The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-02-02
UNDINE.
RemOdeling the Judiciary System.

A'OinouOAAh0 oA" VuuAOldAJ OJoCOA'
A bill is being prepared and will
soon be introduced III the Legislature
providing fer Constitutional
amendment remodelling the judici-
AIRY system of the State. Ever since
the Constitution Of 1867 was adopted
there has been a good deal of com
laint over the cumbr0usneSS and ex-
pense Of the system. At almost
every session petitions have been
presented for a return to the old one
judge system. The Constitution of
1851 first broke up the old life tenure
and substituted a term of ten years.
In 1864 the term was heightened to
fifteen years, and so remained in the
Constitution of 1867. Up to 1867 the
Court of Appeals was an independent
Beach ; but the Constitution of 1867
provided for the election of three
Judges in each judicial circuit, one of
whom was to be member of the
Court of Appeals. One reason for
this multiplication of the judges is
said to have been the presence in the
Constitutional Convention of a great
many lawyers who had hankerings
aft er judgeships. In 1851 the salary
of thu judges # Circuit Courts was
50 900; in 1864, $500, and since 1867
$500. The salary Of Judge of the
Court of Appeals in 1851 was 2,5O0 :;
il. 1864. So 900, and since 1867, 50, 800.
The sa AIRY of Il Judge in Baltimore
was fixed at g, 800 in 1851 ; at -, 900
in 1864, and at So 800 in 1867, the C ty
Council being empowered to add 500
1t Is now proposed to paSs Il constr
to'lonal amendment returning to the
one Judge system and providing for
I'LL independent Court of Appeals, to
"e composed Of five judges instead Of
clght' as at present. Besides the
large reduction IN the number of tba
judges, the pay will he put back to
what II Was under the Constitution
OF 1864, and the salaries Of CLERKS of
the Courts will also be cut down Fl
Is proposed to cut down the term of
ONCE To ten years, as it was under fbn
Constitution of 1851. The Coustitu-
ton provides that a proposed amend.
hieht shall he PASSED by the vote of
three tilthS of all the members plec
tel to the Legislature, and shall he
submitted to the people at the next
ensuing election, but one If III, f.a
lures or the proposed amendment j.
That 1t shall be voted on at "A sppciaI
election. 80 that the present Judges
ha'I tie legislated out of office. and
IN If successors elected at the n.Xi
general election. This although not
'crordlng to the mode. prescribed by
ne Cons tuition, 1t is state would
Ne Justified by many preredents. and
nat the rattle ton of the amend
neht hy the people wnuil make if
'alhe, whether CT net it was voted ON
II the time prescribed in the Consti
utIon or NOT. Tne proposition will
'robahty win Republican support.
Or the reason that the party would
II all probability gain several Judges
t the election. At pre- ent the only
Judges on the bench who were Re.
nominees are Judge Bowie =,
nd Judge Pearre. If the proposed !
hange was made, they might elect t
9yeral. The great reduction in the l
'st of the present Judicial system, it !
thought would commend the
lange to the people. If carried
trough the result win he TO make
le next general election a sweeping t
fair. as it will include every cleo n
raj office'in the State. n