Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-12-28
TO KEEP HIS PLACE
Superior Court Clerk Andrew
Fyfe
DEFENDS HIS SOFT SNAP
as Says That the Superior Court Is
Necessary and an Ec0noEli-
cal Fixture.

CfAnlDu OF tie sAScItOl CoAkts pAoIl>u-
Ell sunday morning as follows: II
recognize the right OF the people TO
Abolish or change that court II they 50
desire IN tna interest OF society, regard
Iess IF who holds the Offices affected.
l agree with Judge Burlingzme IN MS
statement that such action II desired
should Do taken now so that the work
of tue court can be finished with the
term Of the present judge and not after
. Judge has been elected IN April"
Senator Barnard makes the state
ment that taxes are hlgn and people
are willing 10 10 IN for anything that
will save them little" | agree with
hun IN that statement but cannot agree
with the inference that the abolition
OF the superior court would accom-
plIsn that result.
The judge OF the court 10 now paid
by the state. The regular jurors and
the witnesses IN state criminal cases
are paid by the county and Justly go,
Is a greater part OF their work Is the
trial Of violations OF state laws that
come into the superior court as relief
To tina circuit courts. The city pays
the stenographer q, 900 year and toe
clerk 81 200; the messenger and one
court officer for regular attendance,
and one additional deputy sheriff dur
ing Jury trials. Jurors IN street open
ings are paid out OF the special funds
and their allowances are charged up
TO the fund covering the cost OF each
particular opening.
The council, 10 the proceedings OF
June %. 1872, allowed the superior
cour. s., 900 for the present fiscal
year and while | am of the opinion
that the allowance will not meet the
expenditures. An additional 1900
will DO IL, so that the superior court
Will cost the city not 10 exceed 81, 800
per year.
Cfrcuit Jadges Overworked.
The senator takes the ground that
the work Of the superior court might
possibly DO done by the present CIR
cut courts, although he admits that
we might nave to open another circuit
court, and he says the tax rs all
bosn" sboa. II being necessary to open
= recorders court in case of the abJli-
ton of the superior court. Does he
moan % tell the people that tina CIR
cut Judges are wasting one-thlrd of
their time now and could do the work
now done by the superior court II II
MAS sbollshed'
The fact Is that the circuit judges
nov have more to do than mos. of the
circuit judges throughout the state,
and are constantly busy. The senator
taci.ly admits that We would need an
other circuit court IN case the superior
- sbO isnet, anu II such ls the case
what saving would sucn change
make 20 the taxpsyers' An addIt ousl
circuit Judge would receive $500 a
wear 81 900 more than u superior
court Judge, which 81 900 the county
would have 10 pay; clerk, steno-
grapher, messenger and court officers
would cost az much IN new circuit rs
IN the superior court. To establish
new circuit court would require the
fitt.ng up of another court r ON.
ildg.s room, etc. all OF which would
cost the taxpayers considerable ami
such = court would require at least
go more for salaries. etc, than the
present superior court and the proper.
: on Of expense falling upon the city
would be much larger than at present.
Pay of tho Jurors
TIE statement 'nat jurors draw paw
erroneous for the .'city" does not psy
the laFors. they sre paid by the county
g.. kvnt and Il Mr.. barnard bad taken
rm- 70 look up the court record ne
would have learned that the jurors
have never been kept 10 attendance
''all she term" in the superior court,
for the recOrd- 81 the past yesf show
tnat trey have been under paw but
anp-las OF the time. Ia ell courts
there are times when luriss have be
kent ID .dlencss for Jay or two A. q
time. bat the courts are not at fault III
the matter, for attorneys cannot "a
ways come into court when needed.
anH justice would not be furthered ~
forcing respondents 10 trial without
uD-sl.
t. shObsh the superior cour. would
necesstate one OF Two things. We
woust either have 10 establish a record
sr's court or another circuit. circuit
court would be more expensive than
the present court and a recorders
court would cost a. much ga the supe-
rior court but would not be "a useful,
from the fact that il could not occupy
the time not required to try criminal
aud street opening cases. now utilized
an trying civil AID chsncery cases "a
it.civl and chaucery business would
De- thrown toto the circuit courts.
There are not criminal and street
opening Csses enough GO keep a court
running continuously snd me present
superior court act enables the court TO
he.r evil and cnsncery cases when not
otherwise engaged. That branch OF
work a done at comparatively small
..n-t for 4 costs hut littls more 30 run a
court al the year than 10 run but one
hsif the tlme-
aboar That Furore.
senator Barnard ssys that Judge Bur
ltnraus and raised furoref wnsn
ne introduced . bill tnree years ago TO
slow person who had q case against
me CITY or city 0ihcial 20 90 to the
,lrruit court. 7 opposed BIS bul be-
cause u seemed 90 me unnecessary and
me product OF some disappointed at
soraev VINO nsd failed 80 get larEe
Judgment in some suit sgsinst the city.
Ttfss fact we'll known 10 attorneys
th.t. u,aritcrious acton against toe
cav invariably brings the pisintu =
Judgment in the superior court With
e.itv fu~v. am not prepared 20 tnink
tna - xpsvsrs Of this city 40 peruicious
a ID sflawa few cents n sddi0orsl