Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-07-05

pensed with altogether, or Jet the litigants,
who invoke their aid in settling private CON
trOversies, pay their expenses. In criminal
cases and where the government and the
private citizens are in antagonism, II IS no
doubt best to preserve trial by jury, and
three-fourths Of the number az should
convict, and let it be done al the public eX-
pense; but in private litigations between
private citizens, the interposition OF Jlries
are not needed. Questions OF fact in ciyll
cases could be as well, if not better, de-
termined by the trained mind of compe-
tent and honest judge. i have no means
at hand from which to give you III exact
figures what the jurors in civil cases cost
the people of the State annually. ven
ture, however, to say that it would not fall
much short of a quarter million dollars,
which could and should be saved.
THE LAWS DELAY.
The administration of Justice and lave
now too tarly, TOO expensive and uncertain
in its operations, and should be so simPli-
fled and SD rtened as 10 relieve us OF the
increased burden of taxation from this
source.
If these changes were made, the bus ness
in courts would be more rapidly disposed
of, and fewer judges would be required to
transact it.
ELECTION OF JUDGES.
The mode of electing judges by popular
vote should also be changed, as it is not
the plan best calculated 10 secure the high
est legal attainmentS for the bench. The
thorough lawyer is rarely the accomplished
electioneerer, and is least likely to succeed
in contest before the people, who, in the
Tho IN
determine upon the legal qualifications Of
a lawyer for the bench. The present sys-
TEN enables politicians, in many instances,
to secure positions of importance and
responsibility ON the bench. Let the Judges,
as was formerly the case, be appointed by
the Governor and confirmed by the Legs
lature or by the Senate. This plan gave to
the State the ableSt judiciary it has ever had.
COUNTY TRUSTEE.
There is aisinecue, useless and expensive
office in our midst, that should be dispens-
ed with. refer to the office of county
trustee. The commissions of the trustees
throughout the State amount to little, if
anything, under $4,000 or $50, 900 per an
mum for simply receiving from the
tax collectors and paving over
the public revenue. The tax col
lectors could just as readily pay to
the State or to the County Court Clerk.
Why not dispense with this Office, which is
a constitutional one at present, but wholly
unnecessary? In most of the counties
solvent banks could be found who
would pay bonus to keep the account.
GENERAL REFORM.
l favor a Constitutional Convention, and
would like to see it proceed, as the first
business in order, to Top OFF all
useless and unnecessary offices. We
have a multiplicity of tar collectors and
cOITtS-mOFe than there is any necessity
for-leading TO increased levies of taxes to
meet the deficiencies produced by the con
missions allowed and paid to them. We
not only have too many offices, but far too
much legislation. Give us a remOdeled
constitution, and provide that the Legisla-
ture shall not meet oftener than once in
four years, unless specially called together
by the Governor for the transaction of press
ing business. A great deal of the legisla-
tion of late years has not only been useless
but expensive, and our lands are to-day feel
ing its depressing influence. Let us act as
a people, IS prudent man acts when in
debt, viz: lop off ali superfluous expenses
until he is free, before We indulge ourselves
in such expensive Injuries as that of So
frequently calling together our legisla-
ture.
EnI-rA TTog