Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-05-24
Communicated for the National lntelhgencer.]
DISTRICT AFFAIRS.
To the People efLhe Distrie, Of Columbia.

D,r;ns the present recess Of Congress. il NAV
not be improper to draw your attention to the
changes contemplated in the jurisprudence oil
this District, BY the bill printed by the commit
tee appointed last year. TO form or select a code
of laws for YOUR government. That in which
sou are more materially interested Is the lnfe-
rior Court, proposed by them to CONSIST OF fifteen
Magistrate, for each county. to alternate their
sessions FIVE at time, OF six days 10 month,
for four months, tor salary OF LA dollars a
wear. If they make good every day the law al
lows; and to do the business Of outofdoor Ma.
ss,rate eight months in the year for nothing; and
in reducing the jurisdiction Of Magistrates from
fifty dollars TO twenty dollars; and debarring
them the privilege OF issuing executions on their
own Judgment, which required To be record-
ed in the Clerks Office With his bill. This pal
try petty magistrates court system was intro
duced in early times IN MARYLAND, when the PEG
pie were ignorant and crimes few; but as inior-
nation and population increased, vice and de.
oravity increased With it, and 1t was exploded.
and a system adopted similar to the Circuit
Court, which experience has shown 10 be greatly
srnprior Where then can be the propriety of
turning US back TO the measures proved to be de.
feCtive
The printed bill called meeting of the Ma
yistrates nf the District, Who investigated the
subject, and endeayorsj to find the benefit Ut
such change. On comparing the several dock
cts aud other data. 1t app are' that there were
$4,000 suits b-ough, before the Magistrates OF
TIN. county alone IA one wear; Of this number at
least 5000 are over 90 dollars; the cost on
which, allowing tor witnesses IN Irrigated cases,
NAV nov amount 10 IS cents each, VI 225o dol
lars in the aggregate; while the same number Of
suits decldg by this contemplated Court, allow.
ins tor lawyers fees, clerks and other charges
incident to C"u't. will amount to 5 dollars
each, or $4,000 dollars per annum. Can this
enormous tax be required by you without an
equivalent! In Baltimore, to which we bear
some analogy in location and population. they
have found 1t advisable 10 increase the jurisdic-
lion of Magistrates To $50 dollars in certain
cases, and to give them power over cases OF tres
pass, detinue, trover, &c, and they boast much
of the facility it affords, and the amount 1t saves
In costs. The complaints made Of Magistrates
decisions (aithoush there is some ground for i)
do not emanste from the people, but generally
from that class Of citizens who, unable 10 obtain
a support in the great struggle and competition
in the Circuit Courts, wish system narrowed
down and rendered too small to command the
notice Of those who now tower at the head in the
larger field, and to multiply cases for their pur.
noses. The Magistrates system is at present
would place it.
II the selection Of Magistrates was made with
a view TO their integrity. talent, and capac-
~ for the duties confiJed to them, and the nun.
ber of eficien, Magistrates limited to the demand
Tor the speedy administration OF justice, they
MIGHT safely be entrusted with an extension Of
jurisdiction and po~er. as in Baltimore; and if all
others were prescribed from doing business, the
fees arinng on the proceedings as at present
would BE- sufficient. il collected Is general fund,
to give each las many as would be sufficient for
the business) a salary Of $500, or 1000. Then
their courts would be respectable and the Mag
istrstes placed above and independent OF the Con-
stables, who are DOW in all cases, collectors, u
gents. and. as they believe, attorneys for the
plaintiff and we should then see an end pot to
the miserable scramble for business; there would
be more independence Of principle, and less liti-
CATION; for Magistrates are often consulted on
cases before they issue, and, fear, are often in