Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-01-17


take the following sensible remarks on this
subject from the local columns Of our neigh
Dor, the Sentinel. Do not the facts therein
presented furnish a speaking argument, in
deed, for the enactment of the measure now
before the Senate? Some short sigh ted per-
sons have objected to our course upon the sub
ject, On the ground tn at we advocate policy
which, if il triumphs, will lessen the amount
of the public expenditures among our fellow
citizens of the District of Columbia. Now.
10 reply to this argument, We have to say hat
We wish it was in our power to put stop to
the expenditure of every dollar of the public
money every whore, that may 60 to engender
strife and ill-will emong neighbers, unfounded
accusations and all other such nuisanoes to q
community, arising from the fact that the
legal system OF the Dis as it now stands,
is in this respect mere bonus on the genera
ton of unjust charges and litigous habits
among our people. We hold hat the sursst
way to get what the District rightfully should
have in the way Of appropriations from the
National Treasury, is to discourage improper
applications for appropriations, and, most of
all, expenditures which all sensible people
know well do far more arm than good among
Us.
But the able article from the pen of the
Sentinei's local editor is as follows:
Court ABUsEs.-Without venturing to OK.
press an opinion as to whether or not the House
bill, pending in the Senate, wi prove an ef-
fectual pu:ge to our present invalid Judiciary
system, We merely desire, at this time, to
point to the fact, that the grand jury, during
their twenty four days session, land who were
finally discharged on Friday last,) disposed
o. six hundred and ffty-on cases OF these,
four. hundred and three acre dismissed :;
Leaving but two hundred and forty eight pre-
sentiments
But the following extract from the speech
of the Hon Henry May, delivered in the House
of Representatives on the 21st Of Decenbe.
last, will better explain why it is that 80 many
cases are needlessly brought to the attention
Of the grand jury, than anything we could say
in his connection.
This subject of large and increasing ex-
psnses, has been subject of constant COM
plant, and the people here are grooming
under their share of the fees attending theiI
judicial transactions. It has, doubtless often
been brought to the notice of members of Con-
gress that nybody here, on the least pretext
may institute q criminal prosecution against
any body else. The fact is notorious. that
people do get up brawls and quarrels of the
most insignifcant character, men stand and
witness it, and a complaint is lodged The
justice Of the pasoe gets his fees for issuing
tho warrant for the arrest of the parties; for
the witnesses, and they get fees for giving ev-
idence; and the constable also gets his share
The parties are then sent to the grand Jury;
and here let me cay that the grand jury here
is absolutely standing establishment of the
g unity for great part of the year How
long cannot say. Members of the grand jury
have constantly demonstrated against tn. in
justice done to the government in this respect
CroWds ON crowds OF witnesses 60 to the grand
jury. beseige their doors, and remain during
the whole term of the court, originating thess
frivolous and too eften malicious prosecutions,
for the sake of the 81 rs per diem which they
receive from the United States Treasury. And
this IL one OF the causes magnifying the judi
cial expenses Of this District, and deserves
serious attention "
Mr.. May expresses his belief that if the plan
which he proposes be adopted a great expense
Will be saved to the government, land he
might have added to private individuals that
q" twenty cases will be disposed of where OF @
is now; and it will mitigate THAI evil prac, ice
which now 80 often prevails, by which limo
cent and friendless persons are TOO often pros
ecuted purely through malice, and, being
thrown into prison are kept there for suffer
ing season awaiting trial.
Let US have reform in this department of
the Judiciary, if in no other. The sooner the
be tier for morals and purses
Hon. Henry A. Wise.-The correspondent
of the New York Herald, VINO was sent down
by his employer to Petersburg, to report the
speech recently delivered by MIR. Wise at tina
point, writes us that we We're nistaken in
much of our description of the scene that oc
Cured in the course of Mr.. Wise's remarks
concerning the Herald, its conductor, DC. 1t
seems, according to this correspondent, whose
statement We have no reason to believe ipcor
rect, that Mr.. Wise pointed him out as the cor.
respondent, but made no other aIlusion to him
whatever. And further, that instead of leav-
ing next morning, he remained in Petersburg
for two days. He called on Mr.. Wise for an
explanation for what the correspondent
deemed breach of courtesy )" which expla-
nation, we take it for granted, from our knowl-
edge OF Wise, if given, was little better than
an aggravation Of his original offence. We
hear from the lower counties Of Virginia, that
tho faction of the Democratic party in tina,
quarter who will fail to support Mr.. Wise is
TOO uncomfortable to in any way alarm his
friends in that direction, for the result We
have lately seen enthusiastic Wise men from
several quarters of the State, all of whom are
really in the best possible spirits over the
prospect before their candidate. In these
times, when it is fashionable for folks to say
that they design voting one way, when they
have made up their minds to vote differently.
we can form no reliable opinion upon the true
prospect OF the approaching election in Vir.
ginia. The Democrats there, however, are a
lea't as active as their opponents, and there
can be no Disgusting the way in which man
votes in that State, as he must vote vsva pscs,
and DO recorded for reference for all time.
The Pacific Railroad Question Mr. Ben
ton delivered one of his spiciest efforts yes
tsrday. By long Odds the tartsst speech be ha.