Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1877-10-02
From the Lynchburg Virginian.
Retrenchment.

EDITOR VIRGINIAN:-I have, for
some months past, read your daily with
care and attention, and the firm and
manly stand you have taken on the
subject of retrenchment in the State
and county expenses commands my
most cordial appreciation. From my
standpoint, the retrenchment seems
most easily reached in the county. ex-
penses, and to this point permit me to
direct public attention. I refer, first, to
the present organization of portion Of
the judiciary of the State, for the pur-
pose Of contrasting 1t with the history
OF Virginia in the past. Here let me
premise that we owe the entire organ
izatlon, as it now exists, to the pa
terndI regards of an Ex-Governor, up-
held by Federal bayonets, and foisted
upon us during his term of office by a
subservient Legislature dominated in
numbers by ignorance, and whose CO.
hesive power was cemented by desire
to reward the partisan demagogues of
that hour and time in the appointment
OF any of their number to the Office of
county judge. Now what has been the
effect? Let US test it by facts and fig
ures. Leaving out of view the cities
and corporations, we have in all one
a few exceptions, only in sparsely set
tied sections of the State, every county
has its salaried county judge-in all
cases, paid by the assessment of taxes
on its citizens. do not desire to utter
a word in the way of criticism or cen.
sure on the legal ability or capacity of
any OF those at present filling this Office,
but it is on the point of retrenchment
and future economy that wish to pro-
pound few questions.
And, first: What is the aggregate
amount of salary paid to the present
judges of the county courts throughout
the State? ~.
And, next: In what way and man
ner is the present system, in meeting all
the demands of justice and in the set
tlement of ali county matters, any pos
sible improvement on the magistrates'
county court of former times, when re-
liable and competent men were content
to serve the people as magistrates, and,
by their chairman, or several of their
number if required, hold all the county
courts, with only the prospective Office
and emoluments of sheriff in view?
And again: Are there any criminal\
cases OF Importance now decided by any
county court judge beyond the capacity
OF an Intelligent magistrate to supervise
and preside over?
And, again: Is it not notoriously q
fact that all criminal cases of importance
are at present decided by the circuit
courts?
l do not wish to discuss these PROPOSE
tions. They appeal to- every citizens
common sense. They come home to ev-
cry tdrpayer's pocket, and, in any view,
afford the largest opening for retrench-
ment and economy that lies clear and
open before US.
Once more: "In days of yore" the
taxes OF every county in the State were
collected by the sheriff, and that, too, as
the past records abundantly prove, in a
prompt and efficient manner. The bond
of the sheriff was ample and reliable
Now, every one of the counties of the
State have q sdlaried county treasurer,
whose remuneration from the county
alone equals, on general average, that
of the county judge. Is this Office neces-
sary to the well being ofthe people or so
imperative that in the necessary prun-
ing operation it cannot be entirely dis
pensed with and all the duties involved
in its faithful performance committed to
the county sheriff?
And, lastly: How far towards making
good the deficiencies of the past few
years would the entire abolition of coun- q
ty judges and county treasurers go? I
pause for reply. ANXIOUS.