Democratic banner., 1851-02-10

~ ia the State; snd he asserted that the fees
g.neraIly allowed in Missouri were more
iiberal than in any othe + State in the Union.
He vas unwilling to create q dozen sine-
cures in St. Louis, and commended that he
was perfectly satisfied that officers. in his
county wsrs well and generourly paid al
ready.
Sims offered substitute for the original
bill, repeating the 18th section of article 9,
but exsmpting st. Louis and Scott counties
from the effect Of such repeal.
A motion to lay Mr.. Crockett's amend
ment on the table failed.
MI. Stevenson asked Mr.. Crockett if he
had not already introduced a bill to raise
the salary Of the circuit attorney for St.
Lsuis. ,. -
Mr.. Crockett replied that he had. He
then explained his object in bringing in that
bill. The circuit attorney referred to. dis
charged the most arduous duties; and his
principal was to pay according to the a.
mount of service rendered.
Mr. Stevenson contented1hat according
to the gentleman's (Mr. C.'s) own argu-
ment, he ought to vote with him to repeal
the 18th section, so that full fees should be
awarded to the circuit attorney of st. Louis.
The Law ought to be general, aud ifa speci-|
al law was right in behalf of the attorney for
St. Louis, it was right that other officers.
throughout the State should receive q like
consideration. He should oppose this sys-
tenn ofspecialL Legislation. 1t was all wrong
and ought to be discountenanced. He then
gave his experience as circuit attorney I'M
der the 18th section, and went on at some
kagth to the show the injustice Of its oper-
alton.
Mr., King spoke in favor Of the amend
ment of the gentleman's from st. Louis,
(Mr. Crockstt.) He thought it Just aud
fair, and it was surprising to him that it
should meet with objections at the hands of
gentlemen from other coueties. list. Louis
desired to beexempted from the operatian
of the bill, no possible harm could result to
other counties if that desire should by gra-
nted.
Mr.. Hunter expressed himself opposed to
any change in the present law. He had
heard of no complaints, and it was his habit
not to NEEDLE with laws that appeared to
work well.
Mr.. Burris advocated the repeal Of the
18th section Of the law, and spoke at some
length in giving illustrations Of the unjust
operation Of that section.
Mi. Mcpherson gave some data, Show
ing that the pay of the St. l.. officers was
not 90 great as his colleague Mr.. c. had
represented. H should vote to make the
law general throughout the State. If the
fees allowed were too great, he would re-
duce them; but ut whatsoever sum they
were fixed, he thought they ought to be
paid, and at the same rate throughout the
State. sr
Mr.. Coockett replied, stating that he was
not disposed to deprive officers of just COM
pensstion, but be was in favor Of eurtsil-
ing exhorbitant salaries. He read from
auditors report to show that $4,000 had
been paid out Of the State treasury for
costs in criminal cases. This was IN en-.
.ormous sum, and proved beyond all ques-
ton that officers concerned were not badly
paid. He desired time, that he might ex-I
anime into the facts connected with a.
mounts paid from the State treasury to the
officers Of st. Louis county.
Mr., Sims moved 10 lay the substitute and
amendment on the table until Monday,
which motion carried.
Nj. Jones INTRODUCED a bill to reduce the
Judicial Circuits to ten 10 number; read q
first time.
Mr.. Frost moved the rejection of the bill,
and called for the ayes and noes on that
motion. He wished TO test the sense of the
House on the ten Circuit system.
Mr.. King hoped the bill would not be
rejected at this stage. Some time should
be given for it's consideration.
The question being on the rejection of
the bill, the House refused to reject the
same, when the bill was read a second time
and referred to committee on Judiciary.
Mr.. King introduced a bill amendatory of
a. act concerning the perpetustion oftes.
timony, read twice and referred to the
COMMITTEES on the. Judiciary.
Mt. King offered a resolution requiring
the committee on the Judiciary to report
as to the e~xpedisncy of amending the law
Of administration in certain particulars
therein pamed.
Mr.. Minor moved to lay the resolution on
the table which failed.
The resolution was then adonted