Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-01-28
THE JUDICIARY.
Interview with Senator Tarr,
Chairman of the Special Joint
Committee,

Hearing that the special joint commit
tccui the two Houses OF the Legislature,
appointed To- receive and report upon
all propositions made in either House
looking To change in the Judiciary
system of the State, had agreed upon IA
plan which had been embodied in
proposed amendment To the Constltu-
ton, Il REGISTER reporter visited Stna-
tor ". II. Tar, of Brooke county, the
able Chairman OF the Committee, yes
tcrlay, To get his views, and reflection
uf those of the Committee npOn the sub
icct. Mr.. Tarr stated that the report
was correct, and that the form ui II pro-
posed amendment of section VIII Ol the
Constitution would Lee reported To the
senate this morning. In reply Ia an in
quiry nc gave, ~ the salient features Ot
the proposed change, the following:
Instead al four supreme judges, a. in
the present system, il Is proposed Ia
have three, and the salary paid them
will b., a. now, =, 80 pcr aunum. The
County Court will be- entirely done
away with, with the exception ul thuSc
counties which have II special tribunal
in place Oi the County Court. The
State will be- divided into fifteen cirults,
ururling to the population, each cir
cult containing, as nearly a. possible,
3.;pO inhabitants Each ol these cir
cults, or districts, will be given one
Judge, with the exception at the First
District, i'm which there will be- two.
The salary of the circuit judges * fixed
al II ,GOl. This district will consist IT
Hancock, Brooke, Marshall and Ohio
counties. The fiscal business OF the
counties will hv transacted 10y board
ut commissioners, To- consist at three in
each county; it being provided that
Justices oi the fcarr may also lee com
miSSloucrs, that Is that one man may
hold the two positions.
What WAS the reason, our reporter
asked, iur reducing the number ri Cir.
cult Judges to thrvc'
Well, Mr.. Trr sail. three judges, il
was the unanimous opinion ui the Com
mitlce, could dn the business ul the
cuurt lust ~ we'll a. three. Resides this
WAS the consideration of economy. \
considerable saving will ui course liz Ell
irrt,d bv the reduction in number.
Now, Mr.. Tarr, your position as
I
also Of the Joint Committee will give
some weight 10 your uttcranCrs. Will
yuU please tell us something about the
inside workings IL the Committee?
Wcrc it, decisions reached with any de-
gree Of uuanimity' OF was there some
Disagreement
Cur discussions were perfectly har-
munipu~. amt all ul tine committee seem
% BE- Il the opinion that the plan l. a
guhl one. And a. they represent all
classes Of citizens, aud all portions ut the
STATE. and are, Withal, aide and expert
rnC,sd attorneys, think II i safe "a pre-
dict that the people will ~ nyorahl.
impressed. In addition to this, MEM
ts-rS II both houses had aCJtss to our
meetings, and e,ly took part in our de-
alterations, due weight being given to
their opinions.
What system will YOU p.nmmcn1 ia
ra..apl IL the manner IT conducting
courts in the First district
That vas a matter Of some discussion,
AMI the committee finally settled on
tn, plan. The two Judges can meet in
Wheeling aud Law out their work, one
taking one county and the other
another. They NAV III simultaneously
or otherwise. a. they SEE IT. And when
they cUJne a. ohio county they will
have equal jurisdiction and hold separ-
ate Courts.
Mr. farrstate,l thst he hal halnumer-
ca, letiers a,l,lreSSt,l 10 him making in
quiries on these subjects, and lac was
glad b. get IL before the public.
Thanking him for his courtesy. our re-
porter came away, impressed that the
special joint committee l. fortunate in
its chairman, rs we'll as in its other mem
hers.