The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1873-09-20
For The Cecil W
THE PEOPLES WRONGS.
No. 10.

continue the subject through the medium
of Tie Wig.
In this number l propose to review the
Fourth Article Of the Constitution, on the
Judiciary, and l think the people will be
satisfied of the truth of my proposition in
the last number, that "many of the peo-
pies wrongs have their origin in the organic
law of the State"
The convention which framed the pres
ent Constitution, was composed of one hun
dred and eighteen members. OF that num-
Der there were forty five lawyers, and but
thirty-feur farmers and thirty-ninc of var
ious other callings.
From this statement it appears that the
lawyers outnumbered any other profession,
represented in the Convention, and if we
take into the account their superior tact
and ability to manage such bodies, togeth-
er with their unity of purpose, it would
not lie any exaggeration to call that body a
convention of lawyers.
The judiciary system framed by this
Convention, justifes the conclusion that
the lawyers exercised controlling influ-
ence in its deliberations, and that they
were more mindful to provide comfortable
seats for their own fraternity than to Sc
cure the prosperity of the people. The
entire expense OF our cumbersome judi
ciary, direct and indirect, must be some
where near $500, 900, probably more.
When we reflect that this immense
amount of money is mainly extracted from
the poor soil of a small State, it is no won
der that the farming interests languish and
people are leaving their old homesteads;: and
when they see their hard earned cash law
ished on one profession, it is not wonder
full that they complain. The Court of
Appeals consists of eight judges, at an
annual salary each of $500, making $685.
000 to which add the salaries of clerks and
other officers, printing, stationery, &C.,
amounting to perhaps $50, 900 more, max
ing the nice little sum of SIS, 600 for the
Court of Appeals, and I believe this Court
costs the people of the State 100000, but
say 5000, for l prefer to be within,
rather than above the truth.
There are in the counties seven judicial
circuits, each having three judges. The
chief justice of each circuit sits in the
Court Of Appeals, and his salary is therefore
counted i'll the expenses of that court, leav-
ing us fourteen associate judges at an
annual salary of 800 each, making $780,
200, to which add all the costly machinery
of clerks and deputies, bailiffs, crisrs and
other suckers. droEes and useless attaches,
which cannot be less than SO 600 or $780,
600, but take the smaller sum and add the
salaries of the judges $50, 200, and we have
$114,200 as the cost of seven circuit courts.
The eighth circuit court is in the city of
Baltimore. This court has one judge at a
salary of So, 500 and all the needed useless
as well as unnecessary, and antiquated
machinery, at a cost to the people of not
less than $20,000 making $23, 800. In
addition to the above, there are in the city
of Baltimore five other courts with as many
judges at salary of $4,000 each, or $780,
000 Then if the clerks, other officers, etc.
etc, cost as above $2O,O 900 each, we have
$l20, 600 of the peoples money swallowed
up in these five city courts. Now let me
rccapitulate and see where we are.
Court of Appeals, -. SIS, 900
Seven Circuit Courts, $4,000
One I" ." 23,j00
Other i've courts in Baltic, 100000
Total, 1885, 700
To which, if it were possible to know the
cost of our twenty-three Orphans Courts
with all their nameess costs and fees, law
full and unlawfu', and their army Of drones
and suckers. together with much that has
will appear that the judiciary system Of
Maryland costs the people Of the State not
one cent less than $500, 900. A more COM
plete system of injustice, extortion and
oppression can scarcely be found on the
face Of the earth, certainly not among civ
ilized people.
But this is not all. The Convention,
full of charity, lest there might be some
lawyer in Baltimore out of good place,
invested the Legislature with power to
create another court for that city and pro-
vide for the election Of another judge whose
salary and that of other officers Of the
court would be 100000 or 5000 more.
Whether the Legislature has acted under
this charitable provision | am not inform
ed; but it is fair to presume that the Leg
islature would be as obliging as the Con-
vention, and that the additional court has
been established, unless all the lawyers in
the city are making more at their practice
than four thousand dollars, the pay Of a
judge.
Under the Constitution of 1864 the Court
of Appeals consisted of five judges at sal
airy of So, 900 each, making So, 900 against
$685. coo, tritling difference of $13, 900 in
one court. Under that Constitution there
were thirteen circuits with one judge to IL
circuit at salary of 50, 800 per annum,
amounting to s3e, 500, now we have seven
circuits with IA associate judges whose
salary each is So, 500, making $50, 200, to
which add the salary of the judge of the
eighth circuit court SO, 500, and you have
$40 700 or difference Of $4,000 against
the present system. In Baltimore, instead
of six courts as at present, there were four
courts or three in addition to the circuit
court already noticed, that is to say, three
judges at a salary of $4,000, equal $4,000
against five judges at present at $4,000
equal 100000, difference in favor of the
lawyers and against the people of $11,O 900.
All told, the present system costs in the
item of Judges salaries alone S34, 200 more
than the late system, which was superseded
under the cry of retrenchment and reform.
Big ELK.
TAKE NOTICE
that you can buy of R1TTENuousE & HE'S
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MACHINE THREAD at cents; the best
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These are no bats, but simply an index of
our prices. We have the largest stock of