Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-01-07
More Of the Heavy Magistrates Pro-
gramme.

The Ceremony OF Reducing Judge Fer
Kiss Salary Pay Of the JauffOr Fixed
at commissioners Of the Poor
and Hail Elected Committee Ap-
pointed 60 Talk 90 the Legislature
AbOuf Costs.
Pursuant to adjournment the County
Court met at 10 A. Il. yesterday, JnO. Z.
FERRIS, Judge, in the chair, and a full
quorum Of the magistrates in attendance.
ATTENTION LEGIsLATOKsl
Justice Claiborne submitted a resOlu-
tion showing the costs Of the Circuit, Grim
inal, Chancery and Law Courts for the last
two terms Of each, aggTegating 81, ~,
and proposing 70 appoint a committee Of
six to memorable the Legislature for a
reduction Of these costs. Adopted Unani-
mously, and the following appointed as the
committee: Justices Claiborne, Baskette,
Maxey, Chatham, Gleases and Duling.
Judge FERRIS was added to the committee.
COMMISSIONERS OF THE POOR.
An election for Commissioners Of the
Poor being held, the following were chosen:
Justices Marshall. Sanders and TIylor.
JAIL COMMISSIONERS.
The election for Jail Commissioners for
the ensuing year resulted in the choice Of
Justices Bush, Bigley and Haynie.
JANIrOR's SALARY.
Justice MaXey moved that the salary Of
the Courthouse JanitOr be figed at $500.
Agreed TO.
THE JUDGES SALARY.
The hour Of - n. having arrived, the
fifth clause Of Justice Maxey's programme,
proposing to reduce the salary Of Judge
Ferries from $500 per annum to $500, in
addition to his per diem, was taken up.
Justice Wyatt moved to lay the PROPOSE
ton on the table. After discussion i'm
porting that court desired fl'l ventilation
Of the merits Of the case, the motion to lay
on the table was defeated, 20 voting aye
and 33 no.
Justice MaIey's rotund form emerged al
his accustomed place and the court gave
him full hearing. He had read the fol-
lowing clause, quoted from the State Con-
stitutIOn by the UNION AND AMERICAN:
"Tbe Judges Of the Supreme OF inferior
courts shall, a. stated times, receive a COM
pensatiOn for their services, to be ascertain
ed by law, which shall not be increased or
diminished during the time for which they
are elected
But, he said, when had the Judges salary
been fixed? That compensation came ont
Of the pockets of the poor taxpayers Of the
county. Ought the janitor's head be cut
of and that Of the Judge 60 free? He
thought the pruning knife ought to come
down on the judges salary, and in rebuttal
Of the clause in the Constitution, read the
following from the Code:
''The County Judge shall receive five
dollars per day during the sitting Of the
monthly ard quarterly courts, and the
several quarterly ccurts are hereby author
lied TO make additional compensation to
the Judge by appropriation fOT that purpose
to such amount as said quarterly court may
deem right"
Justice Claiborne cOntended with the
magistrates that the Constitution was
explicit on the subject and paramount.
Judge Duling moved that an agreed case
be made and referred to the Circuit, and,
if necessary, the Supreme Court. With
drawn after extended discussion.
Justice Walsh thought the j. d e salary
ought to be cut down, if possible, as a
measure Of economy.
Justice Baskette, Chairman pro TEN,
ruled that the Judge was entitled By law
to s. per day for actual services. and, as
financial agent Of the county, to as much as
the court might allow.
Justice Everett moved that the addition
al compensation be $3.50. Laid on the
table.
The previous question was called Tor and
sustained. and the vote was taken on JUS
tice Maxey's proposition to fix the addition
al compensation at $500, resulting as fol-
lows:
Voting aye-Bigley, Bowen, Bush, Clai-
borne. Chandler, Chickering, Childress,
Couch, Cheatbam, Creighton, Davidson,
Duling, Ehrheart, Galbraith, Graves, Har-
DIV, Howe, Kerrigan, Marshall, Maxey,
Aiavfeld, Norvell, Paul, PEBBLES, Saunders,
Simpkfns, James NJ. Shivers, Steele, Sulli-
van, Still, Taylor, Treppard, Wade, Walsh,
Wherry. Williams, Wright-37.
Voting no -Baskette, Butler, Brantley,
Campbell Harvey, Campbell Or. D.,
Coleman, Everett, Gleaves, Haynie, How
ell. Harris, Lapsley, Meacham, Miller,
Neylan, Phelan, Powers, Read, Scales,
Spain. SizemOre, Wyatt-22.
Several members declined TO vote.
Attention was called to the action Of the
County Court Of Wilson, with reference to
the Presidency Of the Tennessee and Pacif-
ic Railroad, but the court adjourned till
10 o'clock this morning, without taking any
action on this matter.