The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-01-23
A striking Proposition.

NEW ORLEANS. January "a. 1878.
Editor Den,ocrat-Reform Is fashionable. Let
us all reform. Reform Is the catchword-that
to TIE day let
Let us help on the good work: let u.s. each and
every sou of freedom among us. trot forward
let us every one give vent to our peculiar Ideas
OF the subject of reform. 80 that, much light
being thereby, thrown upon, the matter eur
legislators will not wander in darkness. In
the multitude OF counseors." the wise men tell
us, there is safety In accordance with these
views your correspondent will relieve himself
lately in conversation with certain gentlemen;
said hobby being related to the matter of reform
In the eours And these are the suggestions
That the clerk. elect whose duties are now
comprised in collecting and pocket ng the per-
auisites OF his office. should be required to keep
the minutes OF his court, and that he should
7. ceive fixed salary Of say $4,000 per annum.
That he should have allowed him th,ee depu,
ties who should rank respectively first. second
and third In office. and receive salaries proper
toned in accordance, we will say. $500 per an
mum to the first $500 to the second and $1,000 to
That there should be q regularly appointed
stenographer TO take all testimony in each
court at salary Of $1,000; the work In the steno-
responsibility equally as great as that of the
Query: How shall the money be obtained to
Fourth. Fifth and Sixth District Courts, about
5000 suits are Instituted yearly Why not pass
tute suit shall first pay to the Treasurer Of the
State a. sum approximating the amount for
which the suit filed? said sum to be in salsfac.
proceedings. and the clerk to issue the usual
papers upon receipt Of certificate from the
Treasurer Supposing the fees Or costs paid to to
to $780, So from $500 to $1,000, $40: from $1,000 to
s5ooo s25; over $4,000 to SO ooo $50. ETC. suppos-
ing from 5000 suits instituted an average Of sl5
$75t0O per aunum.
The combined salaries of the officials Of each
Tend 70
total for The five courts: and the balance could
~ towards paying the salaries OF the Judges.
nature in regard to the sheriff s office.
BY the adoption OF some such plan all litigants
would receive justice at an expense In accord
anee with the amount claimed; In other words.
a man claiming only 500 would not have to pay
as much as one claiming $1,000; the equity Of
such an arrangement is obvious. and It would
for whose benefit the machinery Of the courts is
established-i. e.. the litigants.
Should the objection be- raised. that. in such
an order of affairs the clerks would be inditfer-
emit, aud inattentiye to the performance of their
duties. q difficulty Of that character could
easily be remed cd by the insertion OF a section
wise 1t as whole, and any clerk found derelict
or incompetent should be subjected to an ex-
animation, and IL proved guilty should nave mis-
place supplied by another.
Constitutional Amendments.
Article 1872. If rigidly carried out; would ere
this have wrought the direst mischief to the
agricultural interests, and in thirty Vt ars would
destroy all scientific and expensive agriculture.
1t requires ali lands sold In pursuance to de-
cresa Of courts to b. divided in lots Of from ten
to fifty acres. The minute subdivision OF lands
In sparsely Inhabited State. where great In
equality Of fortune prevails, Is. impossible. In
every State it Is extremely detrimental to large
and we'll ordered agricultural operations.
Compare the state of agriculture in France
and England to-day, and the argument s over
whePlming against the policy Of the minute sub
ally abolished this article by repeating all laws
carrying 1t. into effect. But our Legislators take
an oath to support the constitution" This Is
no meaningless form. but solemn obligation.
It Is detrimental to good morals and a nice
sense OF obligat on for the law-givers to thus
evade constitutional requirement. Therefore.
take steps at once to have 1t expunged. ~
ICONOCLAST.
City Licenses are payable until the FIRST
instant at s per cent discount.