Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-09-24
URGES i. S. SPECIAL
SESSIONS COURT
Commissioner Stockton Pre-
pairing BiIIs-WouId Also Have
Federal Probation Officer.


tablishment of special sessions In the
United States District Courts and the
other organizing Federal probation
offices, are being drawn for presenta-
ton to Congress by United States
Commissioner Richard Stockton, of
this city, under the supervision or the
Federal authorities.
1t Is pointed out there Is urgent
need for two such measures, as there
are numerous contingencies which
arise in Federal cases which make
the two proposed measures necessi-
ties. According to the present prac-
tise, which provides for general ses-
sions court only, the government is
put to a great amount OF unneces-
sary expense in many cases. 1t IS
pointed out that there are instances
where a man accused of crime adj
mits his guilt at the time of arrest,
but under the present procedure must
be indicted by the Federal grand jury
before his case may be disposed of.
II the Federal grand jury happens
to be converting in Trenton it means
that the government is obliged to pay
the expenses Of witnesses who ap-
pear before that tribunal to pass
upon the required indictment. This
district attorney, lawyers for the de-
Tense and witnesses to give up con-
siderable time which would be un-
necessary If there were provisions for
special sessions of the United States
District Court.
With the special sessions of the
court established, the accused who
admits his guilt could be brought be-
fore either of the two United States
District Court judges in this State
and his case disposed of at once. This
would enable the court to pass SEN
tence on the confessed criminal with
in day or two of his arrest. Months
are now consumed In indicting the
criminal and bringing him before gen.
eral sessions for sentence. Represen-
tatives of the government in this
State are unanimously in favor of a
bill providing for such special sessions
and a number of legal lights who
often appear in government cases also
approve of the plan. In addition, the
proposed bill Is also said to meet
with favor in the office OF the United
States attorneygen at Washing
ton.
Federal Probation Officers.
The bill for Federal probation Of
hcers Is another measure which Is in
Federal officials say. At present
there Is no provision for such officers,
although the Federal practise de-
mands that the department of JUS
tice be equipped with similar officers
as those conducted by Probation Of
/ ficer Gascoyne here under the juris-
diction of the State authorities. Com
missioner Stockton cited the recent
case of four Paterson youths who
%
violating a Federal statute. They
broke into freight car and stole
goods which were in interstate ship
ment.
The recent interstate shipment Fed
eral act has resulted in a number of
| minors being jarrested In similar
| crimes as that perpetrated by the
Paterson youths. In the latter case
the government secured convincing
evidence that the boys had committed
the crime. They confessed. AS the
actual crime took place in New York
State, while the train was passing
through to New Jersey, the prisoners
were brought before United States
| District Court Judge Holt, in New
| York
Commissioner Stockton was asked
| to explain how the Federal practise
would be improved with the addition
of the two proposed laws. His state
ment follows:
"At a recent hearing before me in
Newark the witnesses fees were over
$50, and there also must be figured
costs of the United States marshal
and the commissioner, to say nothing
of the time and carfare of the dis
trict-attorney, who lives in Paterson.
when the Federal grand jury
meets at Trenton the same witnesses
will have to appear there at an adj
ditional expense of about $50 to the
government, and the time of the
grand jury and district attorney will
be wasted indicting a man who is
willing to plead guilty; finally the
defendant will be arraigned for sem
tence and very possibly sentence will
be suspended on clemency plea.
"In the New Jersey State proceed
ure none of this has to be done, ana
it would therefore seem that it was
unnecessary on the part of the gov
eminent to do so.
Favored by McReynoIds.
''I conferred with Attorney General
McReynolds about the situation and
he seems to be in favor OF the general
proposition, but wishes to reserve his
Endorsement until he sees the pro-
posed bill. He also said that mas
much as it effected every other State
as we'll as New Jersey 1t would have
to be submitted to them. l have in
cluded in the bill the establishment
of a probation service, which seems
to be especially necessary on account
of the Interstate Shipment law passed
last spring, which makes it crime
against the Federal government to
steal from a common carrier mer-
chandise which is in transportation
and interstate commerce. The rail-
roads and express companies are
deluging us with arrests of young
boys for these offenses, and the out
come is generally suspended SEN
tence on account of their youth; sus-
pended sentences are little or no good
as a preventative Of reoccurrence I'M
less a probation Is tackled on"
Judge Rellstab Is in favor Of the
proposition and says 1t will have his
hearty support. He said:
Nothing gave me as great salts
faction during my nine years work
on the Mercer county bench than the
county probation service, and am