The midland journal., 1917-02-23

way will continue to be an extrav-
agahce and an offense to the very
name of justice.
The first cost to the County of the
inf1iction of wrongful and unnecos-
sary punishment upon the Individual
is the, smallest cost the public pays.
The man who without cause is sent
to Jail or the House of Correction
finds his self-respect lowered. He
no longer occupies the same position
among his fellows as before. He is
the less useful citizen of the COM
munity. He has become an object
of contempt or at least suspicion
and as an effective worker, is reduc-
ed in value. He has experienced an
intimate association with men of
the lowest possible grade. He has
learned much of the machinery of
crime, which through close associa-
tion has to degree lost it's repellent
features. He has been put on the
way to become an habitual criminal
and likely to be arrested again and
again, every time with expense and
loss to the state. All this is the
fair result of injustice-the sort of
injustice our petty judicial system
multiplies out of all reason. Often
it is the case that courts exercising
police powers, presided over by in
different men, serve to build Up
schools of crime much more efficient
than any Fagin ever dreamed of
establishing. We need, therefore,
for the treatment of minor offenses
men of greater skill than we have
been in the habit of appointing or
can usually command as Justices of
the Peace. These are obtainable in
every county in limited number for
comparativly small sum of money,
but shall as this is, it must never be
made greater because of multiplica
tion of imaginary offenses or of con-
victions.
So with the arresting officer, the
temptation must be removed from
him. He must not be encouraged to
make improper arrests by any feel
ing that he will prosper in the
smallest degree thereby. He must
be placed in such an attitude toward
the public that he can understand
he is an agency of justice and is not
to find his profit in the detention,
even for an hour, of innocent men.
What I have said, while having
particular reference to the admins
tration of criminal cases, applies
well to the civil side of the law. No
man can properly act as judge who
might conscientiously feel that one
side or the other is the better able to
be absolutely uncolored by any
question of personal advantage re-
sultant upon his disposition OF the
controversy. He must be under no
financial obligations to any possible
litigant. Today in some comnun-
tiles in the natural courses of busi-
ness, certain persons find it neces-
sary to bring many petty suits.
Their business is sought by Justices
of the Peace who fear to decide
against such plaintiffs lest they may
lose the profits derived from the
exercise of judicial functions. Such
situation is unfair to the judge,
unfair to the litigant, injurious tc
the community, which in the long
run pays the cost of bad public
service.
To add to the general confusion
our justices are appointed by the
| governor with the advice and con-
sent of the State Senate Ga method
which weakens his responsibility 4,
our sheriffs are elected for two years
and usually not eligible for reelec-
tion, our deputy sheriffs are appoint
ed by the Sheriff, and our constables
are named by the County Commis-
sioners. Need we wonder that our
minor judicial system is confused,
inefficient and expensive, possessing
as it does no coordination or re
sponsibility at any points. Withal
at every point we strengthen the
machine as against the people. Any
business undertaking so managed
would be foredoomed to failure.
AS indicated in some of the re-
spects outlined, Baltimore City is no
such offender as the counties of the
State. In others, to be briefly out
lined. she is more of an offender
against the State and against her
own best interests-more of an
enemy to- democracy and Justice
than all the rest of the State.
Hyattsville, Md,
Feb. %, 1917.