-rt
Third-A provision thst only persons charged
with msdeneanors OF lesser offences shall be ar-
raigned in the night cou!t -,
Fourth-That persons Charged with Risdenaeanors
give bail the station house, to be retulnabie
ri the night court.
vision after adjournmeIr- OF the other magistrates
Souhhs fh Her ,oresidins anu not by mag
isirates throughout the city