Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-10-16

nv NJ Scutbs PhovsA1t ~ ncuoot toA w
same. at 20 cents, $77.608 81; poll tax
on 2707 for State, 1888 70; poll tax on
2707 for schools. 1915 70; total, 1885,
1877 III. Total county tax for all pur-
poses on real and personal property,
1904 457 &c; poll tax, $4,000 SO; total,
$508,5l8 l6.
q Dogberries and Dewbsrries.
"ssy, Snip, how weuld you like to be
q judge ?"
And hold court 10 cow.housel"
"Or perhaps you'd prefer being jus
tice 2''s-,. ) ~ s
"And feed on cold lunch in ten-ceni
tsproomp
my dear Snip, I'm not joking"
"Nor either. dear Crispin."
"Then list"
I'm listing"
"That's right; and pay attention to
what TN going to say"
"Unravel your hemp, my boy, and
wax it," '.n'
"A bill has been introduced in the
Legislature to create additional consta'
bles and justices"
20 bother We've too many Dog.
berries and Dewberries already. Ifmore
are made. this place will be ruined"
"How r.
by an additional tax upon our labor
to support another pack Of mangy idlers. f"
But suppose you take the current OF
the tide and slip into a magistrates
office or q constabie's berth ?"
Bah / wouldn't exchange nv lap
board and honest exercise for judge
ship; no, not even for the judgeship Of
the County Court, although 1t is said lots
Of money have been made in that Office "
"Tui, tut Why should you and !
work, while men with less brains and less
honor IN axe a better living administering
law, which has become so common as TO
make its practice easier than administer
ing medicine p
"See here. Crispin; we've TOO much
law in this land of liberty. A reduction
of the quantity aud an improvement OF
the quality would be wholesome, and
might help our morals as we'll as our
pockets. 0, for Puck to place don.
keys head on half our barristers |"
"And prevent them from playing their
parts like Bottom. But you are astray
there, Snip; for the greater fool fell
low is now the better be succeeds. A
man of sense would be neglected, and
might die on the streets of starvation !;
while the veriest bodybuilding, pigeon.
pated and proud of his ignorance, may
step into position, and by force of igno-
rance hold it. Therefore / say tits sheer
nonsense not to seek office when an op.
portuniiy offers. The rule is, and always
has been, look out for yourself; let no
chance slip by take all you can get; and
let the Taxpayers pay the bill"
"Yes, but touching those courts
Don't you think great blessing would
be conferred on this tax ridden commu-
nifty if one-hslf of them we're done
away WITH"
Maybe so. But how can It be done?
Easy enough, by proper legislation
and good management. In the first
place, there il no need of police court.
Offsnses against city ordinances should
be tried by the Mayor, who has little else
to do for his salary; and times are too
hard to pay men for idleness. The po-
lice should be under control of the
Mayor, and taken from and equally d.
vided among the wards. 1t would be an
improvement, too, to have clerks and
collectors hired at reasonable rates by
the City Council and the City Council
itself might be beneficially reduced to
one member from each ward. The Board
of County Commissioners and all the
Magistrates courts-6fteen or twenty in
number-should be abolished, and the
crowds OF constables and so-cslled law
yers who hang around them allowed
to earn q better living at some useful
trade. The cases usually examined be.
fore Magistrates could be brought before
a county Judge, who should keep open
court every day throughout the
year save Sunday, so that there
wsuld be no delay in the dispensation of
justice 1t would be necessary, of course,
for the County Judge to appoint certain
hours for probate business; but all pre-
sentiments and contracts and bills for the
building and repairing of bridges and
roads and other county work should be
made out and settled by the Grand Jury
of the Circuit Court. There is no need
Whatever OF Municipal Court; ali OF its
business should be transacted by the
Criminal Court. This reform would
save the county half million dollars q
year, and send a large number of idlers
to work"
SAY" said Crispin, putting his thumb
to his nose, and wagging his four fingers,
" don't you wish you may get ii Dog
berries and Dewberries are not SO easily