Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1879-01-18

report could be made by a revising COM
mission because an adjournment OF the
legislature for more than three days Is,
bv the terms of the constitution, an ad-
journment sine die; but you might pass
the general appropriation bill, and
bill for the better regulation OF the
treasury department, and for the secu-
rity of public moneys. and other bills OF
like important character, and also pro-
vide for the appointment OF revising
commission, who should prepare L re-
port by time to be named or designated
by the governor. the report should be
printed, and he should convene the leg
islature to revise the general laws OF
tho state-in short, to perform the duty
required to be performed by the forty
first section Of the fourth article OF the
constitution. | do not distrust the ca
pacity OF the legislature to perform the
work, but do believe that in the multi
fauous duties OF its members they Will
not make as good q revision OF the law
Us three able jurists of our state can
prepare. Therefore, if the legislature
will adjourn sine die, alter such laws
shall have been passed as will meet the
present exigencies, it could be convened
by proclamation oil the governor to make
the revision, and if it should be neces-
sary to pass any laws of an important
character during the called session, the
attention of the legislature could be
called to the subject by special message
from the governor, so that Legislation
could be had. In this manner an excel
lent revision can be obtained, and,
believe, with no more expense than il
the revision shall be undertaken without
the aid of revising commission. Both
sessions OF the legislature would not ex-
ceed in their length The period OF time
designated for revising session, or, II
this plan shall not meet with approval "a
commission to aid in the revision might
be in session simultaneously with the
legislature l deem the method first
named best The object is to have our
laws properly revised, and such labor
cannot be performed in haste, nor with
out great care and deliberate considera-
ton 1t must be borne in mind the
enactment of laws by the general assem-
bly, OF this state is slow process. Alter
a bill shall have been eDgrossed, it IS to
| be printed before it shall be put upon
its passage, and if amendments shall be
| adopted in the other house these amend
ments are also 10 be printed before final
action shall be had, and then every bill,
after it shall have been passed by both
houses, shall be read in extenso in each
house before the respective presiding
officers shall attest the passage OF the bill
by affixing to it their signatures.
SUPREME COURT.
The supreme court is now Oyerbur-
dened with business. The Judges have
arduous and important duties to perform,
which require close examination and pa
tient investigation. The business of the
court has greatly increased in the last
few wears, and some relet should be
furnished to suitors and to the court
Several plans have been suggested
One is to establish two appellate courts
one on the north side, the other on th'
south side of the Missouri river. ant
vest these with power similar to thos'
conferred on the st. Louis court oil ap
!. pea,s. Another plan is to appoint
commission of able jurists,t to which com
mission cases pending in the suprem
court shall be referred by that court, an
> those commissioners shall submit thei
: on the same to the supreme court TO
confirmation. and judgment to be enter
,, ed accordingly. And still another pla
,, is to add two more Judges to the 81
preme court; then organize the court II
to two tribunals, from time to time. t
; consist of at least three judges, and eac
tribunal may be in session at the sam
time and place, and the Judgment {
! each tribunal to be the judgment OF tn
= supreme court. But all the Judges sha
constitute the court when the censtit'
g ito, alitv oil an act OF the Legislature sha
= be drawn in question, and in crmin'
7. cases where the punishment may b
~ death or Imprisonment in the peniten:
). ary for life, and in cases where II
J amount in controversy shall exceed 500
. 600. There will then be one Judge, wh
= NAV be detailed to serve on either tt
, bunal in the event OF sickness or 9th,
8 inability to serve Of one of the Judge
y. The proposition last stated, think,
- preferable. These plans will requi
!" the constitution to be amended. III
!, delay attendant on litigation in the S
=, preme court amounts almost to denl
=, oil Justice. Many cases are taken to 81
y supreme court by reason of the del;
~ y, the judgment debtor will obtain; wher
=. as, if the cases should be speedily d
y ternlined, fewer cases would be TAX
- to this court. There were 974 cases
~ :. the docket of the supreme court at t
~ commencement OF its Octobe rterm, 1877
!. But during that year 427 cases had be
40 40 disposed Of including few cases whi
- had been submitted and taken under q
W -. visement And on the first day Of
~ :. October term, 1873, there were $50 cas-
showing the court had been unable
~ keep up with its business.
1t COSTS IN CRIMINAL CASES.
a ad There was appropriated for t
~ pay ment of costs in criminal ca:
eu the sum of 100000 for. the scrvi
10 of the years 1877 and 1878. A porti
uo W of this appropriation was expend
W in the payment of costs in CT imil
nu cases, where the fee-bills had he
...S filed with the auditor a short til
'o' baforc the close OF the year 1876. I
amount of these fee-bills is estimat
at S13 900, and ought to have be
, included in the deficiency approx
;n ;no alton. This appropriation of $40
~ ~ 600 was exhausted in the month
w toUeT laoI, anu sluCc tilal tltht Z
1. titicates of Indebtedness have be
lln issued OH all fee~blIls for costs
~ ~ criminal cases presented for audit
.u an the first day Of This month, and VIII
aii "a amounts to SAL ,0l9.57. Deduct
ILL.,. ,n the Sl3 200 above named from
Wy $500, 900 appropriated and adding
" tina. the sum of S4l ,0l9.57, the amol
,.r ,uo of certificates ot Indebtedness isst
'Lli m since last October, it makes
oe amount $425,019 81, IS the auol
Nv. justly charg sabl. - the cxpenditu
ECU under that head for the years l
;oi. and 1873. | had occasion to call
na' attention of the last legislature
an oh, the large expenditure of money
'Ii the suppression of crime anu
oe punishment of criminals. AT I,
:"s time it was urged a reduction Of tn
lse' ', expenses ought 10 be made. In
all- mer years, when costs in crimi
III, cases had become a large eXpenhiti
"is it was enacted that when the CO
~ 10 could he aud We're made from the
ne feGdants property. full costs sho
seu paid that is. the full fees as prescl
Hu- ed 10y law but when the costs w
cen 10 he paid by the state or by
are county, it was provided only c
oi half of the fees iouid be paid
ali" this provision extended to Al!
IL