The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-04-12
THE NEW JUDICIARY.
Changes are not Always Improve
mentS.
,,.....,.na,r.c M I'm TpteiIIpencer)

Correspondence Of tho InteilIgCncer)
CHARLESTON, April 4, 1872.
| suppose the people, II they care to
know anything about the Convention,
will BIO asking, what new provisions have
they made? What improvements are we
to expectg As your paper has laid before
the public the reports as they have been
acted upon by the Committee Of the
Whole, they have been able to see for
themselves, that in the main but few de-
partures have been made from the old
Constitution.
Iii true that in the bill Of rights, quite
a number Of new sections have been in.
troduced, but they are but glittering
truisms quoted from the bill Of rights Of
Virginia and intended as finger boards to
commemorate what the majority are
pleased to call the proscriptive laws Of
the Republican party.
In the apportionment of Senators in the
State Legislature they choose to depart
from the Republican idea of the old Con.
stitutiOn, that representation should be
according to numbers as nearly as possible
and have given $4,000 inhabitants in one
district (SIOnongalia and Prcston) two
Senators, while the district adjoining
numbering 10000, "a difference ol1S,0OOJ
has buttwo. Such outrageous gerryman.
lering Tor mere political purposes, has
hever before been attempted in our State.
But it is in the article upon the Judic.
AIRY that the greatest change has been
made, and where we have made the
most retrograde movement.
Bad as it is, the County Court system
b stripped Of so much OF its old features
|nd powers, that it falls far short Of
pleasing some Of the old time members
who desired to go back half q century,
when tLat Court was the embodiment of
|ristOcratiC, self perpetuating gentility oil
|hC county, where men OF leisure met
PnCea month to run the politics Of the
State, and arrange matters SO that com.
mon folks need not spend time consider.
|ng what they know solittle about.
Now we are to have four Judges OF the
Court of Appeals, nine Judges of the Cir.
Eut Court, and q President or County
Judge, and two Associate Justices, as q
County COurtin each county. IA
The Circuit Judges are 10 hold but two
Courts each year in county. The
County Courts have four terms tor the
trial Of causes and two for the police and
fiscal affairs Of the county, that are now
attended to by the Board Of Supervisors.
AT the Courts for the trial OF causes
there will be but three members, but for
laying the levy and such business oil the
Justices twice the number Of snpervi.
sorsl must be summoned, and a majority
must DO present to do business s 4
Great complaints have been made by
members Of the old iogy stamp about the
cost OF the Board Of Supervisors and
their great extravaganza in carrying on
tue affairs Of the county.
VI course if the people were wise
they have been in the habit of selecting
their best men to constitute this board and
will probably elect the same men to act
as Justices, but it is supposed that calling
them Justices instead Of supervisors will
give them greater dignity and acuteness,
and by doubling the number they arc ex.
pecIed to dispatch business in much less
time and at less cost. These expectations
may be realized, but the experience Of
sensible men has always been to the con
lFaFy' 1t Is urgcl that the change is TO
yea great saving to the people. Let us
zee oy a few figures II this will probably
Oe IAe fact when put into practice. Con.
CedlnE that the county court with twice
,ae number Of members, over the present
BOARD OF supervisors, will attend to their
uuVes as to tho internal affairs Of the
county at M greater cost, and that the
expense Of the clerk Of the county court
Will offset the cost OF the clerk of the
IaN
OOA'u OF supervisors, let us compare the
remainder Of these two systems:
PRESENT JUDICIARY. e.
s'1 ssss Of Court of Appeals, atSsOoo
'''dEes ciCrcai, Courts, a, 81 $50 each GSS
Whole amount per annum. ). .,,. :. $G9, 400
NEW JUDICIARY. alla,
aSISSSges Of Court Of appeals, Mt $4,000 5000
81 ToSS vS OF Circuit Court at 81, 900. ..... iSCOC
aTS,say courts, four terms each year,
s,tsS 81 three Gays each. .,....,.,.. 6,aSC
etia Grand Juries In each county,, T,TT(
Amount per aunum. ...,,..,.... $40 ri
T's' Of new over tho old each year. :. .slO,Ol
ldoubt not the practical working O
'ae new system, II adopted, will cost each
.Ounsy from two 10 five hundred dollar.
SSeF the present efficient judiciary ant
hscal tribunal.
ms is Democratic retrenchment ant
much. N o.
Dollars and cents are great incentive,
70 control our actions, and our people
%OOId hesitate long before they adop
o 'Ial which will be more. expensive anc
"IO greater efficiency.
:, 10 making this saving of four Circuit
Judges ~. in the State, the Convention ba
1.s committed a wrong, more Calling /,
mSa Of refined feelings than the mer,
, ~aTef Of money, and this is found in IN
; aM injustice OF giving to two circuit
, s@e east a judge for each $4,000 inhabI
So 1 while We in the west have from DIS
'~ W 5000 in each circuit, a.T ID !
~ lou search in vain in the old constitr
'"a 'of any such gerrymanderinr Of II