Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-18

pernicious system of fees now in vogue; that
they were placed under a bond. heavy and
good, and had, as now, jurisdiction over
the entire county, would it not be an
improvement for both the Alderman and the
county? Men not necessarily learned in the
law, but whose election should be subject to
the approval of a majority of our Judges,
thus preventing the possibility of men dis
qualified by character, habits or Ignorance,
filling such a responsible office. They
should be compelled to keep full record
(not such a meager minute as now) of their
proceedings, containing not only the names,
for defendants as we'll as their opponents,
more especially in all cases where an appeal
is not matter of right.
CASES THEY SHOULD HEAR
"In addition to their presentcivil jurisdic-
ton, all of what may be called the minor
criminal offenses-the classification of the
same to be made by the Legislature such
as assaults, batteries, surety and desertion
cases, and some others, should be heard and
decided by such magistrates, and their de-
cisions final, unless an appeal be taken to
the proper court within fixed time, and
such appeal not to be allowed according to
the present practice in cases of summary
convictions, by simple petition and bail,
but by the court, upon petition showing the
whole case alleged against petitioner, GER
titled copy of the magistrates entire record,
the defense relied on, and the affidavits of
the different witnesses for defense, contain
ing their name, age, residence and occupa-
tion, and the facts they will testify to in
court, and if then in the opinion of the
Court-applying the rules relative to new
trials-an appeal, and jury trial should be
allowed, the same should be granted upon
such terms as would be meet and just. Or
suppose our Constitution and laws were
changed so that our courts should, in some
regular order, once in every three months
appoint from the justices of the peace of
this county three of their number, who
would sit during regular and stated times
in our Court House, and hear and decide all
of such cases. That they were obliged to
keep full record of their proceedings as
before set forth, their decisions to be final,
unless an appeal be taken according to the
terms hereinbefore mentioned, and that no
case instituted before any of them should
be by them heard or determined.
Gail of the many cases which by law can
be, and now are settled, and mon pressed"
in the Quarter Sessions before the jury is
sworn, could and would be disposed of in the
same manner here, thus saving the county
the expense incident to the finding bill of
Indictment.
EITHER of these plans would relieve the
Court of Quarter Sessions from many of
those cases which lower its dignity, steal its
time, overbIrden it with work, and abso-
Iutely prevent proper deliberation and care
to the more important cases, and what more
than anything else robs the Golfers of the
county. 1t would also be the means of
placing in Office more responsible men, and
by giving them a proper salary, and no fees
outside, reduce the temptation to counte-
nance suits devoid of merit, and simply
creatures of cupidity. malice or spite"