The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-05-30

hoping that the era of retrenchmenl
and reform will soon dawn upon them
but it don't dawn. The candidates al
make nice promises during campaigns
but after they are elected theI
are not at u loss for excuses tC
shift responsibilities from themselves
to others or to the Legis
lature. Perhaps a few will censure
the STATESMAN, but the many will
not, for saying that no small proper
ton of the Officeseekers are interested
in lively litigation. What is taken
out OF the peoples pockets by litiga-
ton goes into theirs, and hence they
like it. Even the legal fraternity
never become sore, nervous or greatly
distressed because the country is bur-
dened with litigation, for while eff
Gals are raking IN the costs they are
pocketing fees for legal services, ana
the people are aeeced first, last and all
the time. And yet they stand it, and
but few have the moral courage to
condemn what they know to be wrong
or the frankness to clsmor for a correc-
ton of the evils that exist in govern
ment. Some would demand the repeal of
bad or Ineffective laws if they had the
ability to draft bills for the considers
ton of the legislative branch of the
government, which would lessen liti-
CATION and bring relief to the people.
Any lawyer elected to the Leeisla-
ture could perform this service, but
the passage Of such a bill would not
only lessen fees in the future of ev-
cry lawyer in the Legislature, but
would perhaps brng down upon them
the quiet censure of the bar through
out the State, and when the cham
pions and prominent supporters of
such a bi cone up again for nomi-
nation they would be most beautifully
"hOrnea off," Professional politicians
and chronic oficeseekers are a queer
set. They have so many interests to
reconcile, so many enemies to punish
and friends to reward, that when once
elected they know not which way to
turn or what to do, and the result is
they turn both ways and every way
and spend all their time in shift
ing" and accomplish little or no
good for the people who elected them.
Whether they fail to do their duty for
the want of ability or because they lack
the willingness to do it, the result is
the same-the work needed is not done
and the people are cheated and imposed
upon.
But we started ont to show what it
costs to convict a thief of felony,
which will show the necessity for
change in the law, establishing a
speedier means of trial and different
punishment, the lash or the county
work house. A man Is arrested for
stealing a pony, a COW, a side of ba-
con, bulbs eye watch, an old gun or
pistol, or for committing assault with
intent to kill. To begin with, the
sheriff who makes the arrest gets from
The pockets of the people about $40;
county attorney, $50; district clerk,
SlO; average number Of days in Jail, |
ninety at forty cents, $50; jury fees
or one day, $24; pay of district
Judge, one day, 81; transportation of |
prisoner to Huntsville and return of |
,fficer, $50; total $167. This is the
minimum average cost of case finally
disposed of In the district court, to |
ay nothing of the costs in examining
courts before indictment is found |
md so we see that it costs heavily
% convict man Of felony and to get |
lin on the inside of a penitentiary.
Now, what we need. is a new law that
will secure the immediate trial by a
ustice of the peace or a county Judge
# any person arrested for the violation
# the country's laws, save those
harged with murder, that the costs
Incident to delays in trials and long
Confinement in county jsils, and trans
expenses to Huntsville, NAV
eavoi1ed. Every county and every city
hould be allowed to confine and con-
rol the great bulk of its own prisoners,
nd there should be means of making
hem work. If they do nothing but
FORK on the roads or break stone to
roads and streets, that
luch would be saved to the people.
What now costs $167, should be accom-
lished for one-tenth that amount, and
ne country would be better served be-
des.