Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-12-03

proving that three toufths OF the pr2eecu-
ti0ns resultsd in no convictions ana ueFs
q uselsss expense 10 the State. fou pay
the expenses Of four prosecutions where
you have one conyicuon- IL would % :
small matter II ycu paid cnly the fse. 70
the attorneys for the Commonwealth, but
you are compelled 10 pay for The jurors,
the witnesses. and the other officers N
addition.
The criminal expenses for the same pear
were S27S,T9e. Take OF three fouSths Tor
these useless prosecutions, and you shoula
have for the expenses IN the year lS5s
399, s33 instead Of S27S.799.
prosecution fails. Make due allowance for
all such. and say one half Of the proper
prosecutions result III acquittals. which -
too large proportion II the oflcers 90
their duty. II you get rid OF one bali og
the prosecutions You relieve the state OF
ono half the criminal expenses, which Tor
the year 1887 would have been Slss. SO: in
stead of $a7s, 799 by the lowest calculation.
Take the year 1sS0-sl-
were paid in fees Sl5.145. Take on one
third for fees IN misdemeanor cases, and
you have $l0,17 paid for felonies. This
shows that there were lob felony trials.
The same year there were sent to the peni-
Tertiary 233 convicts that 10, one convict
in every four trials. Thus there were Jos
fruitless prosecutions, each Of which cost
the state on an average $l0s, wnisn
amounts 10 SS2. 40i thrown away. Take
this from S1sl, 424. 40, the cost of the crsmi-
nal expenses for that year. and you have
$ls.020.i0, instead OF siSl. $40, for the
annual criminal expenses or the year
l8SOlsi--three quarters of which sum for
that year was q needless expense and an
outrage upon those citizens who we're
prosecuted without sufficient cause.
When you examine the other years no
doubt you will and about the same results.
These two years were the only ones for
which could ret the data necessary tor
this calculation. They were selected At
random by clerk in the Auditors ONCE
for the purpose of demonstrating the pro-
priety of taking away the inducement TO
multiply prosecutions BY paying the on
GERS liked salaries and not making their
emolument dependent on the number OK
prosecutions.
WHO SHOULD Par THE COSTS.
In every prosecution cost begins a. soon
rs process is issued. The officer who issues
the warrant has q fee; the officer who
makes the arrest has fee, and the officer
before WHOM the party is brought for trial
or examination has q fee, and the Com
monwealth pays them all. The party who
causes the warrant to be issued 10 &C no
expense. He pays no costs, and often It Is
by bad advice that be Is induced to com.
meuce a prosecution when there 10 no real
ground for it. These Inducements should
be taken away, and II party, witnous
sufficient evidence TO convict, causes Q
groundless prosecution. he should be re-
ouired to pay the coat OF the proceedings,
and not make the State bear the burden
of his folly.
BRINGING PRISONERS TO THE PESrrrSTIAsr.
In ls7O-71 il cost ei2. s6s.47 to bring so4
In IssO-'si il cost se.lsass to bring 2ss
In iSss-9O it cost si2,s6o to bring ass
In issOJsl IL cost Sio,6se.O9 to bring ass
prisoners.
IL will be seen that this cost changes
every year. In 1871 Il was 1895 for each
and in lSs9J90 10 was $3.50 for each pri-
soner. In 1S90-'9l 10 was S24.Ao.
This cost is greatly increased by the ex-
trayaeant charges OF the oftcers Tor ex-
penses and by bringing guards that are
unnecessary. The prisoners should be
sent for by the superintendent OF the
Penitentiary; then you would have no
fees and no extra guard TO pay. The asy-
lums have been trying this plan and have
greatly reduced theu expenses.
BRINGING LUsArrcs TO THE ASYLUM.
For the Eve years from 1873 to 1877 in.
elusive the officers from various parts OF
the state brought SS7 lunatics TO the East
ern Asylum at a cost of Sl6,SI7.ls-wnich
is cost OF S47.10 per head.
For five years-from 1886 TO 1890 inolr-
siye-33T lunatics were brought 70 the same
ASYLUM from various parts OF the State py
an agent sent from the asylum ut cost OF
s., 800. O9, winch is S7.72 per head, thus
saving the State Sl4,2S4.i0, or one eighth
of what it cost when they were brought by
sheriff. Why not try this plan with
criminals2
TO REDUCE CRIMINAL KxPENsfs.
recommend that you
/. Reduce the number OF iteionious OF
| fences.
2. Paw the attorneys for the Common
wealth and the other officers fixed salary,
and apportion all the criminal expenses
between the State and counties, ons third
10 be paid by the State and two thirds by
the counties.
3. Make the party who causes needless
prosecution pay all the costs.
4. Make the Superintendent OF the Peni-
Tertiary send for all convicts.
5. That you enlarge the jurisdiction OF
the justices for the trial Of misdemeanors.
PRIzE-uoHTIso.
This brutal sport is made felony by the
Code of Virginia, and whoever Is present
at such fight as an AID, second, surgeon. or
assistant, &C.. il made smenable 10 the
law. The penalty is severe one and
shows in what detestation this crime 10
held by tho Legislature.
There have been several fights In Vlr-
cinia this year and I have heard of no con-
yictions. Perhaps the cases have NOT yet
/ feel Il my duty to call the attention OF
the Legislature 70 the fact that In other
States such criminals are escaping punish
ment on q technicality, by showing that
the fight was not with bare knuokles but
with Gloves. This class OF tights are as
brutal as those with the naked fists and
are lust as obnoxious and corrupting 10
the community.
I hone the Legislature will ct once 90
define tho meaning Of "priZe-hght" a. TO
make those engaging IN it amenable to the
law and drive this brutal sport from che
Commonwealth.
THE BOARD OF VISITORS FoH THE PUBLIC M
srTTuTIoHs.
There should be one general law regula-
ting their appointment Their number
their pay. their terms OF ONCE. SHOULD Al
be the same. See how different the law Is
for the various institutions.
The boards for the lunatic asylums ana
for the Deaf, Dumb, and Blind Asylum.
are composed of nine members each; their
terms OF service are for three years. COM
mencing on the 18th OF April.
The board for the University OF Virginia
Il composed of nine members. Their
terms OF Office begin on the 18th OF Feb
ruary and continue for four years. part
of the members are appointed biennislly.
The board for the Virginia Military In
stitute is composed of nine members with
tho Adiutant-G General. Their terms Of
office begin On the ist day OF January and
continue for three years. One third OF the
members are appointed each year.
The board for the Hampton Normal In
stitute consists OF eight memberss their
terms of office are for four years, COM
mencing the LIST day of January. One half
of the members are appointed biennialiy.
The board for William and Mary College
Ia composed Of ten members. The 1rst
board was appointed by the Governor.
They fiji every vacancy occasioned among
their associate members
The Virginia Normal and Collegiate In
stitute at Petersburg is composed OF eight
members, with the superintendent OF Pub
| lie Instruction. Their term IL tor four
years, commencing on the 1st day OF April.
| All expire at the same time.
The Virginia Agricultural and Mcchani-
cal College at Blacksburg Is composed Of
eight members. The Superintendent Of