The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-01-23
JUSTICE COMES HIGH
Bu.te's Chamber Of COmm,rCa Sees
How II Is.
IN THE MATTER OF POWDER
Inc Plan Is to Do All That can Be
Done Now to Prevent Any More
Disasters Like That of
Tuesday Night.

BUTTE, Jan. 22.-The chamber of com.
merce held a special meeting tonight for
the purpose of discussing the advisability
OF securing the passage of some laws
looking toward a reduction in the ex-
penses incurred by the justice of the peace
and district courts. After President
FRANK had announced the object of the
meeting Mr.. Caplice said he understood
That some such bill was already in the
hands OF the legislature at Helena, but
Mr.. Whips stated that the bill only COW
cred the justice courts and did not effect
the district courts.
County Commissioner Lloyd was pre-
sent and submitted a startling array of
figures, showing the cost of running the
courts in 1912.
Colonel kessler, ex-county treasurer,
spoke of tho great cost piled up on the
county in the trial of civil cases. He said
the expense in civil cases was greater
than In criminal trials and was taxed up
to the people who had no interest what
ever in the suits. He thought that a law
should be passed making lltigants pay all
jurors fees and expenses. Mr.. Kessler
expressed the opinion that such law
would decrease the cost of courts at least
90 per cent. He also said that the salary
the county we're never SO economically adj
ministered as they were under tho fee
system and that thousands of dollars
could be saved the county by a return to
that system.
j. II. Wharton spoke of the tremendous
amount of money expended on the county
roads, the figures of Mr.. Lloyd showing
that over $4,000 had been expended in
one year. Mr. Wharton thought that a
tenth part of that sum would build a bou-
levard from Butte to jefferson valley, and
yet no one could discover when any work
had been done on a road. He favored the
proposed law to put the road work under
the supervision of the county surveyor.
L. L. Baker, one of the committee of
civil engineers who are drafting a bill
along the lines mentioned by Mr. Whar-
ton, said he gathered figures from a num-
Der of counties as to the cost of road work
and found that over 80 per cent. of the
money went for the supervision. He had
Travelled over most of the wagon roads in
the counties referred to and said he could
DO all the work at an expense of 81 900.
Commissioners Lloyd explained that in
Silver Bow county the road work was a |
system of charity for the benefit of the
poor who were given employment on the |
county roads at So day and permitted to |
make bluff at working instead of hav- |
ing the county support them outright.
Attorney l.. II. Howell referred to the
great expense in criminal trials and
mentioned the fact that there are muir
derers now In the county Jail whose crimes
were committed many months ago.
criminals are held in Jail until the pu bile
Roses all interest in them and the result is
mat they are acquitted when finally
brought TO trial. Their acuulttaI
encourages others to commit crime.
The trials should be speedy
and punishment sure, and wrongdoers
should be given to understand that pun
shment was certain. Mr.. Howell Thought
that much of the delay was due to the fact
mat the Jurles OF the criminal courts were
DVerworked, and he favored the surpes-
ION OF Judge Mediation, made i'm the
for the creation of an inter. |
heulate court presided over by a lawyer
IS Judge, which would tighten up the work
u the district court. He said he found il
'Iten more expensive to go into a Justice |
II the peace court than to go to the dis
riot court, and justice was by no means |
10 certain. I
President Frank said that MANY of tho
ielays IN the trials of criminals were not
% much the fault of the law as of the
awyers.
Mr.. Caplice spoke of a law needed to
oVern the storage of explosives, and said
hat he was satisfied that every person
,ho is dealing in explosives in Butte has
lolated the present law. He wanted
norc stringent law and a more stringent |
of it. He favored a public
magazine, placed under official control.
ma law prohibiting the retailing of ex- \
losives within the city limits and max \
Dc violation of it felony. \
William Thompson made motion TINT }
committee of three he appointed to con-
er with the Silver Bow delegation in the
'glslature as TO bill to cover the evils
omplained of in regard 10 court en-
enses. The president appointed Mr.. =
thompson, j. E. Lloyd and f. b. Howell
nd said he expected to see them accom-
llsh some good. All matters discussed ..
'lating TO needed legislation were re- %
FRED to the committee.