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

On the first page of this paper is set
out an exact copy of the bill intrO=
duced in the Legislature for the pur-
pose of having one Judge to hold
both the Chancery and the Circuit
including Criminal) courts for
Maury county. This is an all impOr-
tant measure to Maury county, and
for that reason we have given full
space to its discussion. And, think
ing the people would want to and
ought to hear both sides and under
stand the question, the HERALD pub
fishes the bill, the protest against it,
and invited communications from
both sides. In answer to our invita-
ton for expression of opinions, we
received the following:
To the editor of the HERALD:-
The undersigned members of the
bar were appointed committee by
| the bar to draw this law (the full
| text of which you have stated you
would publish in this issue of your
paper and submit to our representa-
tives for passage.
OF course it is the privilege of every
citizen to petition the Legislature to
pass such laws as they think viii
benefit the public. We. exercising
this privilege, forwarded to our rep
resentatives the copy of the law above
referred to. We did this believing it
to be for the general good of the pub
lie. Our motives have been called in
question, as we understand, by cir
cular that is printed and being signed
by a great many good citizens as we
believe in ignorance of the true i'm
port of this act which we seek to
have passed.
1t might be well for the public to
l. Of
who are active in seeking to prevent
its passage. If they find those most
Jealous in opposition to it, the per
sons whose financial interests in the
way of fees and perquisites of office
are effected, it ia well to weigh care
fully before signing; for the very
reason that they oppose it, namely
: that it makes the stay of criminals
short in Jail, and curtails the expense
in that way of administering the
criminal law, is sufficient to prove
that the law ought to be passed; and
the bare fact that it might ia a meas
ure prejudice the interests of some
individual ought not to prevent it
passage, if it be for the general good
BY examining the records of the
county it will be found that the Cir
1 cult Court of Maury county cost tn,
, county last year so, $3.50; of which
Circuit Court costs, including Wit
> nesses' attendance, $3,5S4.6S; Jail
$2,789.3 80; jurors and other costs Incl
S dental to the court, $3,51S.91. Tn
, best informed think the expense viii
: be larger this year. Aside from this
only three or four civil cases wer
: tried this term, and we have an eXtr:
term to try criminals.
y The large item of Circuit COur
costs, including witnesses $3,5S4Gs
is mainly smale up of witnesses
attendance. Tnis will be largely Ob
waited in the passage OF this law, be
9 cause it will not be necessary to haV
all of the whine ;scs in each case i
attendance all the time, as the judg
= will, under this law, have greater lat
: itude in setting cases. The larg
item of Jurors and other costs will b
greatly curtailed, because it will nc
= be necessary t) keep the regular jU
d rors in attendance all the time, bU
r iuries may be summoned to day sc
under the order of the Judge, and
" VIII, in the majority of cases, curta
II this expense; and we need not adj
y that it will greatly cut down the ia
.r expenses.
: The above ,timate does not il
Il elude the cost paid in felony cases b
the State, which item we do not knO'
e now the exact amount of. We lear
Y this is very large; probably rs larg
., rs that paid by the county.
10 We have only drawn this law ;
e citizens and Taxpayers. Every part
l. interested in the draft of this bill Wa
" a right large taxpayer; and We su;
. gest to the public that a matter tn;
y so seriously affects the public welfaI
- should not be hastily acted upo
without true knowledge of all il
Is bearings, and that all the citizens {
- Maury county meet in a body on til
W first Monday in March, at the COul
lg House in Columbia, and express the
r. views to the. Legislature.
a. We, as citizens, will be glad to me-
them, and meet in open discussiO
&c any one who opposes the passage
IL this law, so that the matter can
s, thoroughly understood on both sidt
o. by the community.
81 GEO. p. FRIERSON.
Vi w. ]. WEBSTER.
n H. p. FIGUERS.
in w. 3 GORDON.
Committee.