Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-01-21
ApLEA FOR THE COUNTY JUDGES.
Increase Their Pay and Make Them i""e-
pendcat 81 Private Practice.

1 %
We observe that Senator Mush pach has
introduced a bill TO increase Tue saihi l's -
fhc circuft.court iudges. Ihl. ought sur
To- 10 be done 20 obtain upon the bench me
seryiccs OF those lawyers who cannot A.
forb 10 serve the State for tho present
co,ppensat,nn. But while TINS should DE
done. the Legislature should, ior TIE 'Aii'
and even for greater reasons lhcIe"No 'h5
compensation of the county JuoSc9 "Iu
forbid them any longer 10 pfact''e NV.
The county court u the nearest 20 'uo
people. and which affects lntiiAaIsiF uIlo
~ ,ns people than any other. " ME tLe
circuit courts determine the fi-nts OF
" meum" and "tuum.' the properly
rights Of sultOrs for COuplTatlFrit large
orounfs the criminal court - the cii.ni-
nal cour' with IT'S Jurisdiction soon - u7
increased, having IN rs nandS tno HNts
and Liberties Of the people. no clIcu I
courts redress private wrongs the county
courts try. decide on. ahd PUNISH ,ue
pubic wrongs done to the Coiil,iloi -" ',ii.
Ibo couutv courts control ana ensure TIE
rrorsr discharge Of their duties 10y the
ccunfy and district officers with the richt
>, I'm nlI vacancies and 10 remove Tor
cau.e II is their duty, II the selection Of
10 own jurors and the jurors Tor
tbe circuit courts and the SOLO con-
troll OF the grand Jurors. II pant the
- Il
r,snrudonce. lhey decide tho Contest
"a elections OF coautv officers. Iuev
decide mon the sufiiciency OF the bonds
AZ tne Treasurer and Sheriff securing
nroporly and safely the funds OF the COM
inOnwcalth and the people. Ihey are the
COURT of proiate-haye control OF al
hduciaries. and constitute the WIDOW.
and orphans court, the most helpir-- oi
anv other class OF our people ihrr are
N.ta f.f -
peryi,or, and Judgment OF justices Of the
peace. whose enlarged Jurisdictions ln-
clule the amounts now most I'D c0ntIo-
yprsv with q majority of the people. AZ
the law now stand. they are pald cZ-D pr
auuum. with an increase OF 80 per thou
sand when the population exceeds l'Ob,
20 grossly inadequate 20 the dcilcair AMI
important duties 20 be performed a. - lie
perfectly ridiculous.
GREATLY DIMINISHED.
Tho Judges frat elected under the Con-
stitutlon with salary OF $50 ana concur
rent jurisdiction WIKI the circuit courts =
all matters ot Law and cnanrery vas on
able body Of mon. aud as tie courts were
monthly were doing most ~ the business
of the country. including the criminal
bus ne--. Ou the second election their
salaries aud jurisdiction were greatly
diminished. and u make up for Ills they
were allowed 10 practice law, yio!ailou
Of all oar old -taniIrd-. lhc.r criminal
jurisdiction. except as 10 m-ieintaAoI',
was transferred % the circuit courts. but
a, the trial of telouIe, took up 50 much OF
the first part of the term IS 10 greatly IL
couy,uiance the .uItors and witnesses,
fun criminal jurisdiction was again con-
fcrrod On the county courts with
n small increase OF the salary,
since which tme Il has been
aygin diminished. 4 heavy blow va1
gwen 20 the county courts uy tut "hpir-
sale political removal IN 1919 80. and lui
courts have certainly declined IN the Pc
spect which should be accorded 10 them
hy the people. The permission = prac-
tics law ha. deprived them more ot TINS
respect ana of their independence than any
other cause. That Judge. win SO many
and important duties To- perform, ur-l--
IN HIM ID contact monthly win Il classes
of people. should De Discerning RON inc
bench aud cauyas-lng for law prnc'lce am
catering tor patronage among tho-' WHO
should look no o. MIN 10 minister tnr
laws without tear. favor. or affection, is an
anomaly abhorrent O. All who cherish the
hIgh and pure standard % Che Wig lia IL
dlclary.
So Inadequate is the salary that many
special lass have been passed au'hori1.h@
the Board ~ Supervisors - increase the
selaIy of Iudge7 m theH -ep1rat~ cod"'if-'
70 say nothing of tie general lmpf'-
prietv Of SUCH legislation Ia those cluu-
ties IN tho State IN which ~ ry Once,
county, district. or political, Is ii"i Wiih
Republicans what chance wOuii the
nudge. the only Democratic Official ~ the
county. have 20 havo hrs salary incr. q
hythJse entirely opposed O him. ! % hAhr
the courts ,ubSerylCu' and dep uieli on
TIE supervisors for the amount ot lls
{ III 3