The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1889-03-01
AnIuDOr1antB Bill.

a bill proposing to make of Maury
county a seplra.e judicial dis rict, j
before our Legislature for considera-
ton. On our first page we publish
the bill in full, and also \ protest be
jar circulated in opposition to the
bill. We do this that the people may
read and understand for them elves.
tGitaEziisE ss==;---' of n county .naner.
anu We are glad the HERALD has
room to give it all in full; few county
papers have. This is one of the adj
Yantages in having both sides printed
at home; and it is at such times as
this that the Inconvenience and dis
advantage of ''patent outside" is
felt.
In addition to publishing the bill
and the protest, in order TO throw full
light on the subject, we have invited
communications from both sides; and
these will be found in another place.
The question resolves itself to one
Of taxation, afte all. The questi u of
convenience will, perhaps, not be de-
MED by anyone; it will be more con-
yenient to lawyers, to litigants, to
officers, to all, to have cases tried and
disposed of more promptly than is
now done.
That the bill is good move in be-
half of justice, cannot be successfully
denied, if denied at all, In the con-
firmati0n of land sales it frequently
occurs that the title to farms is in so
nrecarioqs o shape that neither claim
ant is willing to risk planting crop.
This delay of confirmation is an in
justice to somebody. This is one in
stance from the civil docket, others
could be cited.
In the Criminal Court a man is in
dieted fails to give bond, is sent to
Jail. His case is called before he is
ready for trial; he could get ready in
a week, but another court is waiting
for the Judge and Attorney General.
So lie is remanded to Jail, stays there
three months waiting for Court to
meet again, is tried at last and acquit-
ted. Instances of this kind occur
every Court.
Still these are exceptions to the
rule; rather frequent exceptions, it is
true, but they would be less frequent
if the lawyers were more faithful to
their clients and attended to their
cases with more promptness.
So about the only question of doubt
and dispute, is whether the proposed
change would increase or decrease the
taxes.
The trainers OF the bill say it would
materially lessen the cost of running
these Courts; the jail fees, witness
fees, jurors fees, and other incidentals
would all be reduced, and would
largely overcome the salary and other
expenses incident to the new arrange
ment. The parties OPPOSING its pas
sage, deny this, and thereby raise a
question of fact.
Now that question of fact will be
discussed at the Court House next
Monday, and it is the duty of all the
people to go there and hear the data,
the proof, the facts in the case.
Until then the HERALD does not
pIOpOSc W ldtNG SlucS, anu We duNlSe
our readers to a like prudence. Don't
sign any petition for anybody, until
you learn the facts of the case. For
You should not attempt to ms ruct
your representatives about something
you havint investigated.
How it may affect a few indivld-
uals, is of little consequence to the
people at large laws are made for the
greatest good to the greatest number,
andw suppose the gentlemen who
may have their incomes reduced by
this measure, would be willing to adj
NIT this, and admit the justice
of IT,. The question is, not
how will 1t affect the few, but how
will it affect the many.
So let every body come to the Court
House next Monday, AMI whtn you
have heard the question discussed,
then sign the petition you think
right,