The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1878-11-29
45v
$50
S67 bo

1 rIoul tuis stdttiueut tucU. ~ Will De
seen. 70 satisfy petit larceny Of six
dollars, the people pay over eleven times
that amount OF money from their treas
ury. Suppose that at the next term of
court there are six culprits sentenced to
a term OF three months la the county
jail on just such charges as the one upon
whose imprisonment we have made our
lcnlcuation Instead of an outlay Of
$67 50 we find it would reach S4O5 90,
aud running 80 on through the year
$l.20u 60.
In many states this system Of feeding
and taitening men who have been adj
judged gully OF trivial offences has been
abolished, and the offenders made earn
their support at manual labor. Our
legislature should so alter this part of
the criminal code as TO make work n
part of the sentence. BY 50 doing the
taxpayers would be greatly relieved.
aud minor offences against the law less
ened. History demonstrates this fact.
Another reform can he made TO The law
governing township trustees. The pow
ers OF these officers are clearly beyond
the bounds OF reason and prudence.
Every Year thousands Of dollars are
squandcrcd in the name of "Charity.'
when ia truth. not one half of il Is right.
proper or necessary. Another fraud on
the people is that useless aud unnecessary
office. Superintendent Of county schools.
II should be abolished, aud thus several
hundred dollars more annually saved to
The taxpayers. The question Of cour,
officers cost ought also 10 occupy the
serious attention OF our legislators.
4 With some exceptions their fees are en-
tirely beyond what the condition Of the
country demands. Take single exam
Pile: A. B. Is subpocnaed AS witness.
he lives twenty miles from the seat oi
justice. For serving this process the
Sheriff j. allowed ten cents per mile
going and returning four dollars. The
witness in obcyaucc to the command oi
court responds with his presence. The
case, however. Is continued, as are two
thirds Of the suits after their commence
meni, and ut the next term the same
work Is performed again, the officer re-
cciving the usual fees for performing il.
Hence 10 get one witness III court the
the Sheriff alone receives FIGHT DOLLARS.
Add TO this the fees Of the witness and
one will begin 10 ace the expense OF
litigation. This system of H. ccing Is
radically wrong aud should be wiped of
the statute books, and n law so framed
that one service be sufficient for the at
tendance Of Witnesses. This can be
done. and BY II, men who are compelled
10 enter the courts, will not come out
eaten up by costs.
We give simply sample case TO Illus
trate the hardships OF the present law.
| In the settlement Of deccdcnt's estates,
our laws are entirely too loose in tile
powers granted guardians. executors and
administrators. In several States every
estate has 10 be settled up in certain
thine prescribed by law. and II has hceil
found that this system works we'll
There Is no use OF having administers.
ltors plodding carclcssIy along year after
year making unsatisfactory reports. and
Igradually eating up their dccedent'.
estates by costs when the whole thing
could be adjusted and settled In twelve
months. There are estates now III pro.
lcess OF settlement in Spencer county
THAT have hccn swallowed by the elc
phant ''cosi'-not one, but indeed mans
of them. Were our space suflicienil,
large we could produce dozens OF surl
wrongs as those 10 which your attentio,
has been called. They are the result d
hasty tempcrs, OF careless men whs
) slevidently did not consult the people,
interest when framing them. These ar,
times when the great law OF cconom,
lin public affairs should be rigidly obey
led. The people demand II, aud III,
legislator Of to-day. standing as he does
!. surrounded by monuments Of bank
: ruptcy and ruin, who needs not ihi
stern voice OF necessity, u falsc aud re-
'creant 10 the interests Of the country.