The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-08-27
COUNTY COURT system.


Evils ola Democratic Institution.
The following article is from the Fay
cite county Enterprise. 1t will be seen
that the levy is largely increased in that
county one densely Democratic. q.
The financial statement Of Fayette coun-
tv, published in this paper, furnishes food
for profound thought and meditation, and
ought not to be slightly passed over. II
shows conclusively that the County Court
system Is Vicious and detrimental to the
best interests OF the people. When We
allude to the County Court, we mean the
system, and not the court or those who
compose it, for, in in our opinion, the
members nro hard working citizens who
have the best interests OF the people at
heart, and are doing all in their power to
tighten the burdens of the taxpayers Of
our county, and otherwise give rollei.
While others attack he court, tUe k1l0lr they are
mistaken il is The system that CduSes Ouicry,
We will present q few figures, taken
from tho statement itself, and to which we
refer our readers that they may know we
are correct, showing the cost Of running
the court one year. They will sec that
during the fiscal year ending In July, 1873,
Il hps post nearly rs much "a al The county
expenditure In Tho year ISL, before the
county court was resurrectcd from the
grave Of the past.
The County Court was in session during
the year, thirty.scvcn days, which for pay
to the Court alone, cost $500; grand iuries
cost s105 95; petit juriOs, $500 90 Total
costs OF court and juries, 81 ,l06 s..
Out OF this time OF thirty.seven days,
the court was actually engaged in admin
istering the police and fiscal affairs Of the
county onlytwelye days, at IN actual cost
for tho purpose, OF only S'la4. Now, what
have We got In return for the other twenty
tiye days, and the expenditures OF the bal
anCe OF S7S2 s. to be accounted for? We
will show from the records OF the Clerk of
the County Court, that for this sum OF
S7S2 s. the court has set twenty-five days
and has disposed OF nineteen cases by
trial, mud six cnses have been dismissed,
making in all twenty-five civil cases dis
posed OF during tho year; Of this number,
seven were appeals, six original suits
brought in the County Court, eleven
transfers from Justice, and one condemns
ton case.
Amount OF judgment rendered in these
cases are rs follows: '.fE
IN appeal y y
In original Sy 70
In transfer zu "
In condemnation case zoo ~
Total amount Of judgements. ......,...".ss9a Is
Total amount Of Judgements in excess
OF expenses Of running the court during
these twenty-five days, is Sll2 So.
OF the cases tried by the County Court
during the year, three have been reversed
by the Circuit Court.
In view OF the foregoing facts, is It not
for our interests as tux payers to change
tho system or abolish It altogether? I'm
der tho constitution OF 1868, our taxes
never exceeded 60 cents on the Sl0O val
uation OF property, and in the year 1871
our taxes were but 80 cents on the 500.
Since the adoption OF the constitution OF
1872, and with It the resurrection Of the
County Court system, our tdfeS mare 6een
95 cents on The $l00, and Hore than al, our
county is Hrrai thousand d0tdre IN debt, all oil
which has been contracted since 1872.
We have remedy in our handsif wewill
but use It, and that Is to demand Of the
next legislature m amendment to the Con-
stitution abolishing the system, and in it,
place substituting tho Circuit Court for the
trial OF causes, and q Bourt Of Commits.
sioners to attend to the police and fiscal
affairs OF the county. In this way wi be
brought about q loss expensive mode Of
doing Just what tho County Court wa,
erected for, and the cry OF high taxes will
cease In tho land. Will THEY DO IT?
The Charleston (Kanawha Coz Lsdde'
informs us that the County Court Of that
county recently laid o levy for S9,S tor
nav of Jurors for the last year. Sheriff
Roslcs, says the Lauder, "has already paid
over $1,000 for that purpose and there ore
outstanding juror tickets yet unpaid.
This Is the way people arc cheated into the
belief that the County Court does not In
crease taxes and Is m economical system
generally, The County Court Isl Dem
ocratic Institution and It dare not tell the
people how much money It really requires
10 run It. Shame on your be honest
enough to lot The voters Of kanawha know
| TINT the system Is ruinous to their interests,
and they will relieve you OF the necessity
OF any further connection with 1t. Tn
Co,tni1 Court ia Democratic Institution"
i