Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-11-19
REFORMSlN THELAW.
THE LEGISLATURE AND THE Reouc-
TON or CRIMINAL EXPENSES.
The Proposed Constitutional Amendment
Changes In Civil Procedure
Delegates Appointed.


Criminal expenses constitute n cancer
on the treasury OF the Commonwealth.
the rayages OF which have greatly In
creased since the decision OF the Supreme
Court of Appeals in the Miller case from
Rockbridge. This decision rendered trial
by Jury in all capital or criminal prose-
cutions mandatory, thus greatly c.rcum-
scriblng the jurisdiction of justices and
plIing up the costs as TO the trial of many
offences of which these officers were ac-
customed TO take plenary cognizance. In
order to remedy the evil the Legislature
Of 1912 passed a Joint resolution pro-
posing 70 amend the 10th clause of Article
l of the Constitution-the provision on
which the court based its decision-so as
10 authorize the General Assembly TO
provide by law for the trial otherwise
than by jury, OF a person accused OF a
criminal offence not punishable Win
death or confinement in the p~enitentiary.
The proposed amendment has been pub
llshed according TO law. and If the Leg
~islature Of 1894 shall agree TO It. which
will doubtless be tho case, ii will be the
duty Of the body TO submit II TO the peo-
pie for ratification at such time as they
may deem fit.
This. however, is not the only step
that is likely to be taken In the direction
of the reduction OF criminal expenses. In
the last Legislature a numbe of bills
were introduced, having in view the cut
ting down OF the cost OF criminal pro-
ceedings. and It is expected that these
will be revived. 1t Is the opinion OF the
financial officers OF the Commonwealth
that general reform is needed in this mat
ter.
REFORM IN CIVIL PROCEDURE.
The legislature will also be called upon
20 consider the question OF reform IN
| civil procedure In the courts.
The State Bar Association by an over
| whelming vote in 1892 recommended the
| union of law and equity procedure into
one form.
Hon. James W. Marshall introduced
| into the Senate at the last meeting Of
| the General Assembly a bill which was
| intended to carry out this reform. II
| passed the Senate after a warm debate.
When It reached the House IL was too
| late in the session TO be acted upon, and
| Il was thus crowded out by other business
on the calendar.
At its meeting at the White Sulphur
Springs in August. 1893. the state Bar
Association discussed the reform pro-
| cedure for three days, and finally agreed
| on nine bills. which they recommend o
the present General Assembly for adop-
| ton. The changes recommended are, 1t
Is claimed. not at all radical. but II
adopted by the General Assembly will
| accomplish much good.
The association appointed Messrs. r.
l.. Parish, OF Covington, and b. b. Mum
ford, and S. S. p. Patteson. OF Richmond.
| to present the bills TO the General Assem-
| bi.r op1 1rora tbair adOptiOn.
They are prepared to do so, having
| had them printed. and at an early day
in the approaching session Will carry out
| the instructions Of the association.
At least one member OF the committee
| is in favor Of making the whole change
| into zone" form Of action Immediately.
England and all her colonies have
adopted the change into n form, and a
| majority OF the States Of the American
| Union have done likewise.
DELEGATES APPOINTED.
Governor Mckinney yesterday, upon
| the nomination Of Commissioner-of-Agri-
| culture Whitehead, appointed the fol-
| lowing delegates and alternates to the
| Farmers Congress, which meets In Sa-
| vannah. Ga, December 18th. The State
makes no provision for paying the ex-
| penses of those who may attend:
At large-S. Wexford Corbin, delegate.
| King George county: W. II. Astow, dele
| gate, Washington county; J. Il. Adams,
| alternate, Amherst county, and George
| Chrisman, alternate, Rockingham county.
First District-Dr. A. Brockenborough.
delegate, Northampton; DR.. W. b.
| Qu~isenberry. alternate, Caroline.
Second District-Dr. NJ. Q. Holt, dele
| gate, Surry. and J. S. Babcock. alter
nate, Princess Anne.
Third District-W. w. Baker. dele
| gate. Chesterfield, and Il. II. Herne. al
t~ernate, Hanover.
Fourth Distrlct-R. w. southall, dele
! gate, Amelia, and Il. w. Manson. alter
nate, L~unenburg.
Fifth Dlstrlct-walter Coles. delegate.
Plttsylvania, and B. M. Hatcher. alter-
nate, Franklin.
sixth DIstrict-Thomas b. Clark. dele
gate, Halifax. and ]. c. Feathosstons.
| alternate. Campbell.
Seventh District-H. l.. Lyman. dele
gate. Albemarle, and II. l.. d.. Lewis,
| alternate, Clarke.
Eighth District-J. 8. Mason. delegate,
Fauquier, and Edmond Berkeley, alter
nate, Prince William.
Ninth District-Henry Stuart, delegate,
Pulaski, and l.. ID. Calfee. alternate. Pu-
laski.
Tenth District-J. II. d. Ross, delegate,
Rockbridge, and Bland Massey, alternate.
Smyth.
CAPITOL NOTES.
The work of ~renovating the hall Of the
House OF Delegates has commenced. The
desks have been taken out and are being
| cleaned up and ~revarnished, and O new
carpet will be put upon tho floor. The
| cloak-room OF the Senate will also be
| ~recarpeted.
Colonel w. 4. Atkins, OF Boydton, who
is q member OF the Governors staff, was
In the city yesterday.
Ex-senator LaWless was still IN the
city yesterday.
Colonel John Bell Bigger sent out yes
terday the following notice to the clerks
OF the Court OF Appeals and the
clerk OF each OF tho Circuit and Corpora
ton Courts in the State:
Section 31ss OF Code requires you TO
make certain reports to this Office in a
form prescribed In said section. IL you
will make out your report for years end
| ing August 81, 1892, and August 81, 1885,
respectively, and mail to me at once, /
will embrace the same In my report 10
| tho General Assembly. 1 call you atten-
| ton to this matter because / do not wish
to report you az talking, as I am required
to do by section $3.50 OF tho Code.
The reports referred to are a statement
OF the number Of days tho court was In
session, and the business done In the
court for the year., etc. Colonel Bigger Is
not required by law to send out this no.
tice. The labor Is a gratuitous one on
his part 10 prevent clerks who fail TO
comply with the law from being fined.