Butte record., 1856-02-09
Amendments to the Constitution.

the constitution 10 the following eject
To abolish the Office of County Judge,
the County Courts and Courts of Ses-
siuns to place all the criminal business
in the DIST let Courts. unless otherwise
provided by law To provide for the
election in each county of Board Of
to hold office for period OF
two years, and to give them jurisdiction
in Probate business, unless otherwise
provided, and to increase the jurisdiction
OF Justices Of the Peace in civil cases, to
3400 exclusive of interest. The bill
WAS referred to the Judiciary committee.
Some Of these amendments, doubtless
would be decided Improvement on the
present system; but some Of them ap-
pear TO be very indefinitely shadowed
forth--so much so that an opinion Of
their merits can hardly be formed. The
abolshm Mt of the Office of County
Judge. and the County Courts, we be-
Iieve to be reform. the beneficial effects
Of which would be felt by every county
of the State. The plan of dividing the
criminal business between the Courts of
Sessions and the District Courts, seems
an unnecessary one, and it is believed
that the expenses of the two County
Courts might be saved to the revenue of
the counties, and the business still be
despatched as expedi tiously. There
are now twelve terms of Courts year
in each county of the State, and We do
not believe but that in nine tenths Of the
counties, the District Court would be
ample to discharge the business coming
before them Certainly no sane man
will content that these courts are nee
essary in the mining counties. 1t is the
expense of these courts that has plunged
almost every county in the State into a
heavy Indebtedness, and they will hardly
escape from the burden, while they sus-
tain them.
Let the County Courts be abolished,
and the jurisdiction of Justices of the
Peace be increased, and if the District
Courts cannot then perform the business
that comes before them, let more dis
tricts be created, until the Judges shall
be able to despatch the business. The
increase OF expenses in this respect wo'd
be small indeed, in comparison with the
expense Of maintaining the County
Courts.
The provisions of the bill concerning
the Board of Supervisors, we do not re-
gard favorably. The present system is
well enough. until such time as more
thorough and complete organization of
townships can be effected When the
land shall have been surveyed, and the
population become a little more perma-
nent, organization of townships, with
Board consisting Of a Supervisor, (who
should be member of the county board
of Supervisors Justice of the Peace,
and Town Clerk, who should exercise a
general superintendent of township
matters, Highways, &c. This, with
tax collector in each township, would be
found simple, efficient and satisfactory.
The probate business should be con
Quoted by Probate Judge, whose sal
ary should be the fees of his office. He
should hold his Office for such term as
might be deemed expedient. The Office
of Public Administrator might then be
abolished, and the entire superintend-
ence of the matter be given to the Pro-
gate Judge, with power to appoint Ad-
ministrators, &c.
These changes we should regard as a
decided reform, and one that would re-
lieve the counties of burdensome and
almost useless expense. The last term
of the Court of Sessions for Butte coun-
ty, cost the tax PAYERS of the county
between eight and ten thousand dollars,
while the county derives but little or no
benefit from the fines leveyed for doing
business without license and permitting
gambling, because the fines in many
cases cannot be collected. These eriev-
ances call for reform. The amount of
revenue expended in sustaining the
County Courts, would soon form net
work of excellent roads throughout the
n ming counties-erect commod.ous Co.
buildings-and establish primary schools
free to all. The system OF county courts
has been tried and rejected in many of
the older States as too cumbersome and
expensive. We hope they may be swept
from the statute book
10 big grizzly bear was shot near Au-
burn few days ago,