Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1881-12-31
GBt pailp GBronlflt.
Entered 81 the Fost-0iT1ce rs KnoTTirs, Tea
esssss, Is Second-claSs matter
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 81, 1881
HOW THE MONEY GOES.


would take the trouble to thoroughly
investigate the great drain upon the
treasury Of the State and Of the
several counties, they would be as
tonished at the result. IL is enor-
NOUS, and how to remedy the matter
is question that has exercised the
minds of our ablest fnanciers
and iurists. We have given this
matter some attention, and
we confess that is a great deal easier
to find the trouble than the proper
remedy.
We believe that q remedy which
has often been suggested but never
adopted, would prevent great deal
of trouble. We mean the PROPOSE
ton to pay district attorneys fixed
salary, instead of fees III each case.
AS it now stands, the attorney gen
erals compensation depends upon
the number of indictments he can
get up. The more he can send, the
better his compensation. Hence, we
sometimes see as many as twenty
five or thirty cases made out against
one person, say for gaming. He is
not ablet TO pay the fine and costs in
such large numer Of cases, and if
he happens to be man without
property, as is generally the case, he
leaves the country before he Is ar
rested. The attorney general will
probably, at the next term of the
court, ask for an alias cdpias, which is
returned as before, and then asks that
the cases be placed on the retired
docket. The costs are taxed and the
county is compelled to pay them
two dollars and fifty cents In each
case, and that is the last of it. Or if
the offender should be arrested, he
goes to Jail, the iailer's fees must be
paid, he comes into court and pleads
guilty, or is found guilty and sent tc
the work-house, and the county must
pay the costs, which, in that instance
are five dollars to the attorney
General in each case. In many in
stances, if only from three to hal
dozen cases were sent against such {
man. he would secure the cost anC
the expense to the county would bt
insignificant. But the compensation
of the attorney general would be re
duced, and SO long as he can proven
this and keep within the bounds o
the law it is hard to resist the temp
tation. But if he were paid fair, fixed
salary there would be no such temp
tation, and the county treasury would
be subjected to no such a drain
Difficulties of this character may b.
confined to the cities and large
towns, and may not be so formidabl
in the rural districts.
There is one other source OF ex
pense to our county treasury tina
needs looking into. And like the on
above mentioned it applies wit
more force to cities and larger towns
We refer to the costs accruing Il
cases brought before justices Of til
peace. We are doubtless within tn
bounds of truth when we say tina
nineteen twentieths Of the cost
of this character pal
out of the Knox Count
treasury, comes through justices c
the peace in Knoxville. We max
no charges, but merely state what VI
understand to be facts These larg
bills of costs may be unavoidable, bu
we submit that they are of sufficien
Importance so justify investigation
RI it is found that the fault is wit
the laws, then the laws ought to b
amended. If the trouble comes GU
of too loose administration of th
law, then let the County Courts, i
making appropriations to pay thes
costs, apply the pruning knife wher'
ever it is possible.
With careful administration (