The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-06-05
BENT SUGGESTS IMPROVEMENTS
 IN CITY COURT
Democratic Candidate for Judge COngratuIates Choice of
 Republicans

w. w. Bent, who was the Demo- cratic candidate for judge of the. city court, has written to Thomas c. Coughlin, the successful candidate elected by the Republicans, letter of congratulation. MT. Bent hopes that Judge Coughlin will establish a Juvenile court, and make other sug- gestions which he believes may be helpful. The letter follows:
 Bridgeport, Conn, June s. 1913. Hon. Thomas c. Coughlin,
 City.
 Dear Sir:
 As one whose name has been con sidered in connection with others as a. candidate, I congratulate you upon your appointment by the General As semb1y as Judge of the City Court of Bridgeport, and extend to you my best wishes for your success in the conduct of that office
 Had the General Assembly seen fit to have considered my name favorab- ly, there were certain ideas which l. for long. time, had in mind in regards to the administration of that very important branch of our municipal government. These plans and ideas would have attempted to have car ried out in order that this cotsrt might have been conducted in accord ance with the more modern and pro gressfve views, now prevailing in sim liar courts in some of our more pro- gressfve: cities, and believe that they woulds have met with the popular ap proVaI of the members of the bar and the citizens of Bridgeport.
 As such an opportunity did not pre- sent itself, I now respectfully offer these suggestions for your considera- ton, with onlyl one object in mind, and that Is in the hopes that justice may be dealt out to the unfortunates Io --r,I. Of our local government so that not only the community may be protected from those who are inherently bad and a source of danger to society, but also in order that those who are not in 'herently vicious and bad may be given an opportunity to straighten out their lives and comply with the laws, of society, and be given a chance to dem onstrate that they are capable of be- corning good and useful inhabitants of this city: and also with the hopes that this court may become more eff1- cient for the handling of all civil mat ters that may come before it.
 This court being the one before whom both seasoned offenders and harmless vio1ators of the law are first brought, the judgment which is pro- nounced may either make a, man of him who stands before it, or cause him to consider society as his enc my.
 Therefore |, as a member of the bar and a. citizen of Bridgeport, would re- spectfully invite for your considera- ton the following suggestions:
 l. The establishment Of Juvenile court to be conducted in accordance With the prevailing modern ideas of dealing out justice for all juvenile offenders.
 ?. A separate hearing for all female offenders.
 = 3. A more general use of the proba- tfon officer.
 f. The holding to a more strict ac- countability for the conduct of their children, the parents of all juvenile offenders
 These are a few of the more impor- tant ideas which should have at- tempted to have carried out The civil side of this court is each year becom- ing more and more important, and q greater number of cases are continu- ally being returned to it. Tn order, therefore that it might more readily and efficiently meet the demands of those who practice before it, would offer the following suggestions:
 1. The establishment of a trial list as in the Superior and Court of Com mon Pleas.
 %2. The fixing of one afternoon in each week for the hearing Of all mo tions and for the assignment of cases for trial, as is done in other courts
 Respectfully yours,
 VIM w BENT.