The Rock Island daily Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1872-1873, 1873-01-16
Ghe 9aiIg Argns.
Thursday, January ls, 1878
ORR COUNTY COURTS.

The reason tOr enlargllS thV J"- -.
of our County Courts was that our UT
emit Courts might be relieved OF con
siderable amount of small criminal bust
ness. small collection business, etc, and
that these matters, by means Of monthly
sessions Of the County Court, might be
more speedily attended to, In counties
having a County Judge competent to hold
such courts, the change works well Here
is what the Geneso Republic says about it,
in Henry county
Judge Human County Court is in scs-
sion and very busy about all the time. Its
criminal business is large, and it is prompt
ly and well done The enlarged jurlsdlc-
ton Of this court adds very materially TO
its duties, but with Judge Human on the
bench, and Frank Nelton at the CLERK. :
desk everything runs as smooth as clock
work and the business is done to the sat
sfaction OF the public. Both the gentle
men named are admirably fitted Tor the
responsible position filled by them, and
no men are more popular in the county
than they are.
Judge Human has a legal education.
and understands perfectly well how to con
duct such Court
In this County, there has been little
business next 10 none at ALL transacted III
the County Court, for the simple reason
that our County Judge does not possess
the legal knowledge necessary to hold and
properly conduct such a court We think
il is true that, when he was elected the
jurisdiction Of the court had not been en-.
largcd, but it was in contemplation to
enlarge It if II had not already been done.
IL is with no desire 10 disparagc Judge
Guyer that we say these things in regard
10 his legal knowledge, nor from any dis
respect to HIM We speak of it because
il is true. He knows it at well as any one
lie knows that he never had a legal educa
ton and Is not properly qualified to hold
such court This is not his fault. but is
the fault Of those who elected him. The
people who cared more for the proper or
ganization Of this Court than they did for
party politics voted for Mr.. Banding for
County Judge, and he only lacked some
fifty votes Of an election. He is most
accomplished gentleman q learned lawyer.
perfectly well qualified for Circuit Judge
and more free from partizanship than Mr.
Guyer But party drill aud the party
lash prevailed. and Guyer was squeezed
into a place he is not able to fill and the
public business suffers thereby.
The Union endeavors to cover up the
weakness Of MIR. Guyer by the following
from its issue Of last Thursday:
Some features Of the new County Court
law need amendment The law seems 70
presume that jury panel will be made
each month, ready to try any cases that
may come up But in the smaller counties
there may not bee a single case requiring n
jury, and a Judge who has any regard for
the expenses Of the county will not inAict
the cost on the people unless there Is some
thing for the jury 70 do. Judge Guver has
acted prudently in the matter and sum
moned no iuries except when absolutely
necessary. The law, in his judgment,
should be So amended that when q case
comes up that requires jury, it can be
summoned without going through the
iormality OF the procedure in the Circuit
Court and without the necessary delay
Is Rock Island county one Of the
smaller counties in Illinois? OF course
not Everybody knows better. The pro-
posed amendment may he well enough
we have nothing to say against it for the
smaller counties but the article is a mere
fetch to pacify the people and show
them why our County Court does little or
no business The real reason Is that all
our lawyers know that Mr. Guyer is not
qualified To do the business and never can
bo, and for that reason, and that only
they will not bring cases in his court We
have no sort orle,irc toiniurc Nr. Guyrr
feelings when We say this 1t Is true
Everybody know, it To be true. And it i
the duty Of the Press TO say it. in order
that the public may apply the proper
remedy Mr. GUycr does not need the
office and he ], not properly qualified to
fill It, 1t l. mot probable that any one
would attempt his removal for ucompe-
teucy and it is probable that he will hold
it ill next fall when hi, term will expire.
But if he would resign it in time for h-
successor 10 be elected az the April town
ship meetings, and let some competent
lawyer step into his place he would confer
q benefit on the public service. We do
not care who the man may be, or what his
politics SO that he possesses the necessary
qualifications for the place and can raise the
Court to the dignity and respect intended
for It hy the trainers of our new Cuustitu
ton. People could then get speedy action
upon all matters within the jurisdiction
OF that court and thus be- relieved Of the
vtaris5mc delay, which are inevitable 10
alt case iu Uur Circuif gourt