The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1878-07-27
The treasurer's Office is equally crowded. and

The treasurer's office sequally crowded, and
it is not an unfrequent sight to see men in tax
paying time filling the little cubby-hole where
the treasurer is obliged to receive taxes, and
extend IN a line into the hall outside, awaiting
their turn to jam in.
| When the Judge asserts that mo more par.
ties, jurors, or even spectators are required to
attend upon cause than formerly" he must
have been dreaming. Thirty years ago the
dockets Of the circuit court numbered about
100 civil and 10 to % criminal cases; court net
twice IL year, and lasted from two days to week
Now, at the last January term OF this court
the docket figured nine hundred and thirty
eight cases. and at the present term after an
almost continuous session since last June, not
withstanding the vigorous and determined eff
forts of Judges McRoberts, Leland and Good
speed, the present term began with SIX hundred
and ninety-seven cases. When the grand jury
is in session-thelr meetings formerly lasting
two wecks-there are frequently, as at the pres
ent term, three jurics out at once, and our per
lection of pecrections in the way OF court
| mouse nus Dul one jury lOoul!
The suggestion made by Judge Cation, that
the basement of the court house can be utilized
for depository of the records, is the height OF
lunacy What that sab.cellar, where rats
mice, cock-roaches and fetid moisture breet
and accumulate like the lice of Egypt, ant
equally pestilential? Not record sunk il
that foul pit would remain readable 81,
months, and in IA year all would become ;
mouldy pulp of rottonness. This sink hole,
part of the basement next the JAIL with NJ
light or ventilation, fit place for county of
fees and records! place condemned by
Judges and grand juries for years as ian unfi
place In which to confnc human beings
this, forsooth, the Judge thinks could be made
lovely, sweet and wholesome.
The learned Judge advocates new jail
though, and recommends that, If built at dis
lance from the court house, the prisoners coulC
be conveyed to and from the premises in car
riages. Lucky thought The county shoul(
provide elegant turn-outs, grooms, outriders
and guard of honor for thieves, rapists, rob
DcIS, HluTucrtTS, anu cNcly SUI vi Huiilui uC
pravity, and condemn the county officers TO Thu
cells in the dank gloom Of the court houst
basement among vermn and the aggregated
filth of nearly forty years, among rats and cock
reaches!
! In stating that tits proposed to spend $500,
600 for the new court house, the Judge did no
do himself credit, besides rejecting in mos
uncourteous manner upon the action of thu
committee of the Board Of Supervisors wh'
recently,after Il most careful examination Of thu
whole subject recommended a plain substan
tial stone building, and distinctly declared
against useless ornamenation. They fixed th'
price at $4,000 and no more.
In conclusion we quote the Judge, who men
tons that mot one in fifty of the taxpayer
of the county enters the court room once il
five wears" The loose statements made by
the learned Judge induce the belief that h'
must be classed among thcnumber OF illpoStet
citizens. Let him enter the court house. lool
through the records, see the condition of things
and he will be wiser man, and probably be
come satisfied that the La Sale county of to
day has far outgrown the La Sale county o
thirty years ago, and that the court house ha,
outlived Its day and generation, a.