The New York herald., 1922-04-06
Signing District Attor-
ney's Two Bills Tells
Him He Will Hold
Him Responsible.
GIVEN ALL HE ASKED
Allowed Six Extra Assis-
tants to Insure Speedy
Trial of Bandits.
BAIL SCANDAL DENOUNCED
Told to Work With Police in
Putting Stop to Epidemic
Of Law Breaking.
peeiar Dispatch to THE NEW Ionk Hu..lp.

Special Dispatch 10 THE NEW YoRK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
Albany. April 5.
District Attorney Banton OF New
York county now has all the powers
he sought from the Legislature to
bring criminals of the city to speedy
trial and punishment. In signing
two Of the crime wave" bills to-day
Gov. Miller sent to the District At.
torney letter declaring that the re-
sponsibility is up to him to make
quick disposition of pending indict~
ments so that admission to bail will
mo longer be equivalent to an ac-
quittal."
The new laws permit the New York
District Attorney to make up his own
calendar, which function had been
performed by the General Sessions
Court, and add six additional Assist
ant District Attorneys, giving him
twenty assistants at salaries of $12.-
900 for three, $4,000 for eight and
$500 for nine.
The Governor made it plain to the
District Attorney that with the CO.
operation OF the Police Department.
Mr.. Banton. under the new laws. can
do much to make New York safe from
gangs of criminals, and he declared
he would know whom to hold respon-
sible If it were not made safe. The
Governor has the power to remove
both the District Attorney and the
New York Police Commissioner.
Gov. Miller's letter to District At
torney Banton follows:
Gov. MiIIcr's Waning.
All of the measures which YOU
have requested TO enable you speed
lily to bring law breakers in your
county to Justice have now been
provided. Provision has been made
fo- two extra criminal parts OF the
Supreme Court and for two add-
tional parts of the General Sessions,
the increase of your staff by six ad-
ditional assistants las been author
lied and you have been given the
power to control the moving OF the
trial of indictments.
The responsibility Is now upon
YOU TO make speedy disposition Of
the pending indictments to the end
that admission to bail shall no
longer be equivalent to an acquittaI.
as Is often the case. With an eff
cient police force properly directed.
an adequate number OF courts and an
energetic efficient and courageous
enforcement OF the criminal law
by TIE prosecuting officer there il
no reason why New York should
not be a safe place in which to live.
You can do much to make il safe.
The Police Department can do
much to make II safe. Together
YOU can make 1t safe. We shall
now know whom TO hold RESPONSE
bic II II is not made safe.
Gov. Miller said the calendar bill re-
stored TO the District Attorney OF New
YORK county the control over the trial
OF indictments possessed by all other
District Attorneys in the State. 1t
was transferred to the General Ses-
sions Judges in 1910. the Governor
said. TO correct grave abuses.
Menace of Ban Cases.
However" he added "there can he
no doubt that the power to move the
trial Of indictments by the District At
torney VIII greatly facilitate his work
in the preparation OF cases. The presens
delay in bringing bail cases 10 trial. due
70 the number OF pending indictments IL
menace TO personal security in the
city of New York. Men under bail ars
continuing their criminal practices al
most with impunity. as n second ofrense
may not greatly aggravate their punish
ment for the first time II they are ever
convicted OF Il. and the delay lessons
the chances OF conviction. The memory
Of witnesses fades. Witnesses disap-
pear. The desire OF complainants 10
prosecute wanes. and sometimes. upon
sufficient inducement. disappears. More
over. the deterrent effect upon law
breakers tho FIRST reason for punish
nent. loses IT'S force if too long a delay
ensues between the ofrense and the pun
ishment.
The matter Of paramount Importance
at the moment Is the speedy disposition
OK pending indictments am endcavor-
ing TO give the District Attorney every
needed facility to bring lawbreakers 10
prompt justice. The responsibility viii
then be upon him 10 produce results, for
which he will he held accountable.
II therefore approve this bill. When
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