Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1894-02-14
CRIMINAL COSTS.
V,morIsl 10 Congress ASklng an
Amendment 10 the Poland Law.
REFORM SCHOOL EXPENSES.
Rlu Relating 10 the Powers OF Mayors,
and Bankruptcy Assignments
business Done Today.

oo.t. Of criminal prosecutions. For
many years tho Territory has practi'
c,lly been Without n law regulating
,bis matter, aud II has come before
Zach succeeding session Of the
Assembly In n more or less
v.satious form, FOR many yoarH. In
is7I Congress passed what has since
h,,n known ~ the Poland law, one
uroyislon Of which expressly states
that the costs Of criminal prosecutions
In this Territory shall be paid out VI
tbe territorial treasury. But the Jus
tles,' criminal practice act makes such
costs, la lustices' courts, n charge
,saipst the county, while the general
government has right along been pay
inc costs In many cases VI criminal
pfesecutiona had IN the district courts.
IN. Territory has also paid for n por-
tlon Of sucn costs, aud there appears 10
nave never been an established rule
far detefmining what oOsLa Ia district
eour, criminal cases ehould be- paid by
Inc Territory, and which shoulI
DO paid by the general govern
mont IL Is understood that the
general government has charged up to
Inc Territory all amounts paid by the
former for criminal prosecutions had
under the laws Of the Territory since
the passage Of the Poland Law, aud that
in thls way has accrued the account
fot about three-quatters OF n million
which Ia being made TO figure as u bar
to statehood ior Utah.
la the various counties Of the Ter.
rllofy, costs Of Justices courts, sitting
A. trial courts or committing magic
tfaies, In criminal cases, have some.
times been paid cut Of the county
treasury aud sometimes they
have not. Ihs.e appears ~
have beUn 10 established rule
caprice OF tho rooui..ltH consequently
telce and lufJf1 aDd Witnesses In the
courts Of tho lAtter, have received
their fees, alI sometimes they have
not.
sanpele IL one Of the counties that
have regularly paid their c0ustabies,
sheflfia aud justices, And tnc costs OF
criminal cases IN the jus..Jos' courts,
ever since the Poland law was
passed; aud the total amount
thus expended IL sl2,289.7O. On
the il2th Inst. johnson pfeicnted
40 the Hounc, a claim against the Ter
utory for that sum. Doubtless there
are other counties that could present
similar or larger claims, aud the ques-
lion Il, what Ia the Legislature going
10 do about II? A law OF Congress
makes criminal costs n charge against
ihe Territory, but territorial law has
provided for payment out OF the terri.
toIiAl treasury. The officers In tho
several counties have, In many oasos,
refused to act unlaas the county
authorilie would guarantee their fees,
and there tae matter stands.
What IL 10 DO done In respect 10 the
past II uncertain, but IL 10 thought the
Legislature viii Tepudialo ali state
claims VI this kind. but memorial 10
Congress 10 pending In the House, ask.
Ing for such modification OF the
Poland law as will provide for the pay.
ment Of costs In felony cases out OF the
Territorial treasury, and Of all pfosecu-
tlons for oiienses less than felony out OF
the county treasury.t
The usual bill, which has been intro.
duced In one house or the other OF the
Utah Legislature, for many successive
sessions, prohibiting an insolvent ~.
hignor from designating preferred
creditors, Ia now engaging the
attention OF the Council. The Argu.
ments that have killed II al one session
have not been sufficient 10 prevent lie
resurrection at the next, and there Is
no telling where this routine will end.
II Is uncertain what fate tho Council
viii decree for II.
At least one member Of the House,
and he ID one Of the ablest men In that
body, IL not at all satisfied with the
financial showing made by the reform
school, The last report Of that In.
6iitutiOn shows that II costs
s3OT05 apiece per annuLn for each
inmate. OF this amount SlS5.s4 IL
Tor salaries and s29.75 for general
maintenance" mainly expenses allied
10 salaries, while Sl20.0s IL expended
for food, anu t2l.0 for clothing. The
member referred TO says the Territory
would make money by closing the fe-
form school aud boarding tho inmates
at tho Knutslord. He thinks that some
thing In wrong when II costs m much
for the salaries Of the officials connect.
ed with the Institution M II does 10 feed
and clothe the inmates.
The bill In reference 10 the powers Of
mayore 10 exciting much debate In this
Council. Some Oi the Salt Lake mem
befs are Insisting that the power OF the
mayor, particularly Ia respect to re-
mOyalA and appointments, should be-
restricted within narrower limits than
some Of the country members are will
Ing 10 agree 10. The measure h await.
Ing the drawing OF the compromise
line.
COUNCIL.
Aitor the close OF the NEWS report
yesterday, the consideration Of q. B.
~, relating 10 the powers Of mayors,
was continued at length. Taylor adj
Nocated q substitute for the original
biil, which restricted the powers Of the
mayor to remove subordiuates from
office, and after long debate tho SUBJ
tutule waB adopted, anu then recon.
mitted 10 the Judiciary committee.
&. Is. 90, regulating assignments for
the benefit creditors, came up on third
reading. IL Abolisbes preferred credi-
tors, placing all on the same footing.
aud prohibits near relative, employe
or business associate Of tue asslgnOr
from becoming assignee. 1t was con-
hldered ami re.oommittee 10 tho judi
eiary committee.
q. q. r., relating to the title TO the
lands on which territorial institutions
lHVa hReu arspla1 WAS naaaau