Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-12-05
MORE CRIMINAL COURTS

TNtlE action of the Board Of Judges in
l. ordering five additional jurStS to sit in
special criminal courts for the purpose of
diSposing Of the 1000 criminal cases now
awaiting trial. will meet with the approval
OF every citizen of Philadelphia County who
desires Z" see the law promptly and vgor-
ouSly enforced.
But the ''snrrCy' of tho entire criminal
situation which Judge Firlcttor suggested
and upon which the Board Of Judges set the
seal Of is approval is even more far reach.
ing than The additional courts which are to
he put into operation next month. Indeed,
II the survey be carried out in the full
spirit in which it was conceived and as OK
planned by Judge Finlcttcr. it may prove an
important contribution to criminology.
In the first place che survey Is 10 be
entirely tr"" from the taiut Of politics; it
is ',Hrvcy' and not m Investigation.
This t. as II should hr. for if thcrc is one
place in III" national life which should be
kept free from politics It is onr courts. TO
this end II has been properly decided that
the Philadelphia Law A>apclation and not
the officials, either prosecuting or judicial,
shall conduct the survey.
The Law Association has thus a great
opportunity for the performance of work
of incstimablc value TO the people. 1t Is not
likely that anything radically wrong will be
discovered. but. as Judge Finlctter says, it
will hp n matter for much surprise IL i'm
portant improvements are not suggested
This will be the case especially in the lower
branches Of thC administration Of the law.
for the survey j. :" begin at the bottom
and go straight to the top.
Most Of the public dissatisfaction with the
criminal law i with the lower branches,
notably the magistrates courts. All cor
relative brunchc, OF criminal administration
Will be included. such a> the treatment Of
IN" untricd, tn" parole system. the jails, the
criminal bar and methods of detecting crime.
including the famous or infamous "third
Degree
Th" extent of the sO-ralcd "Crimr wave'
will also como in for attention. In this case
II is not improbable that tho actual number
of crimes committed will be shown not to
be greatly in excess If the normal number,
bur nor" Spectacular.
The higher courts themselves are not to
be exempt, and III" Law Association will be
asked to consider whether Il separation Of
the criminal from the civil branches is de-
Sirabl". The charge has frequently been
mad" that the present system makes the
Judges either very hard-hcartod or very
sentimental.
Much interest will attach to the report of
the survey ON th" matter of the magistrates.
In" administration of what might he an i'm
pOrtant and useful office in the county has
been often and bitterly attacked and not
without good reason. \ judicial and i'm
partial survey of their work will 20 far
toward clearing up tn" tanglc of controversy
which has surrounded these offices for some
time past.
Il is gratifying that District Attorney
H"tan heartily approves the proposed work
VI tn" Law Association rs well as the open-
ing Of the extra courts. Tn. co-operation
pt all the officials is necessary if the great
work which may be accomplished is to be
done to the best purpose.
In the meantime an important duty rests
with tn" Law ASSoCintion namely. 70 select
the best men possible for the task. No
appointments to this Important committee
should be made in hast" or without the most
careful consideration Of the attainments OF
the candidates. The District Attorney
makes III" suggestion that the commission be
made up in part Of skilled investigators from
outside the City--a suggestion which is well
worth consideration.