The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1873-05-16
atheslina Aeaister.
The Mrnieipai Court.

There are now pending In TINS court,
q large DumbeI OF cases; many Of them
very important. A great portion OF
item involve the collection Of from a
thousand to fifteen thousand dollars.
Judge Good's death and the want oil a
Judge 10 cit for months back have de-.
layed the decision OF these suits already
most upjustly. lfthe city Council cuts
down the salary o! the Office of fudge
of this Court now, till either no one at
all, or no ore competent for it will take
the position, it will be mcst Aagrant
act Of oppression, and hasty action in
this matter is greatly to be deprecated.
These causes cannot be transferred to
any other court till the Legislature
meets next winter and provides by law
for such removal; delay which
would be equivalent TO denial oil JUS
tee (if no action is had till then in
court.) In the meantime claims sued
on asains, debtor defendants would in
all probability become hopeless: OF
course these suitors are minority oil
the community, and some are foreign
creditors, and they may have no rights
which msjority are bound to respect,
but il is hoped that snch spirit will
not be the prevailing one.
A session Of the State legislature has
Just ended, and had the City Council
addressed memorial to the legislature,
il the court is too expensive for the city,
no doubt it would have been abolished.
and the rights OF all parties saved by
the law providing for the transfer OF
causes pending in the court to other
courts for trial But no such action
was taken, nor was any asked for by
the Council. Now the court is proposed
TO be choked to death by cutting Oh
the Judges salary. This course, under
the circumstances. is most underhand-
ed and unfair. II matters are LETT as
they are, including the judges salary,
until next winter, the legislature would
then. on the request OF the Council,
abolish the court and make provisions
for the trans er OF its business 10 other
tribunals In the meantime compe
tent person could be got TO hold it's ses-
siops and try causes II the salary Is
reduced. no one fit will take the position
Of iudse, il any one at all will do so,
and cases OF magnitude now pendiog
must be let untried or be tried IN
manner equiva ent to no trial at all.
Economy is a good thing. but justice
ia a birher m after, and every consider
alton OF right is against the proposed
action al this time. II council find oy
next winter that the court does not
many times pay the business men OF
commercial place Ike this ior all II
costs them, by aifording them speedy
administration OF justice, and deliver
ance not otherwise or elsewhere attain
able from expensive, damaging and veX
atious delays, let the'cou-t be aoolishea'
;fit shall not be found too valuable TO
the public 10 render it advisable to do
40. But the legislature is the proper
powtr to do THE They can make the
necessary provisions for transferring Its
business. and TO them is contided the
mower OF abolshing aud. it is respect
inllv re represented, not to Couuc:l. W hei'
the CITY Council seek 10 do 80 by indl-
rectiou, OF course all the evils ensue
which are the invariahle consequence
ot one power in government In any
way undertaking TO exercise the iunc-
tions that properly belong TO others -,
Tue expense OF running the courttIl
next winter is not so tremendous az 10
Justify the infringement OF private
r;cbts on account thereof. Such course
would be unworthy the dignity, as
sell as the honesty o. the city towards
shose who in good iaith have brought
actions in her own corporation court.
When the hberality shown e'sew here
IN the city expenditures Is compared
with the undue parsrmony advocated
here, it certainly is hard TO understand
about it. Itis sincerely hoped that the
Council will not go out OF It's province 70
consummste an action which properly
belongs to the legislature, and which
IN all probability a'Ier its effects are
realized will be found TO hsrrass none
more than those now most earnest In
it's advocacy The writer is 8 lawyer
but does not think that .fact should
prejudice this communication, or that
the court should be continued or abol-
i-hed to suit any class, or any membe
OF fsny clas., hut ask the same candid
and deliberate consideration Tor what is
here advocated, as lit was said by any
other citizen, believing that the pubic
Justice and good support and are sup
ported hy the positions above taken.
TAX PAyRR