Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-02-26
THEY DO NOT AGREE
The Committee Men on Justices
Court Bill.
HAVE A PLURALITY OF IDEAS
The Chief Item OF DifSrrencc h
Over the Number OF
Justices.

The meeting 81 the Bar association
yesterday afternoon. called fer the pur
pose Il rcesslng the report - the CON
mittee appointed some time ago o. pre-
pare bin relative 10 the justice courts
~ this city. was held ia Judge Groves
courtroom and was attended ~ sixteen
attorneys. Representatives, White and
Anderson were also pres mi. George ii.
White was elected chairman and Eliza
beth Eagiesiield acted as secretary.
There were both majority and nsi
nority report submitted. +. A. Maher
read the minority report, which in
Guided the bin published Friday morn
ing. and In addition 10 that was second
bill limiting the number Of justices 10
three. The first bill was silent upon the
number IL Justices. as Mr.. Maher was
not sure an act 81 that character would
he held constitutional by the supreme
court. and 10 make the matter sure two
bills were prepared. a. il was deemed
desirable 10 make the Office sal
aried al any rate Mr.. Makers second
bill provides that the Office ~ the jus
iice ~ the peace IN said city now held
by the justice whose term expires on the
fourth day II July. 1919. is hereby
abolished from and after that date. The
flies. records and dockets appertaining
10 the Office ~ Justice IL the peace IN
said city abolished by this act shall be
kept in such place IA the common coun-
ell Of said city shall direct. and either
Of the justices OF the peace 81 said city
Is empowered 10 issue executions accord
ing 10 law upon judgements appearing
upon such dockets and 10 make tran
script therefrom with the same effect as
II such Judgments had been rendered
10y him.
There shall he elected at the annual
election held in said city on The first
Monday in April. 1894. one OF the just
ces of the peace provided for in the act
who shall succeed the justice now hold
ing Office whose term shall expire on the
fourth day Of july. 1894. and in each
year thereafter"
This bill and the one already pub
lished WAS prepared by Mr.. Maher
alone.
W. w. Hyde. w. w. Taylor and Fred
A. Maynard agreed upon ANOTHER bill.
which was read by Mr.. Hyde. The only
difference between the two bills. as read
10y Mr.. Hyde. are as follows:
The people Of the state al Michigan
enact, That there shall be two Justices
81 the peace in and for the city 81 Grand
Rapids. who shall be elected in the man
ner justices II the peace are now elected
in said city. provided. that no election
OF the Justices OF the peace except 10
Till any vacancy that may occur shall
be held in said city in the years a. -.
ls9s and A. ID. 1894 The Offices az the
justice ~ the peace in said city now
held by the Justices whose terms expire
on the 4th day of July. A. ID. 1873. and
the Attn day Of July. \. ID. 1891. respect
lively, are hereby abolished from and
after said last named dates respect
lively"
The provisions as To salary Of justices
and clerk are identical The main point
Of controversy Was the number 81 jus
tees 10 be elected. Messrs. Hyde, Tay.
Tor and Maynard were Of the opinion
that the matter Of salary and number of
justices may be included IN the same
act without fear N the constitutionalify
81 the reduction i'm number being qurs
toned Mr.. HYDE has examined the
records Of the justice courts in this city
and found that about 200 cases have
been entered on the dockets. He
thought that two justices can attend to
the business in this city. After both
bills had been thoroughly discussed
they were referred 10 the city representa-
tives IN the state legislature for their
action.