Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1874-11-28
ECONOMY AND REFORM.

from all We can gather from our
State exchanges, we are satisfied that
the Legislators elect, embody more
chan an average amount Of intellect,
and this fact leads us to expect q cor
responding show Of wisdom in meas
ures of relief for the people. We are
not so utopian in our views. asto believe
that the State debt can be wiped out,
by legislative enactment--except on
the Johnsonian theory-but do be-
Iieye that system of economy can be
inaugurated which will make that debt
lighter, and satisfy the people that the
honor Of the State can be upheld with
out ruin 10 their material interests. |
Publicsentimentclearly demands legis-
lstion that will protect and foster agri- |
culture, the source of all wealth, as
we'll as the interests Of labor, upon |
whatever honest pursuit il may be ex-
PENDED. No class legislation is need
ed 10 ensure this protection, and the
first step should be general law re-
curing every species Of property to
bear its due proportion of he com
mon burden-nothing should be ex-
empted upon the plea of advancingre-
ligion or science. Such exemptions are
we'll enough in times of general pros
perity, when States can afford to De
liberal; but in times, like these, when
the producing classes are struggling
for bare subsistence. every species OF
property and its Representatives
boarded money and bonds-should be
made to contribute as much to the
revenue as the real estate which they
represent.
This initiatory step, wisely .aken
and properly secured, the next in or
der, will be retrenchment, by stopping
every leak and dispensing with every
officer, not vitality essential to an
efficient administration of the laws.
We do not endorse the policy, urged
by some, Of reducing salaries; on the
contrary, think salaries arelow enough,
lower perhaps, than true wisdom will
endorse, but we do insist that, where
ever il is practicable, salaries should
be fixed at given amount, and no per-
q1isites allowed Perquisites are a
temptation TO the weak and the av-
sricious, and can be made 80 TO COM
plicate accounts as TO facilitate frauds
shat are not readily detected, therefore
it 10 best in every case where il is
practicable, to fix, by law, the salaries
of oficials--making them liberal
enough to invite the services of intel
iigerce and efficiency TO the discharge
Of the duties pertaining to the Offices.
Knowing that they are both willing
and able to take care of themselves,
we shall not ask the lawyers, in the
Legislature, to enact laws initiating,
seriously, against their private inter
ests, but venture to suggest that they
give the people something like fair
showing under the Judiciary depart
ment- This they can do materially, by
simplifying the code of practice; By
removing obstacles TO speedy trial
bearing in mind that prompt and
speedy justice are inseparable from
all good governments, whatever may be
their Dominsl forms-by imposing as
lightly as possible upon outsiders, in
the way of attendance at court for the
settlement of other peoples business
those who are foolish enough to go
20 law. ought to pay well for the priv
ilege, but witnessesand jurymen should
be made to contribute as little as posi-
bic TO the payment, in loss oftime and
neglect of home duties-the question
should also be considered, how far
wise economy may be subserved by
dispensing with juries in civil
cases and, if demanded charging the
cost TO the party demanding it. But
the evil most complained of by the
people, is the heavy cost incurred. in
prosecuting criminals. They the
people-insist that the system shall be
changed, in some way, so as 10 dimin-
ish the cost to the county, piled up, at
every term Of the criminal court.
Some contend that there must be an
enlargement of the magistrates juris-
diction, in connection with a work
house for the prompt punishment OF
small offenders. Others argue that
this system will not work any diminu-
ton of costs, because the convicted !
parties will appeal to the Circuit |
Court, and that an appeal can not be /,
denied them without the violation o! |
q sacred right. This may be true, and !
IL is not for US to say whether the |
Legislature has, or has not, the power |
10 limit appeal from a Magistrates !
court, but it ought TO have that right 7
and exerciseit in cases where the pub /
lie good so largely preponderates over /
doubtful individual wrong, Itsmscks /
Of mawkish philanthropy and is a
nockery of justice TO talk of the Ea-
cred rights of chicken thieves. The
right Of appeal has to be limited 10
some point-to the Supreme Court, |
properly enough in State matters, and /.
where the life of an individual is at
stake, or some great principle is to be
settled, or some valuable interest is
20 be protected, but if the constitution
does not forbid it, the Legislature
ought to make magistrates jurisdic-
ton final in all misdemeanor cases. If
offenders do not like it, let them quit
stealing. There are other points, in
this connection, which ought to com
mand the attention of the Legislature,
but we have not space to ennumerate
them, nor is it necessary since the
members of that body carry instruc-
tions from home, upon all the points
Of reform demanded by their immedi-
ate constituents. And though the
Legislature can do much for the good