Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-07-01
gutal anO Dfrsonal.
judicial Reform.-The Hon. H. May, from III,

judicial Reform.-The Hon. III. May, from the
Committee on the Judiciary, reported, yesterday,
in the House Of Representatives, bill TO re-or-
ganize the courts in the District of Columbia, and
TO reform and mprovs The laws thereof This
gentleman having been born and reared in the
midst OF US, and formerly an eloquent and sue
cessfnl practitioner al the District bar, thoroughly
understands the wants and necessities of our CHI
zens on this highly important subject. Calamity
and acceplably he has at all times combailed for
REFORM and now that he occupies favorable pc.
sition in Congress and is member Of one of the
most responsible committees Of the House of Rep
resentaives, we trust that he will at early day,
achieve the object which he has much at heart.
The present judicial system Of the District Of
Columbia is, in most respects defective Fifty
three years ago, we received il from the State of
Maryland-at the time OF the cession-apd little
has been added by the legislation Of Congress TO
improve it. But Mr.. Mays bill first removes the
courts now in existence, with all their back-leter
afinties, and then establishes court OF common
pleas, a court of equity and criminal court, with
one Judge each; the three judges TO constitute
separate, local court of appeals. The practice and
pleadings of EVIDENCE are 10 be simplifed every
thing is 10 be made plain, and technicalites, which
only serve TO bewilder, botted ont. Provision is
furnished for summary justice, 10 avoid crowding
the blue jug" with petty offenders awaiting trial.
or, in other words, Furnishing them by confinement
and with prison fare before they arraigned for
trial. as is now too often the case, under the mis-
cradle prevalent system.
Instead of having volunteer jurors, men who
have nothing else to do, the bill requires that the
coroner shall report to The court the names of per-
sons in the county between the age, of twenty-five
and fifty years who are fit for jury. service; the
selection of the panel TO be by lot. The laws are
10 be cod6ed, with additions applicable to the
cumstances OF the people.
Vacations, excessive costs, abuses, delays will
be very materially removed by Mr.. Mays bill ;
and, while good system will be established, the
expenses will be reduced more than one-haf
Such, we believe, will be the effect Of the mea-
sure. should il become law. y. ~
Bread Competition!-For some years there
was law OF the corporation which regulated the
weight Of bread, according TO the current prices
of -four; and thus every one knew exactly how
much lf the staff of life" he was purchasing.
The corporation, however, as it is well known,
did not Interfere with the price Of BREAD; the
bakers fixing that for themselves. But the law was
repealed, on the ground that the bakers should
have an opportunity for unrestricted compeii-
lion; the biggest loaves for the smallest sum Of
money being promised. or predicted! Experience,
however, shows that the result is Just the other
way!
Several days ago, citizen purchased four
cent loaf from Dutch baker, merely as matter
of curiosity TO show to some of his friends who
have repudiated those spongy foury substances
baked in ovens, and which are dignifed with the
name of bread Y We could have put Two such
into our hat and four of them somewhere else
had we been on the verge Of starvation with no
other prospect Of gastronomc relief This little
loaf was square, burnt on the crown and on one
side an unattractive lump, but the faithful rep
resentative of the full contents of that bakers
wagon We are far from saying that all bakers
bread is of this quality; but do say that il is
not as good as the homemade nor as wholesome;
and furtl err, that it is likely 10 produce dys-
pepsia than TO cure that horrible disease. Such
bread would answer very well the purposes OF
gun-wadding for the fourth of July, should the
Native American Party" now in possession of
the city government, conclude 10 fire salute on
the morning fthat day.