The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1917-02-16

travagance and an offense to the very
name of justice.
The first cost to the County of the
infliction of wrongful and unnecessary
punishment upon the individual is the
smallest cost the public pays. The man
who without cause is sent to jail or the
House o. Correction finds his self
respect ,wereG. He no longer occu-
pies the same position among his fe'-
lows as before. He is the l'ss useful
citizen of the community. He has be-
come an object of contempt or at least
suspicion and as an effective worker, IL
reduced in value. He has experienced
an intimate association with men of the
lowest Dc ssible grade. He has learned
much of the machinery of crime, which
through close association has to de-
gree lost its repelent features. He has
been put on the way 10 bee me An
habitual criminal and likely to be al
rested again and again, every time with
expenses 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.lt
is the case that courts exercising pollce
powers, presid over by Indifferent
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 obtainatle in every
county in a limited number for COM
paratively small sum of money, but
small as this is, it must never be made
greater because of multiplication of
imaginary offenses or Of convictions.
So with the arresting officer, the tenn
tation must be removed from him. He
must not be encouraged to make impro-
per arrests by any feeling that he will
prosper in the smallest degree thereby.
He must be placed in such an attitude
towrrd the public that he can udder-
stand he is an agency of justice and is
not to find his profit in the detention
even for an oour. or innocent men.
What l have said, while having par
ticular reference to the administration
Of criminal Cases, applies well to the
civil side of the law. No man Can
properly act rs judge who might con-
sciously feel that one side or the other
is the better able to meet his costs. His
decisions should be absolutely uncolor-
ed by any question of personal aivan-
tage resultant upor h dsp ,sitinn f
the controversy. He must b. under no
financial ob igation TO any possible It'll
CANT. Today in some communities in
tue natural course of business, certain
persons find it necessary to bring many
petty SUITS Their business is sought
by Justices of the Peace WIN fear to de-
eide against such plaintiffs LIST Thy
may lose the profits derived from tho
exercise of judicial functions. Such a
situation is unfair to the judge, unfair
to the litigant, injurious to the COM
munity. which in the long run pays the
costs of bad pub ic service.
To add to the general confusion our
| justices are appointed by the governor
| with the advice and consent OF the
| State Senate "a method which weakens
his responsibility, our sheritfs are
elected for two years and usually not
eligible for re election, our deputy
sheriffs are appointed by the Sheriff,
and our constables ale named by the
County Commissioners. Need We
wonder that our minor Judicial system
is confused, inefficient and expensive
| possessing as it does no coordination
of responsibility at any points Withal
| at every point we strengthen tDe ma
chine as against the people. Any bust.
ness undertaking so managed would be
foredoomed to failure.
As indicated in some of the respec's
outlined, Baltimore City is no such
offender as the counties of the State
In others, to be briefly outlined. she i:
more of an offender against the State
and against her own best interests
/ Df 70
justice than all the rest of the State
JACKSON H. RALsToN,
EVANSVILLE. Md