Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1886-01-15

suggest that no costs or district ct
/ tOrney's fee be allowed in prOsecu-
/ tons in circuit court Of all the classes
Of misdemeanOrs, the prosecution Of
which, in circuit courts, is desired to
be discouraged.
The allowance Of costs and fees in
Justice courts and denial Of them In
circuit courts VIII go far to effect the
object l deem so desirable. Certainly
is seems to me every legitimate means
should be employed to prevent the
great evil of the consumption of a
large part of the terms Of circuit
\ courts in the trial of petty cases, pros
ecuted in the name of the State, at
enormous expense, to result in case of
conviction in a fine of one dollar and
a district attorneys fee of ten or
twenty dollars. and fees to the clerk,
sheriff and witnesses to a considerable
amount, the last-named in many and
perhaps most instances to constitute
a charge upon the county treasury. l
deem it appropriate in this connection
to renew my recommendation made
| two years ago, that district attorneys
be compensated alone by reasonable
salaries. They are now paid a salary
of $3.50 per annum each, and are al
lowed fees on conviction varying in
amount with different offenses. This
is an evil. Fees should never be re-
sorted to as d means Of compensation,
when from the nature Of the case a
different mode can be adopted. Fixed
salaries should be provided in all cases
when practicable. If fees are allowed
on conviction they should 60 into
the public treasury. The administra-
ton of criminal law is grossly scan
dalized by the frequent instances Of
convictions of petty charges, followed
by a fine of one dollar and a fee Of ten
or twenty dollars to the district attor-
ney and other costs. In some of the
districts Of this State the fees of dis
trict attorneys amount to thousands
of dollars, far more than is realized by
the school fund from the convictions
he procures. This is a great wrong,
and shonld be promptly corrected. A
fair and reasonable salary, without
fees, will retain the services of the
present able and efficient district attor-
ney's, or cur others.
A reasonable addition to the present
salary will accomplish the desired OBJ
iect. They are allowed to practice law
as before their election, IN civil cases,
and the office will be well filled on the
plan proposed. Circuit Judges and
Chancellors, whose labors are far more
arduous than those of district attor-
ney, are paid s $500, and are not allow
ed to practice law.
There are l62 circuit courts annual
ly held in this State at a cost Of from
5000 900 to $300,000 Probably half
the time of the l52 courts is consumed
in the trial Of petty misdemeanors.
This is a great, and it seems a growing
evil, and should be promptly remedied,
and the taxpayers of the State relieved
from such an unjust and unnecessary
burden. There is no. feasible measure
that can be adopted that will so much
reduce county taxes as this suggestion,
the prompt adoption of which l ear
nestly urge. 1t must be remembered
that government is maintained by the
people Tor their benefit. 1t has not a
penny of its own. The people are en-
titled to the best attainable govern
ment, at the smallest POSSIBLE cost,
therefore every superfluous expense
should be promptly abolished.
Fees should only be allowed, where,
from the nature of the case, no other
mode is admissible. Just compensa-
ton should be given to all engaged in
the public service, but it should in ev-
cry instance be fixed by law, so that
no uncertainty may exist as to the
emoluments of any office.
On the Oath Of November, 1885,
Gen. Writ Adams resigned the office of
REVENUE AGENT,
and Mr.. Writ Adams, Jr., was appoint
ed to ELL the vacancy. The report of
the Revenue Agent for the years 1884
and 1885 shows his collections to have
been s 1867 90 and 29,570,56, respec-
lively. The small amount collected
in 1884 was owing to the failure of
the regular terms of court in the 4th
district, where the principal claims
were pending.
The value and necessity Of the SER
vices of a Revenue Agent to the tax
payers of the State is shown by the
large aggregate of collections for the
last five and a half years. The total
collections for that period were $l34,-
542l3.
PUBLIC LANDS.
Under the Act Of Congress of March
l, 1917, providing for the admission
of Mississippi into the Union, i've per
cent. of the net proceeds of the lands
lying within the State were reserved
for making public roads and canals; of
which three-6fthS was to be applied
under the direction of the Legislature
and two-Gfyhs under the direction of
Congress. There is now admitted to
be due, and payable to the State, under
the provisions of this act, and the act
of September 4, 1841, the sum of $43,-
945.8l, unless the general government
ia entitled tO set-off AGAINST this de.