South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-11-22
COUNCIL FAVORS
CITY JUDGE AIDE
Committee OF Whole Reports
FavOrabIy on Probation
Officer Ordinance.

By Councilmen Hagerty. Seifert and
Thompson at the regular meeting
of the committee of the whole of
the common council % restrict the
board Of public safety IN the hiring
OF a probation officer for the city
court 20 the expenditure of less than
500 per month.
Judging from their attitudes eX-
pressed and unexpressed every
member of the committee present
favored the plan so eloquently and
earnestly pleaded by Judge Louis NJ.
Hammerschmidt before the meeting
With the three exceptions all OF the
committee were heartily i'm favor Of
the ordinance which provided that
the board Of public safety might
use it's discretion in hiring a man to
serve the judge OF the city court in
what ever way he might see fit and
10 be II the command of the police
department when not otherwise en-
plOyed.
Reviews Work OF Court
Briefly Judge Hammerschmidt re-
viewed the work of the court in the
past years showing that i'm the last
three years the court has brought in
fines more than 81 500 every year
and that in the last year there have
been approximately 400 suspended
sentences given. 1T is not by the
amount OF the fines however" he
explained "thatAre collected by the
court. but by the amount of good
that il can DO for the city and Tor
its citizens that the city court should
be judged"
The two alternatives now open 10
the court at present leaving out OF
consideration the suspended sem
tence which has no utility owing to
the fact that il implies no Obliga-
tions. are fines and Jail sentences.
In the jails, the Judge strove to
show. the real criminals are assoc
ciating with first offenders and
spreading their criminal influence.
The fine works "a propOrtionately
greater hardship on the poor than
il does on the rich and often re-
quires Incarceration under the same
conditions as Jail sentence.
Would be Social Worker.
"A probation officer" declared
the Judge would be social work
en- and a helper of the poor unfor-
tunate first offenders, restraining
more than reforming and eXerting
q parental influence over first offend
ers. He would be able 10 collect
fines. where fines were thougnt
necessary. from the poor on the in
stallment plan and thus more strict
justice" With his assistance the
court would be able 10 help the pet
Is offenders and sift the wheat of the
good intentioned from the chan of
the criminally inclined"
Couucilmcn Miller. Hagey. Lang.
Goebel Buechner and Wolter voted
10 present a favorable report to the
common council while Councilmen
Hagerty. Seifert and Thompson
voted nay The favorable report
viii be presented.
Favor New Patrol Wagon.
After some discussion over the ad-
visibility of permitting the board of
public safety use its discretion i'm the
matter of having the old patrol wa
gon repaired at a possible cost of
$500 the committee voted TO report
favorably on the ordinance request
ing an appropriation of $4,000 for
the purchase of a new wagon for
the police department and the posi-
BILE expenditure of $500 for the re-
pairing OF the old wagon for a re-
lief
10 was generally admitted 10y the
members. when 10 was reported to
them that the present patrol had
been in service since 1910 and mad
run on an average of 500 miles a
month. that "a new one is now re-
guired. Councilman Lang declared
his confidence in the ability OF the
board of public safety 90 use its dis
erection i'm the matter. 1t was voted
unanimously 10 approve Of the meas
ure.
MOrc Tor streets And Alleys.
Moved boy Councilman Lang. the
committee voted unanimously TO APP
prove of an ordinance 10 appropriate
$4,000 20 the streets and alleys fund
OF the board OF public works for the
remainder of the year Controller
T.. G. Manning stated that the APP
preparation for this fund was $4,000
less This year than 10 was last year
ard that IL is nearly an appropriate
ed. hs left the impression that not
all Of the new appropriation would
be- spent before the new appropria-
uons for 1917 would be made.
An appropriation for $500 addi-
Lonal 70 the cemetery fund of the
board of public works was unanim-
ously approved upon the motion OF
councilman Hagey Ii was explain
ed that this money was requested TO
secure an extra large mum Der OF
vaults which viii soon be increased
in price. The request 20 increase
the salaries of the unemen i'm the
employ or the electrical department
OF the board OF public safety. that
had been writted into an ordinance
was also reported on favorably. This
viii effect the two men who attend
10 the police and fire alarm boxes OF
the city.
The committee voted unanimously
To pass on the request OF Mayor
Keller an appropriation OF SI00 To-
defray the possible expense of