Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1852-05-13
BY r.. VAN HORN,
REMARKs oFsAIRl AcKLEY,

By H i. VAN uUhN.
REMARKS IoFssfTsg AcKLEY sae4
tS% ON THE PROBATE BILL, btssEslsr
Delipered in the Hoasetof Representatives.
7i1A3 of Ohio. February il9th. 1884, NJ
Mr.. SPEAKER Dufingahe progress of this
+billin committee Of theswhole, aud thus far
sin The House, have not troubled this body
with amendments OF speeches. Mosuofthe
amendments whichlI though. necessary has-
ingebeen offered, and urge wilhsane ability
thai Iperhaps would b6lunableso command.
have been willing to'record my isole in 81.
Hence, and adopt The various speechese el
gentlemen, as expressise' ofsmyssiews and
se6tfnents. The cons,Halionor Chic makes
II, The duty Of lhis Legislature 40 cs,ablishiin
sacIs county Of the Stute, g Psubates Coun.
and also defines whai itss jaisdiclion ishall
BE! az bespSarlstSsisss ~ Eslsia sei "a Fgsssss
'fhat such cour, isreally necessary and
hudly demanded, for the 3prolection Of one
oi the mos, sacred interests Of community,
| On interest which is near and dear 10 the
hear. Of every good ci;ztn and philanihro-
lpiI, i most clieerl6ily admil Indeed,
Hook upon this provision Of The new consti-
| tution as one Of lis redeeming features; a
i'fea,0re which corresponds with tha, enlight-
ened humanity and love Of justice, that
inarks The age in which we live. II is in
tended 10 prolecr The feeble against the
strong, by providing a faiher and protector
for The infant orphan, who will religiously
guarf his Interests, and pro.ecl his rights,
whatever they may be; al The same time il
casts around The helpless widow breakwa-
Ter. againsi which, uyarice, fraud and pecu-
laiion, may be@in vain.
| Yes, sir, mos. righ,eously does i. place an
umpire between the Shylocks Of our Sine
and tlieir 400, t,(,en, helpless victims. For
these worthy objects, for the. projection Of
these sacred interests, this court was prnvi'
ded by The new constitution, and as far as
my knowledge extends, a majority Of my
constituents wish this 10 be the extent Of It's
| jurisdiction. They want cheap and con.
venien. coun, always open, easy Of access
and diyes.ed in some degree Of those for.
mali.ics, misnaned dignity, which are thrown
around mosl Of our legal tribunals; q eourt
one step elevated magis,rate's court
5t THIS counts moi songhlto be established
because The court Of common pleas has no
lime 10 attend ,o'proba,e business, but ,ha
The people are, dissatisfied with The manner
in which ii is often disposed of, the delay
granted, sometimes extending through years
tuniil administrator, or guardian as the cast
may be, together with the security, becoming
Einsoyenll The estate is sacrificed, and ihe
heirs nude paupers. We are told. sir, we
Sinust give iu sthiscoafs additional jurisdic
lion, in, order that il may be a respectable
and digni6ed court. Sir, this is erecting I
standard ol. responsibility and dignity that
nm unwilling 10 recognize. would b
more disposed TO Judge Of the dignity ant
responsibility Of court from the imporian
Interests .commined 10 its care, and the faith
Iuness which guarded those inicrests; an,
liz this would be correctdata from whicl
10 reason, ,he probate court would be inferi
or in dignity ,ogno coun in Ohio, providin
lyour probate judges are men Of clean hand
and pure hearts,
As This bill. proposes 10 constitute the Pre-
bate court, venture 10 say, that In fit
counties Of the State. the salary Of. The cour
" clerk viii be reduced far below a reason
/ able compensation, far below what will pre-
cure The services Of competent man.
There arc fnw counlies, such as Hamilton
Montgomery. Knox, and Belmont, where
as their representatives state. the clerks o
fee is worth from twenty-five hundred I
: lhree thousand dollars per annum,in whic
both Offices could be sustained according
d this bill, but in The small counties, where II
e fees ore now barely . compensation, The e
: I fec, would be ruinous.
E Take for example The county Of Meig
: which ] have tic honor 10 represent, i ha,
e taken some trouble 10 procure a staieme
!. of The salary Of The clerk Of this count
il and have reason 10 think my informaic
IS correct, and find he receives at most. fi,
Il hundred dollars per annum, a sum bare
!. srfficien, 10 compensate him, Of this su
/. sevepiy.fye dollars, or abou, that, is derive
from probate business, this sum by the CO.
si,u,ion muslbe given 10 the probate judg
! which would reduce bis salary to four hl
!. dred apk thirty dollars, TO this sum. howe
i er, he would submit in view Of the incre
sing population and wealth Of the count,
e consequently we would have an efficie
\ officer. Bul, sir, by this biII the issuing
) marriage lincenses, and ,hes emolumen
derived ihereirom, are to be surrendered
this couri also, During the, las,. year OF
a clerk received $40 Of his small piilanc
/ from this source; take this from $3.50
: which The transfer Of The probate busine
= reduces his salary and he has 1890 renal
ing But j. does rot stop here, il propos
Us 20 transfer a large additional amount Of b
sihess from the court Of common pleas
: which the clerkship would suffer q furh
reduction, how muohA haye not the mea
!. of determining, but have no idea this off
lin Meigs county under the provisions or Il
bill will be worth 10 exceed $3.50. The,
sir, are the means by which gentlemen sc
g. 10 make this q tiignifed court, they may
comphsh their object, SO far as fees are !
al cessaty, for il will be in many counties
III very lucrative office, bulwhiie they;do III
at they will, according 10 the slandard Of
lspeciabilily they have set up, render ihe
I flee Of county clerk contcmpdble. :, y Il
y y That the interests Of our citizens, may
,er properly projected, tho superior courts
our county must be eflicieni, and how &c
2l.l. 4 L. = a. A 49, A..