The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1881-01-19
Governors Message.

! 1HI OE-N Eh<AII OOLNDl14ON VI L IL
s.-ur.. .a.. 3. STATE. q. #
! I3 / have the pleasure of communi-
eating to you the gratifying fact
that the officers of the State, in ev-
cry department, so far as my knowl-
edge and information extend, have
performed the duties Of their re
spective Offices diligently and faith
fully. All of the trustees of the
State, charged with the collection of
the revenue, have faithfully collect
ed and paid into the treasury every
dollar due the State. There is but
one trustee in apparent default, and
that for a trifing sum, the justice of
which he disputes. ..s. g..
With the exception Of occasional
mob violence, provoked by crime of
unusual enormity, the regular ad-
ministration ofjustice has not been
disturbed. ,...-. ........ .....
Although the report of the Comp
troller shows a continued decrease
in the value of the taxable property
of the State, yet the evidences of re-
turning prosperity and increasing
wealth are abundant. 1t appears
that in Shelby county the material
decrease has occurred The pestil-
ence of 1873 and 1879 is the obvious
cause of the decrease. The wise
and timely legislation of the last
General Assembly, supplemented by
the courage and enterprise of her
people, raised Memphis to her feet.
Her vast advantages, now unfetter-
ed, give promise of unexpected
growth and prosperity, and it may
be reasonably expected that all she
has lost will be speedily regained.
g For several years our State gov
ernment has been distinguished for
the economy of its administration,
and the fact appears in the report Of
the Comptroller that its administra-
ton for the last two years has cost
less than any period Of two years
within twenty years. . ..a. II
Ordinarily the expense of govern
ment enlarges with increasing popu
lation, but by prudent legislation
the expense of our government has |
been steadily reduced, while our
has largely increased.
There is but little remaining to
be done, by legislation, in retrench-
ment in the expense of the govern
ment, except in the matter of
r. CRIMINAL COSTS. +. hra
1t appears from the report of the |
Comptroller that this item forms a
large part Of the total sum of ex-
penditure. Following the recon-
of my immediate prede-
cessor, in a former message, / sug-
gested that the counties be required |
to pay the costs Of criminal prosecu-
tons. / am satisfied if such legis-
Lation is adopted it will prove spe-
oific remedy for a very expensive |
evil 1t is impossible for judges, at |
torneys general and clerks, in the
hurry incident to a closing court, to /
exercise that care and diligence
to prevent errors and
frauds in taxing COST Ifthe burden
Of payment of cost is laid upon the
coupled with the power to
revise the bill of costs, the officers
Of the counties, with the means at
hand to test the verify of each bill
Of costs, will take care that no i'm
proper payments are made. In In
diana and perhaps other States no
costs are paid by either
State or county. | am informed
that trial of the system has shown
It to be eminently salutary. 1t
abOlishes the professional juror, the
professional witness, the profession
ii cost broker, and enables jurors to
render verdicts without delay.
Assuming a change so radical will
ail to command your approval 1
recommend that the payment of
,rimin@ costs be remitted to the
counties, leaving the counties free
% regulate the matter of costs each
or itself, but to prevent possible
abuse, all items of cost, with the
maximum amounts should be en-
oraced in a single act, and the coun-
les prohibited from exceeding the |
TENS and amounts fixed by the act.
Legislation of this character will re-
ieve the State Of the enormous bur-