The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-02-05
Give U. Change in the Judiciary System

Give Us Change in the Judiciary system
lCOmmun cated.l
Propositions are now before the Legisla
tuIe 10 create Court of Appeals 10 this
State, and to reduce the fees of public off,
GERS. To the latter of the propositions have
no objection. A reform in that direction is
sorely needed; but to the former as al hon
orable citizen l respectfully protest. do
not believe the reform in our judiciary
sy stem most essential to the interests OF
the people of this Safe lies at that end of
the line.
That we have a wretched Judiciary sys-
tenn, the most expensive and tsrdy in the ap.
plicstion of its machinery that could be de-
vised, there can De no question. Our st
ices Courts are well euO lgh, perhaps as
they are. Our Boards OF County Commits
sioDeIs, instead O. being composed OF three
members, are generally, if rot IN every
county, mposed of four or i've members,
three elected and the rest selected BY the
three, at a greater ex pense 10 the people than
the elected members. AS our Circuie Courts
are now organized Ut is Iuinous to those who
have the temerity TO take the ODin
ion OF court or Jury upon
Question of supposed right.
With original jurisdiction OF almost every.
thii 9, these courts are monstrOus burden
upon the people, not so much in the way OF
taxation for their support, as in cost to llti-
giants. Reduction OF fees will help, but will
not cure this evil. In the country circuits
litiganis are necessarily made to wait with
their witnesses (whose per diem can not be
reduced much below the present rate) day
after daV fer the court 10 dispose OF probate
business misdemeanors, and causes OF minor
importance, their costs RAPIDLY accumulat-
ing, and often the most acrimonious Law
suits are those TO save themselves from the
burden of the costs the original difference
being lost sight OF in what thus becomes the
paramount question.
Now make suggestion to the Lsgisla-
ture for radical change, viz Strip the
Circuit Courts OF original jurisdiction of
robate, mlsdemeanors, and or civil actions
where the claim is less than $780, enlarge
the circuits, and let there be two sessions
each year, and relegate a large number of
Circuit judges to private life as last as their
terms OF office shall expire Create County
Court with jurisdiction of probate matters
miscemeanols, and of civil actions up to
$500, co extensive with the county And
make the judges of such couits ex Officio
members OF the Boards of County Commits
sioners. from the districts in which they
mey live These courts can be IN session,
practically, all the time, except when the
JUDGES SIT with county boards Let the
County Clerk be the Jerk Of the County as
we'll as the Circuit Courts and prohibit the
County Judge from prscticing in his IN OF
ether courts. Give to each countv Prose
cutting Attornfv. Make the salaries of the
Circuit Judges s. 600 OF the County Judges
from $1,000 to 81 500 according to popula-
tioL Of the counties and of the Prosecuting
Attorn eys 5000 with fees. Are not the bene-
fits TO be anticipated from such sys IN aD
parent? With the circuits enlarged and the
salary of the Circuit judges increased the
best ability would be found on the bench,
the Court dignifed, and it may be made the
appellate court in certain causes from the
County Courts and its decision made final,
thus tightening the work of the Supreme
Court. Causes of Importance can be speed ly
tried, and consequently with less expense.
The County Courts would be popular for the
lesser causes and there would be clear field
slways for trial without delay. The County
Boards would have judge 10 their bodies
and the expense of the extra members done
away with. While the defunct Circuit
JUDGES are holding out their terms, make
hem for such time ex otfici0 Judges of the
County Courts in the counties where they
i've. G..
F.bruarv 3