Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-01-27
CITY POLICE COURT.
PROPOSITION 10 CHANGE TIE MANNER
OF BLEcrIHG THE JUSTICE.
Term Of Fix Years, Salary Of $4,000, and
Election by the General Assembly In
stead Of by the Council.

stead Of By the Council.
The House Committee for Courts OF
Justice yesterday morning reported fa-
vorably Mr.. Curtis's police-court bill.
1t Is a measure which is supported by
large number Of petitioners, embracing
members Of the bar, businessmen, and
representatives of all classes OF tax-pay-
ers. 1t proposes to give to the Police
Court the dignity, permanency, and
jurisdiction that its importance demands.
A lawyer who is well known through
out the State, and who is very familiar
with the business both of the Police
Court and Hastings Court. said yester-
day: :" think the proposed change a
good one q very good one. indeed. II
had 1t in my power would add still
more to the courts jurisdiction, and to
do 50 would be n saving to the Common
wealth and better for the petty crimi-
mails, too.
THE BILL.
Mr. Curtis explained the provisions of
the bill TO the committee and stated that
ne believed the Richmond people de-
sired the change. After hearing this
and examining the petitions accompany
ing the bill the committee promptly de-
cided 10 report the bill, which they did
in the form following:
an Act 10 ProVide Police Court 5or
Mc CITY Of Rich01OHd and for the
Election Of II Police Justice for Said
city, n Dyine the Jurisdiction ot
S1id FOiice Court, and 10 Amend
and Rc-caact Section l05 of tie CHAR
ter Of the City of RichmoHd.
J. BE IL cnactcH Jy the General As
scmbW Of Virginia, That section 105
Of the charter Of the city of Richmond
be amended and re-enacted so as to read
as follows: There shall he for the city of
Richmond IA Police Court, which shall
be held by a Police Justice thereof, who
shall hold said court daily Sundays and
legal holidays excepted in such place in
sand city as the City Council shall pro-
vide and appoint
.. There shall be elected by the Gene
raj Assembly at is present session and
every six years thereafter, in the mo ie
prescribed by law for the election Of
judges, ii Police Justice for the city Of
Hicum0nd, who shall hold his Office for
term Of six years and until his sue
crssor shall be elected and qualify, I'M
less he shall sooner die, resign, or be
removed, provided that the Police JUS
tice first elected underthisact shall enter
upon The discharge Of the duties Of his
Office on the 1st day of July, 1888. but
his regular term shall not begin until the
ST dny of January, 1882. The City
Council shall fiX the salary Of the Police
Justice. which shall not be less than two
thousand dollars per aDnum, and such
salary shall be paid by the city Of Rich
mond.
9. The jurisdiction of the Police JUS
tice shall extend TO all cases arising
within the iuri,dictlonal limits OF the
city of which 4 justice OF the peace may
take CJ@nlzau3t under the laws of the
State, and to all cases arising under the
charter and ordinances Of the city, and
to all suits and actions 1t law against said
city, ana any person within It's terri
t0rial limits. where the subject in con
trovorsv, exclusive Of interest aud costs
does not exceed one hundred dollars land
the Judgment OF sail Police Justice
shall be final in oil civil suits and actions
whore the subject IL controversy,
exclusive OF interests and costs, is
not more than twenty dollars
Al the laws OF this State and Ordi-
nanccs Of the city of Richmond not in
conflict with this act, giving powers and
jurisdiction to the Police Justice OF the
city OF Richmond, shall remain IN force
until the same shall be altered or re-
pealed. and the Council of the city OF
Richmond may give such other powers
and jurisdiction to said Police Justice rs
may not be inconsistent with this act, or
in conflict with the Constitution and laws
Of the United States or OF this State.
There shall be kept IN said Police Court
IA record OF all criminal and civil cases
examined, tried, or otherwise disposed
of therein, which records shall be pro
perly indexed, and all papers relating to
such cases. which are not required by law
TO be returned to the Hastings Court,
shall be filed away in the Police Court
and properly labelled for easy reference.
The certificate under the hand of the
Police Justice as to any Judgment rem
dered in the Police Court Of the city Of
Richmond shall be admitted as evidence
in any court in this Commonwealth.
The City Council may provide for the
appointment Of such clerks and officers
of said Police Court rs may be necessary,
prescribe their duties, and fix their sala-
RES.
4. All acts in conflict with this act are
hereby repealed.
8. fhis act shall be in force from and
after the lst day of July, 1888.
THE PROPOSED CHANGE.
Under the present charter the Police
Justice is elected by the City Council for