Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-12-05
OF U

There has been a lot of false SEN
timent aroused over Comptroller
Craig's contempt case. Craig is a
big political buster who delights to
keep in the limelight by making a
great noise. lie is given to loose
talk which generally gets people
into trouble. That Craig has en-
ioyed the notoriety that his case has
attracted throughout the country is
evident: there is reason to believe
that he would like to have gone to
Jail so that he might have posed as
a martyr and become nationally
famous.
In these days when there is so
much disrespect for the law and con-
tempt for the courts, it is just as
we'll to have an issue like this
bought before the people to empha-
size the fact that the law is supreme
and that those charged with admin
istering Justice are not to be openly
defed and trined with. Every citi-
zen before arriving at a conclusion
in this case should read Attorney
General Daugherty's very able re-
port on the matter. 1t is so com
mon these days to talk about free
speech and attack the courts for
being arrogant and domineering that
citizens who believe in unfolding the
majesty OF the law and perpetual
Ing American institutions should
consider well before they become a
party to any such agitation.
Craig was accused of contempt be
Ncanse in appointing a receiver foi
the Brooklyn Rapid Transit the fed
eral court did not include in the
r~eceivership a representative of the
city of New York as Craig thought
II should have done. In his usual
loud-mouthed way, he began to say
things he ought not to have said, as
such people usually do. Among
other things he said the judge had
denied him and the other members
Of the Board of Estimate and Appor'
tionment Of the city of New York
access to original sources of infor-
nation concerning the property and
affairs of various public utility cor
porations holding franchises to oper'
ate in the streets of New York.
AS a matter of fact, Judge Mayer
who appointed the receiver and who
adjudged Craig in contempt, had of
fered the city of New York every
opportunity to examine all books
and records, and Craig, under oath
admitted that he had never asked
for any records or information, ant
that access had never been denied
him. AS Judge Mayer stated thu
situation to the attorney general
4 court was confronted with thu
choice Of ignoring the charge of thu
chief financial officer of the city ant
thus by silence adding to the pub
lie distrust which such a charg'
creates, or of doing its duty unde
the law" In other words, it wa
a case of whether or not Grail
could lambast the federal court i
his usual clustering way and sc
away with it.
In his opinion holding Craig il
contempt Judge Mayer said that "or
dinarily the court does not concerI
Hself with attacks of a personal nat
IRE nor should 1t interfere with III
fullest exercise of the right to criti
clze freely. > E 1t is not
wrong with which the judge con
Germs himself in a personal sens
and for that eason no persona
apology is desired o required. TIL
Wong has been perpetrated agains
the administration OF Justice" Al
that was asked of Craig was tina
Id make a public r%etraction of tn
charge which he had admitted unde
cath was false. This Craig refuse
to5do. Instead, he became more dc
failt and insulting in his attitude
This attitude he has maintained eve
since, and It was either for the couT
to be made the laughing stock b
this one man who, because of h
political position seemed TO thin
that he could get away with any
thing, or to show the world hat n
man is above the law. Craig W.
accordingly found guilty OF content
ana was sentenced to serve six
days in jail.
If the courts are to have publ
confidence they must comma
respect, and ali those who belie'
in upholding the dignity Of Il
court and the majesty Of the law wi