The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-01-17

amendment to the act ABOVE
referred to, so as to make
the sinking fund available at the ma
turity of such bonds as the Legislature
may in its wisdom deem eXpedient to
provide for. There are outstanding
S499,0 per cent frontier defense
bonds, issued under act of August 5th,
1870, and run 40 years, but are redeem
able at the pleasure of the State on
September 1st, 1890. 1t would seem
to be wise policy to make provision
for the calling in of these bonds by
authorizing an issue bearing u smaller
rate of interest-say 3 per cent; this
would be o saving to the State of
$9980 q year, total of $199,600 at the
maturity of the per cent bonds.
THE JUDICIARY.
You attention has just been directed
to the vast increase in the eXpendi-
lures in this branch of the govern
ment from fees to officials, and the
cost of conveying attached witnesses.
And while these officers, by their fear
less and jealous labors are doing a
great work for the preservation and
protection of life, liberty, and property
in our State, for which they are justly
entitled to fair and reasonable COM
pensation, and we are not blind to
the fact, that many objections can be
stated to the injustice and hardship
attending the enforced presence of
witnesses which are entitled To more
or less weight, and it is confessedly
difficult to enact law on the subject
l.. l. al, nf 10 rI0 In N Y
made some ground of practical objec-
ton, yet, respectfully suggest that
unless the evidence supplied by the
Comptroller's department respecting
many of these claims be discredited,
it will become obvious beyond doubt,
that the present law has given birth
to serious abuses, by which the State
is made to suffer great loss without
corresponding benefit to the general
public, and it is hoped that you may
take such action as in your judgment
| will contribute to the best interests OF
the State, and devise speedy remedy
for evils which are acknowledged to
exist. Whether there is a complete
| legislative remedy for it or not, GER
| tainly some additiOnaksafeguard can
be thrown around the Treasury to Sc
cure it more effectually from imposi-
ton from this source. Much of the
attendant evil, however, when traced
to the fountain head, will be found
inherent in the judicial system.
In my message to the Twentieth
Legislature at its regular session,
under the head of Constitutional
| Amendments, this subject was dis
cussed at consi lerable length, advert
ing to the phase of the subject bring
ing upon the State much of this i'm
mense expenditures L said: at is APP
parent to every observing man that
under the existing system, the cost OF
unlimited continuances, and conse-
quent repetition of officers fees and
contingent Jail expenses ; the manifest
abuse of the law designed to allow
reasonable pay to sheritfs and at.
tached witnesses, when forced
to leave the county of their residence
coupled with lack of proper and GER
tain punishment of those convicted o
misdemeanors, by forcing them to pay
or go to work, is heaping burden
upon the State and counties for the ad
ministration of the criminal laws
simply enormous, yet all to be paid by
the people, and suggestive of the fac
that real retrenchment and reform
must necessarily begin at the bottom
as well az at the top of chr presen
system"
In this connection it may not bt
deemed inappropriate to call the at
tention of the people to the fact tina
they cannot be held entirely blame
less, but in reality are primarily
chargeable with the inception and ex
istence of very much of this unneces
sary expense in the enforcement of tn,
criminal laws. To substantiate thi
we have only to refer to the exhaust
i've report of the Attorney General
showing the percentage of Indictment
and acquittals, and the great humble
of mol pros. cases, from which we con
clude that grand juries: are too prom
to indict men for every conceivable of
Tense, upon testimony that will no
bear public scrutiny in the courts, anC
suggests the inquiry whether they ar
not too frequently hunting for victims
or influenced by prosecuting Officers
who are to be benefited by ac
cruing costs, rather than prop
erly trying to rid society o
OHenuerS no longer enuuraDle. llm
was when all human shortening
from prescribed standards were re
garded IA criminal, and punishment
was meted out without regard to ag,
or circumstance, but intelligent inves
tigation showed resultant evils too sc
rious for silence or longer neglect, anC
proper reform began. The cost to tn,
taxpayers from this source is by n,
means the only feature of the cas-,
worthy of attention. \ man may b,
accused by the malice of his fellows
or by circumstances, and though pre-
sumably innocent, under the hast!
and necessarily imperfect in
vestigation instituted by tn,
grand jury hearing but one side o
the case, he is taken from his famil,
and friends, all his relationship to so
ciety disturbed or destroyed, and i
unable to make sufficient bond, il
thrown into Jail, where the hard
ened criminal awaiting trial o
transportation TO the penitentiary
the accused and the suspected, will
now and then raving lunatic, ar,
crowded into promiscuous company