The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1871-12-01
CREsco Nov. 81. 1871,

"SSv -'c'' ~
EDITOR PLAIN DEALER:-A dis.
tinguished member Ct the bar informs
me that meeting of the bar Of this
Judicial District is contemplated
before the meeting Of the Legisla
ture to propose certain reforms.
That Mr.. Editor is ono move in the
right direction and is hoped will be
carried out, and as in New York, not
as political affair but with an hon.
est intent to inaugurate moro definite
and certain modes Of practice, and
let the profession have a reasonable
fee bill, SO as to lot delinquent debt
ors pay what is now paid by the
creditors and operates as tax on
the whole people. Simplify the
practice and let the defendant who
intends to defend when sued servo on
the plaintiffs attorney a written
notice, ny himself or bis attorney, Of
such intent, say within 20 days after
the service of the petition and notice
and serve copy Of his answer and
when the cause is at issue, let each
or either alto rney notice the case for
trial at least 10 days before the sit
ting of the court and serve a notice
Of issue on the clerk at least six days
before tho sitting of the court, from
which the Clerk can make up the cal
andcr, and when the cause is moved
by either party for trial, let the
attorney moving the case deliver to
the court a copy of the pleadings
and thus allow the papers on Gle to
remain undisturbed, and let the
attorney of the prevailing party make
up the judgment record to, consist Of
the petition, notice, and answer, and
bill of costs, and disbursements.
The costs to be taxed by the Clerk
on notice to the opposite attorney
when the action is defended and
without notice when the judgment is
by default, and let the attorney of
tho prevailing party issue the execu-
ton. This mode is simple, cheap.
and certain and allows tho attorneys
to transact the whole business in the
case except he simple entrys by the
clerk, and this mode suggests
the wisdom Of abolisbing the office of
Clerk, and making the Recorder ex-
oficio Clerk Of the courts and con-
centrates all the re cords in one Office
and reduces expenses. aud disposes Of
enc county officer.
The legal profession learned in the
law and appreciating the theory of
form of government will
no doubt when Assem- bled take into
consideration the important subject
Of retaining to the towns most of the
business now. by uuwise legislation,
at the county seat.
Mr.. Editor the system in New
York, in use, time out of mind, has
no superior in accuracy, economy, and
Intelligence.
That State has bad its county
Judge, town supervisor, and town
collector Of taxes, and the busine IS
has been done in the towns from first
to last, and only one county officer
there sits down to live on office, and
that the sounty clerk, in counties of
less than 40, 900 inhabitants; while
in Iowa little 20 by "a mile agri-
cultural county has 49, and no
county Judge and no District Attor-
ney, and about 5000 inhabitants.
In Now York each town and each
school district levies and collec is
it's own taxes and has its town and
district collector; but here these
town and school district taxes are
annually hammered out of the land
and all is mixed complicated and un-
certain. There the current eypens.
es are promptly paid but here they
take no preference over the old debt,
but 60 into the general indebtedness
and no one knows when they will be
paid. The Janitor at the Court
House and at the school house must
take orders and wait for treasurer
Moons dividends, and then it is not
paid because men Of more leisure get
the start Of him.
Now Mr.. Editor there is wrong in
the system and pressing need Of re-
form. Let the Legislature abolish
the Office Of Clerk of the courts, Aud
itor. and Circuit Judge, and restore
the county court and Judge, and
make the Recorder ex -officio Clerk Of
the county and vest the powers Of
the Auditor ON the county Judge
and town officers andvlet each town
do it's own business and also each