The Russellville Democrat., 1878-05-30
THE COURT HOUSE.
ArkIxs, ARxs., May 37, 1878


 ArKIxs, ARxs., May 27, 1878. s
 EDuroR DEMocRAr: Permit me, through the columns of our dear Democrat, to enquire what has be- come of the County Seat question: Has died natural death; or IS it as some writer has said: Every body is afraid to touch it. Ifthis be the case why not go to work and repair the Court House? Though it seems, in article of Judge Wilson's, address ed to the people of Pope Co. in your issue of April 25th, the Judge de cides that he has no legal authority to do anything by way of repairing the house until October next. Now, MT. Editor, is it possible that with in the (say) last forty years, our General Assembly, who were select ed every two years, composed of the best men in the state LOT should be -and these men, assembled in our Legislative halls twenty times, cost ing the state millions of dollars, and yet they have failed to enact law which would, not only authorize, but make it the imperative duty of the County Courts of the several coun- ties, to take immediate steps to save a county building from total destruc- tion, which building, from stroke by lightning or other cause, was in a condition to soon become lost, and totally so, to the county. Simply ask the question: is it possible that this is so? If it is, I think it high time our legislators were walked up on the subject. But let us see if something has not already been done We'll, we have but to turn to page 29I, chapter 42, section 19 of Gould s Digest, where we will find these sig nificant words: The County Court shall have power, from time to time, to alter, repair or rebuild any county buildidg they shall, n,oreov- CT, take such measures as shall be nec- essary to preserve allbuildings and property of the county from waste or damages. Approved Nov. g, 1887. This looks to me like getting right at the matter, at an early day too. What does Gautts Digest say? At section 66S you will find precisely the same law re-enacted and revised by an act of April 1873. Very we'll 1; but does the present constitution au. !. thorize the County Court thus to actS Article [, section 28, in defin- the jurisdiction of County Courts, after enumersting many items, says: The disbursement of money for county purposes, and in every other case that may be necessary to inter- nal improvement and local concerns of the respective county" shall be controlled by the County Courts.
 We'll, now the only question that occurs to my mind is: Who is the County Court? Is it not composed of the County Judge for the transaction of all county business, excepting, of course, the levying of taxes &c.
 k A word as to Attorney General Henderson's opinion, as given in Judge Wilson's article; Tho Attor- ncv General was not asked by Mir Wilson if the County Court had, or had not, authority to repair tho Court House, His decision does not affect that matter; it affects the question only, as propounded to him, of calling a quorum of Magistrate. Now, MT. Editor, l sec that my arti- cle has already grown too long, but permit me, as taxpayer, to say that l desire to see the golden rule adopted Tn all cases. Taking in the account the present indebtedness of the county, the necessarily high tax ation, and injustice it would do the people of tue extreme northern and middle nof1Ions of the county, am Tn favor ofrepairing the Court House at once and letting the County Seat alone for the present. will give my views further on this point at some future time. if necessary.
 Yours Respectfully,
 WM. REYNOLDS. CABIN CREEK, Ark, May IS, 1878.