Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1873-01-04
The Legislature.

The Legislature,
Notwithstanding much time aas ben con-
vomcd by tlis body ia The djscr .iou Of sub
j-cts Which ought to have te,n postponed uu-
ei Others Of more importance Lad been dis
rosed Of, several acts have been passed ueces-
S'yy to the reorganization Of the State Govern
lneat under the new Constitution. Among
them are the following;
" An act providing for tie qualifications Of
the Presidents Of the County Courts Clerks Of
the Circuit and County Courts, Prosecuting
Attorneys, Sheriis. Assessors, Surveyors of
Lands, Justices Of tire Peace and Coustables
who were elected ca the 22l day 0f August
1872"
This act merely indicates the manner in
which these officers shall qualify; andif they
have net already qualified gives them sixty
days frsm Dec, 20 1872, to DO 50.
Al act providing for County Courts aud
defining their Jurisdiction"
SIN terms Of the Cour, are required {, be
held-two for fiscal and police purposes, and
four for judicial business. This Court has
original jurisdiction in all matters in centre
versy which exceeds twenty dollars, and also
10 all cases Of ha5eas corpus, qvo lrayraRto,
uandamus. prohibition, certorari, and 10 all
suits Of equity, in all matters Of probate the
appointment and qualification Of personal
representatives, guardians, curators, aud the
settlement Of their accounts. aud in al mat
tiers relating to apprentices and Of an criminal
cases uEder the grade Of felony. It has also
the superilteudaDce and administration Of the
internal and police and fiscal affairs Of the
county including the establishment and resu-
laton Of roads, ways, bridges, public landings
ferries, mills, with authority to lay aud dis
burse the counties.
In all cases where a levy is laid, majority
Of all the justices elected in the county shall
be necessary to Constitute a quorum fer the
transaction Of business.
All matters pending before the Board 81
Supervisors on the lst day Of January, 1878
are transferred to the court,
Appeals from justices lie TO It.
The terms Of the County Court for Jefferson
are on the third Monday in February, April
June, August, October aud December Of each
year
By an act approved Dec. o. 1872, the clerk
Of The County Court viii have the same pow
ers and perform the same duties, iu relation &
receiving Acknowledgements. or proof O. ad
hitting to record. listing and certifying deeds
contracts, powers Of attorney, inventories aut
o.her writings and docketiug judgments anJ
DEGREES. and bends and recoguizauces having
the force Of judgments and recording Us PEN
deus and attachments and the issuing Of mar
rage licenses, as the recorder. whose office la.
been abolished, has heretofore had.
The time until the close Of the second tern
Of the Court of Appeals, to be he.din theyear
1878, has been given TO transfer appeals pen
ag on the 10Th Of June 1858 in the Court o.
appeals Of Virginia, to the Court Of Ap-
peals Of West Virginia, from the courts 81
the territory comprising IVES; Virginia.
A very important act has also been passed
reducing the fees Of officers thirty or forty
per cent below those allowed under the old
regime. These reductions affect the fees Of d,
Clerks Of courts, surveyors, notaries public
commissioners il chancery, receivers, special
commissioners. sherifs. justices Of the peace
coastab.es, jailors and prosecuting attorneys
Some very salutary regulations are provided
ID reference 70 the collection Of taxes. The
Sheriff or collector is allowed upon the FIRST
five thousand dollars, or fractional part thereof
seven and one-half per cent; upon the second
i've thousand dollars or fractional part thereof
five per cent; upon the third five Thousand
dollars, three per cent aud upon all suns ex-
cseding fifteen thousand dollars. TWO per cent
AMI if the sheriff OF collector ha O. pay into
tie treasury The taxes within the tine required
by law. be foriei,s ole-ftth Of bis commissions.
lie gets the same for collecting the County ls-
w.
The Prosecuting Attorney for the county
viii hereafter receive $3.50 instead Of $500 as
Lere.7fcrs.