The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-05-14
GknGmteuiqenGer:
A Raid ON the Municipal Court In
COnncll.

Raid ON the Municipal Court in
Council.
A pretty vigorous attack on the Mu'
pcipsl Court was made in the Firs'
Branch Of Council last evening, by Capt
WILSON. The immediate proYocatioE
Was the regular appearance in the month
~ report Of the Committee on Accounts o
the police court fees which the city Is call
ed On to pay on account Of persons from
whom no fines Can be collected. Capt
WILSON animadverted severely on thii
feature OF tho police system. BE sale
that whenever arrests were made OF per
sons from whom no fine could be recov
cred, the clerk's and sergeanTs fees
amounting to over $5 in each case were
charged to the city. Such arrests were
Of daily occurrence. There was thus a
constant temptation to mako arrests
without adequate cause, and 1t was well
known that the sum paid by the city on
account OF arrests where no fines could
be collected amounted to many hundreds
Of dollars annually. lie thought this
city had too much judiciary. There
were too many courts. 1t was
making the administration Of JUS
tico too costly. Wheu tho, county
court was about being established we
made similar suggestion and we are
glad to sec the opinion reinforced in that
quarter. Capt. WILSON referred to the
fact that day or two since no less than
Tour courts were in session in this city at
one time, that there were no less than
three juries-twO grand and one petit
10 operation at once, and that not less than
hundred and fifty men were drawn
away from their work and business to
stand around the court house to meet The
demands Of this overgrown judicial ma.
chine-thus iniliCtlng serious losses on
the community in addition to the regular
expenses Of so many courts. Capt. WILL
son favored nbolishing the Municipal
Court. Ho said Tor the sun now paid to
the officers in police fees, a competent
gentleman combining In himself tho Iunc'
lions OI Judge and clerk OF police court
could be employed. The way to get rid
OF the court was to cut down the salary
Of the judge before the election now ap-
preaching; while something ought to be
done 10 relieve tho city from the payment
Of lees in the cases of the old bummers
who are hauled up in police court day
after day for no other purpose, as Mr..
WILSON intimated, than to afford oppor-
lunity to charge the city with fees. Mr.
WILSON prepared resolution, but did
not have opportunity to oll9f it, proVid-
ing for a committee to inquire into the
propreLy Of reducing the salaries Of the
Judge and Clerk Of the Municipal Court.
We believe the bar Of the city general
" advocate continuance OF this Court
They claim that 1t Is the most convenient
tor them aud for their clients OF all the
courts that sit here. We cannot under
take to express au opinion about this
We have heretofore expressed the belief
however, that, as Capt. WILSON said last
evening, this city has too much Judiciary,
1t may be q good thing for the legal pro-
iession, but it undoubtedly is expensive
to the people Of the city and county. II
there is any way to condensc our over
grown judiciary aud reduco the cost, we
should like to sec it done. The only
power Council has in the matter is over
the Municipal Court. 1t cannot abolish
the Court directly, but could do 1t in
elect, NO suppose. by reducing the pay SO
that nobody could DO induced to take the
position Of Judge, and by making other
provision for police court. If anything
in this direction Is to be done, It ought
10 be done, of course, before a Judge is
elected and enters upon his duties.