The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1868-03-22
our DIS MONIES LETTER.
Din Nofxrs. Iowa, March q

DIN Mor1Es, lows, March o.
The bill for Circuit Courts was called Up
on special order, It 2o'clock, p, m. and alter
the reading Of the bill, Mr.. Browne, Of Lee,
offered substitute therefor, entitled bill
for an act 10 enlarge the Jurisdiction OF the
County Courts Alter several amendments
to the bill, it was put upon its adoption, when
Judge Mexican, Of Jones, took the floor, and,
in I labored effort Of half an hour, argued
the merits and dement's Of the County Judge
system, and approving the substitute under
consideration. He was followed by Mr..
Browne in = very able argument in favor Of
his bill. He attempted to show the superb
ority Of the County Judge system over the
Circuit Court system, the difference in the ex-
pense of each, and the adaptability Of the
County Judge system to the wants OF the peo-
pie. Mr.. Browne is . very fair speaker, and
quite clear headed for Democrat.
Mr.. Ballinger took the floor and said be
was not able to wade into very deep water, in
! legal point of view; that he intended to
make only little speech; that our people al
ready understood the working OF the County
Judge system, and that it seemed to suit the
people best did not think the position was
no, entirely to be filed by men OF the legal
profession, but thought they had some old
chaps, dilspidated lawyers, that would make
good Judges. He remembered that one time
| he was on jury, and one old fellow heard
some Judge or lawyer say 81 Ct arm's' or
something like that, and he thought there was
something in that word that he could not see
through, and. consequently. hung the jury
long While, when be wanted his supper. de
vas in favor Of the substitute. Mr.. McNutt
was in favor of the substitute because, LIST, 1t
cost less; I'd, it will operate against widows
1 and orphans and to the advantage of lawyers;
Sd, that it will greatly delay the probate Of
wills and appointment of administrators; 4th,
in the most popnlous counties IT now requires
all the time Of Judge to attend to probate
business alone, which, under the proposed
system, would have to be, in great degree,
intrusted to, perhaps, incompetent clerks;
9Th, the proposed change would add greatly
to the expense of litigation; 9Th, the law
would operate greatly to the advantage OF
LAWYERS, booksellers and place-seeksrs, and
to the disadvantage Of the people. Judge
Cotton. of Clinton, was opposed to both tie
bill and substitute, and, consequently, he
should introduce an amendment to the said
substitute, which be accordingly did, and The
House adjourned before any action was taken
thereon.
We see the lobby is still filed With strange
faces. Among them we see the pleasant
countenances Of L. NJ Holt, Of the Montana
Standard; Hon. D. B. Stubs, of Fairfield
Hon. Henry Ford, and others Of note and no
toriety.
| There is much anxiety felt among the Des
Moines people with regard to the new Capt.
toll building, and We think they have need to
feel troubled, as the bill has been so amended
/ in the Senate that it will have TO return to the
| House; even # It should pass the seuate,
which is extremely doubtful, and il il again
comes into the House we opine tina. il is
doomed certain and sure.
The Railroad Committees are still hard at
work, and will hardly finish up the docket be-
fore the last Of next week, and then will come
the slug OF war" 'sDire eommotion will
bear swsy' among the advocates Of the
dozen different bills on the table. Twill be
the lively time of the session.
/ The Chief Clerk is of duty now, on the
sick list. Alse several ef the members ditto,
bat we think the beautiful spring days we are
having now, will bring them out again soon.
/ DEXTER.