The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1896-01-28
ADDITIONAL COURTS.
Two More Proposed-The Reason
Why.


COLUMBIA, January 21.-The advo-
Gates OF the proposition to create two
additional circuit courts have distrib-
uted the following circular among the
members OF the General Assembly:
some hgures by way Of comparison.
Present cost OF courts Eight ~citcuits,
averaging now 4.37 counties each Six
Judges, $4,000 each, $2I, 900; two
Judges, $4,000 each, So, 0OO2eight
Judges, total, S27, 600. Seven solicitors,
$1,36O each, $9,450: one solicitor, 81, 800
Eight solicitors, total $11, $50. Eight
stenographers, $3.50 each, $40, 600.
Total for State, $48,050. Average cost
per county, S1,372.S5 average cost per
circuit, $6,OO6.25; los regular courts
$457. 81. average o0S' per court
Cost with ten circuits; ten circuits.
averaging 3.6 counties, with Saluda)
each ten Judges, each So, 900, $50, 900;
Ten solicitors, each averaging ST., 25O,
$4,000; ten stenographers, each aver.
aging S1,1O0, $l1 900. Total for. State.
S53,5O0. Average cost per county.
Sl,ao5.lO; average cost per circuit,
5000; los courts, as now held, plus
az additional courts In sixteen counties.
a total OF l37 courts per year-ayeraee
per court, $39O.5S.
Comparison: Cost, ten circuits.
$5S,6OO; cost, eight circuits, $4S, $50.
Total increase for State, $5,45O.
$l51. SO.
Total taxable property OF the State.
say, STA ,000, 900 increase lew less
than 32-1O0 Of q mill, or about 3 cents
on every $1,000 worth of property.
There are sixteen counties in the
state OF over 10000 Inhabitants, ia
which 1t Is proposed to hold four courts
for criminal trials annually, instead of
three, as now. e., an average of one
court every three months. This will
save the dieting of prisoners for about
three months in each year. If zach
county averages only ten prisoners
awaiting trial, theirAeost each per
month is SO, or 800 per month, or $27O
for three months for each county, or
Tor the sixteen counties 1920. If
twenty counties adopt four courts
So,4oo l1f thirty COMMITTEES adopt four
courts So, 1O0) will be saved on account
CT dieting prisoners alone, more than
sufficient to meet the increase of $5.4OO
for the State.
Besides, 1T will increase the number
and lengths of terms of the hands on
the chain-gang, and speedy trials will
be had.
The saving to the State In the fees
OF witnesses for the State, and for the
defendants in felonies, in cases neces-
sarily continued on account of want of
time to try them, is beyond calcula-
tlon, but 1t may be safely estimated as
at least 20 per sent. in mileage and
attendance.
This does not take into considera-
ton the relief which will be expe-
rienced by litiganrs in civil cases.
whose cases are continued from term
TO term through no fault of theirs nor
OF their attorneys. They pay an one-
rous tax in the form of loss of time
and witness fees, simply because the
State does not afford them the neces-
sary machinery for the trial of their
causes
In addition to the cost of the present
circuit court, q county court would
cost for each county moi Less than from
8 1000 TO $4,000. Should the General
Assembly see fit to reduce the salaries
OF Judges to 49, 100 each, there will be
a farther saving of SO, 900, leaving only
81, 450 to be made up in the way before
mentioned.
Judge Townsend, who is a member
OF the General Assembly, has resigned
as assistant Attorney General in View
OF his membership in the Assembly,
His resignation is In the hands of At
General Barber.