The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-01-20

| - Ssas-A4taSs AA eAA AS1t1AANANA tAARSSo "
the changes alluded TO. Our system o
laws must be In accord instead oi in con
alct with the great revolution that has
taken place. Instead, therefore, Of going
back TO find q mode Of jurisprudence
suited 10 the wants and interests OF tht
people Of the State Of West Virginia, w
sholld have retained the county organ.
ization we had and the courts as they
stood. 'la..s.. .- -
THE OLD SYSTEM AND THE NEW con-
'lHs TRAsTRD. "..
] But as our especial object Is to show
the detects Of the present Constitution
and Rs we have already called attention
70 the present County Court system as On
Illustration Of these defects, we propose q
contine ourselves 10 this point In this
article. If 1.-THE trainers Of the new Consti'
tuition had carefully considered and count
ed the cost of the two systems, and had
been actuated by q desire to promote the
best interests Of the people rather than
simply to gratiiy their prejudices against
the existing county organiz2tions-ior no
better reason than that they were inno-
VatIng upon the old order OF things-dif-
ferent conclusions would have been
reached. But, acting on the principle
that no good could come out Of Nazareth,
they thought It their duty 10 overthrow
the township system, not on account Of
any defects 1t contained, but because It
smacked too much Of Yankee precedent
to be maintained.
THE UNFORTUNATE AsCERDENCY OF TIE
as . BoURBoNs.
Something had to be done to appease
the wrath OF the Bourbons. Some sacri.
fee had TO be offered on the altar Of in.
suited dignity. Something had 10 be done
70 show that VIC had the power IN our
Democratic hands-that we held the
offices and that we were determined to be
not only heard but felt, even II the public
interests had to suffer the consequences
and the Treasury Of the State bear the
expenses. Az .'-'
WHY TIE VIRGINIA. SYSTEM WAS UNsUIT-
20 ss. n = I'D TO Us. -isi
There was time under the old Com
mOnwealth Of Virginia when the white
population was sparse and scattered, and
when . lew landholders controlled the
police, fiscal and TO some extent the Judi.
cial aftairs Of the country. Ny lords, the
justices, were y learned and dignifled
body Of baronial sort OF men, who prided
themselves upon the manner 10 which
they administered Justice and cared for
the welfare OF the people without money
and without price. The Old Virginia
gentlemen sought the office not from any
mercenary motives but only for the honor
and dignity conferred. They had the
pride and leisure 10 inform themselves as
TO their duties. There were among them
now and then men whose qualifications
would have fitted them for the Supreme
Bench. Their duties, however, were not
onerous, inasmuch ss there was no great
amount Of legislation. The expenses at,
tending such q County Court system were
small. But how different Is It in our State
nowp Parties are elected members oi
the court not Tor any qualifications they
possess, but with an eye single 10 their
political bias. OF course there are hon
orable exceptions. But suppose, lor the
sake OF argument they were all compe-
tent'men and equal to the duties imposed
upon them. Still the same objections
would hold good against the system
Itself, viz: that Of not being adapted To
the wants and condition OF the people.
IT IS TOO UNwIELDY, EXPENSIVE AND
e. Ida, CuNDERsoME.
Whilstit has absorbed IN great meas.
ute the old and comparatively inexpen.
siye jurisdiction oil magistrates It has cur.
tailed very little II any Of the litigation
before the Circuit Courts The best way
To Judge OF q tree Is by Its fruits. Let us
therefore examine briefly the modus oper.
Rndt Of procedure under the two systems,
the old and the new diSpensations Before
the new Constitution went into effect The
Boards Of Supervisors performed all the
duties now devolylng on the County
Courts excepting those OF q strictly iudic.
ial character, and they gave general salts.
faction. Incompetent men were some
times chOAen under that system as under
the present, and as under all systems.
The Boards were limited to four regular
meetings per year and received as com.
pensation for their services two dollars
per day for the time actually employed,
and LIN NO case could any member receive
IN any one year over fifty dollars for his
services, The regular Township lMagis.
trates with scarcely any expense to the
counties, together with the Circuit Courts,
heard all the complaints, tried all the
causes, civil and criminal Yoyer which
they had Jurisdiction, and we heard no
complaints Of fjudges being overtasked or
of justice in any way suffering from delay
or other cause.
TIE RELATIVE EXPENSES. 0l
Take for example an average, county
with five townships: There were two
supervisors for each township or ten In
all. A fair compensation would be $25
each. These and the extra per diem for