Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1848-05-18

HE UESkRAL @ASSEMBLl.-ln nc Nfcnerdl
Assembly completed the business of the regu-
lar May session by sitting commenced on
Friday evening the 9Th inst, and protractcd to
an early hour of Saturday. il then adjourned
to meet again in this town on Monday, ihe 2Gth
Of June prOIi,no, one week later than the or
dinary adjournment of this session. As the
Giro uit Court of the United States will meet
here, BY law, on Thursday, the 18th of that
month, and may possibly extend its term into
the following week, il seemed desirable to
avoid any interference with the business of the
Court, by adjourning to the fourth rather than
the third Monday of June, as has been hereto
fore the practice.
An unusual number of bills for the ncor-
poration Of companies for manufacturing and
other business purposes, was acted on and
matured at the late session. But the mostim-
portant bills enacted were "the act in amend
ment of the act establishing Courts of Common
Pleas" and "ihc act in amendment of an act
in relation to the Supreme Court" The cf-i
feet of the first and second sections of the act
in relation to the Court of Common Pleas is to
dispense altogether with the associate or side
Judges, which have heretofore constituted the
Court, in conjunction with a Judge Of the
Supreme Court The Courts of Common
Pleas in the several counties may now be held
by any one of the justices Of the Supreme
Court, to be assigned by the Justices of that
Court, or n major part Of them.
Exclusive original cognizance, without ap-
peal, Is given to the Courts of Common Pleas
of all crimes and offences committed within
their respective counties, jurisdiction over which
is now by law conlded to said Courts, and is
not by law exclusively vested in the Supreme
Court.
No appeal can bo taken or allowed from any
Judgment rendered in any civil action in said
Courts, not bringing into question title to real
the sum of one hundred dollars.
The effect of this third section will be to re-
lieve the Supreme Court Of great mass of
minor criminal business, which now obstructs
its proceedings, and to preclude appeals in civil
cases, where the debt sued for, or damages
recovered, is inconsiderable in amount.
Provision, nevertheless, is made, by the
fourth, fifth, and sixth sections, for carrying
up, in all such criminal and civil cases, any
questions OF law, arising from decisions in the
Courts below, upon which it may be proper
e A. al,
Section 7th, provides for special Courts of
Common Pleas and for the proceedings therein,
which it is unnecessary here to rccapitulate.
BY the eighth section Of the act all fees and
entries in the Courts of Common Pleas, here
tofore apportioned among the associate justices
and the Judge ofthe Supreme Court which con-
stituted the Court ,are TO be paid to the justices
OF the Supreme Court, who may hold the same.
The ninth section repcals the 9th, 9th, 7th,
10th and lIth sections of the act Of which the
present act is in amendment
The act passed in relation to the Supreme
Court establishes the salary of the Chief JUS
tice at 5000 per annum, and of each of the
Associate Justices AT $3.50 per do. the entries
paid into Court to be- equally divided between
them.
BY the second section of the act, bill. and
petitions in equity commenced in one county
may be heard AID decided in any other county.
The third section authorizes the appoint
mcnt by the Court Of one or more standing
Masters in Chanccry in each county, TO hold
Office during the pleasure of the Court the
Court having authority TO make all such rules
AMI orders in regard to proceedings before them
as may be necessary.
The death Of Judge DuRrrg having occa-
stoned vacancy in the Office of Chief Justice
Of the Supreme Court, the Hon. Ricn,RD w.
GREENE, of Providence, was unanimously
elected to that very responsible station
. Judge Greene has been Counsellor in full
practice for many years in the State and United
states Courts in Rhode Island, and for twenty
wears was the L. ). Attorney for this District
7, is unnecessary 10 say. that he stands anicus