The Indianapolis times., 1935-07-10
WEDNESDAY. JULY 10. 1895.
SI5.36 AN HOTR

THE taxpayers Of Indiana, as well as the
taxpayers Of Marion County, have been
paying Criminal Judge Frank P Baker at the
rate Of $l536 for each hour he spends on the
bench, 1t has been revealed in the survey con-
Quoted by The Indianapolis Times.
For some time The Times has been con-
ducting a minute-to-minute check Of the ac-
tivifies Of Judge Bakers court.
The revelation that the county is paying
Judge Baker S5736 for every hour he spends on
the bench and that the state adds another
s6.624 for those same hours has proved the
value Of The Times minute-to-minute charts.
The Times has repeated-and we repeat it
again-tnat this newspaper has not the slight
est particle Of interest in Frank P. Baker the
individual. nor in Joel A. Baker the Individual
The Times is vitally interested in Judge Frank
P Baker and investigator" Joel A. Baker.
The conduct Of Marion County Criminal Court
is not the Kids play" Clyde Karrer. often
named judge pro tenn, would have us believe.
Karrer's retort to The Times daily column on
court activities was just that. Kids play"
he said
Is Criminal Court Today" simply kids
play?
If Clyde Karrer is right. it is high time we
put some men into the responsible positions
in the Courthouse not children.
CINCE The Times started its daily column of
~ court activities Judge Baker had until
today. shown a remarkable change Of conduct.
For some time he stopped reeling off filthy
and obscene remarks. No longer does he hand
over the bench during the daytime to substitute
judges.
Judge Baker has increased his working time
and lis conduct has been Until today con-
ducive to decent justice. Even Joel A. Baker
has increased his working hours. If this is
kids play" why this sudden burst of activity?
Since The Times has called attention to the
long delay in bringing to trial important cases.
these cases have been slated for early hear
ings and apparently every effort is being made
to clear the court docket.
But Judge Baker and Joel A Baker and
Prosecutor Herbert NJ. Spencer can not sud-
denly decide to bury their heads in the judicial
sands like so many ostriches and ignore those
questions in the Barker case. There were nine
of them. Not one has yet been answered by
Judge Baker.
There should be some explanation OF Judge
Bakers action in appointing Joel a. Baker
probation officer and investigator" in appar-
ent defiance of the Indiana law.
DUT while there has been some slight i'm
- provement since The Times has started
its investigation of the administration OF
criminal justice in Marion County, thoughtful
citizens still will pause to reflect on the con-
duct of Marion Criminal Court
What can be the effect on citizens newly
naturalized or just come of age when the judge
of the court pauses to drop what he apparently
thinks splendid humor-humor that might be
laughed at in back-alley barroom, but which
would send chills down the spine of any self
respecting citizen.
These deviations from the dignity of
courtroom can not have failed to have i'm
pugned the honor and decency OF the other
courtrooms in Marion County Courthouse,
courtrooms which are presided over with
dignity and responsibility to the public cause.
All questions must be answered some time.
1Trr,v-