Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1921-08-06
Causes designations Of Two In
Baltimore. Backed BY Peo-
Pie In His Stand.

The political sensation of the week
las been the drastic action of the
Governor in his summary removal of
two of the City Police Justices, and
lis assigning several of the others
II such a manner that it means a
ritual removal. 1t is true the two
Who went out of commission, resign
I'd but their designations were given
With bad grace, and they preferred to
, 60 out in this way, rather than to be
removed under serious charges. The
Governors action is highly commend
Gu on all sides, and he would have
met with still greater commentator
the Police Justices, except possibly
enc or two of the number, as it is
a generally recognized fact that sew
cral of those who are still in office,
arc quite as worthy of removal as the
two who were so summarily dealt
with by his Excellency.
One of the inexplicable things con-
nected with the administration Of
every Governor of Maryland, has been
the manner of men who have been
made Police Magistrates. These of
fees have great power. They are
Judges of the Police Courts, and have
/ original jurisdiction over all persons
accused of crime of any sort, from
the lowest to the highest degree.
When a man or woman is arrested
for any offense against the law, the
officer making the arrest takes the
accused before one of the Police
Magistrates, wko decides whether he
shall GO free, go to jail, be released
On bail, or fined or hclC tC answer to
| the charge before the grand jury, in
| The higher Court. To Re a good and
| we'll qualified Police Magistrate, a
man M 81 be INTEL gent, Lonest and
have considerable Knowledge of the
law, ". very Jew u ell those who
| have aerved in these Offices since the
Civil War. whether republicans or
Cemocrats, have possessed even a
moderate degree the qualifications
necessary for the proper performance
Il their duties. Those who have been
honest, and they have been few in
lumber, have been stupid and have
lacked intelligence, or have been con-
trolled by politicians, who were often
il league with law breakers, while
many of those who have been intelli-
gent, and have had knowledge of the
law, have been dishonest, and it has
been the rarest thing to find Gov
eTnor courageous enough to dismiss
the men who were unfit for the work.
The only Governor before the time Of
The present Executive who had nerTe
t. deal with such characters, was the
late Governor Frank Brown, and
Governor Richie has gone much fn
Their, and has made a record in this
case far in advance of any of his
predecessors.
He also notified those who hold the
offices that he expected them to live
Up to what was expected of them by
the public, and intimated that any
lapses from the straight and narrow
reth of duty, would result in the
eremptory removal of the offending
official. The truth is, there have been
80 many complaints regarding the
Police Magistrates, that Governor
] itchie has become thoroughly arous
Cd, and is ready to do, anything nee
{ s. airy to compel the men holding
these places to do what is right, and
he intimated with no lack of empha-
SIS, that if the present Justices could
rot perform their duties as they