The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1896-04-10
be done much more economically than un.

of temporary relief, while the township of
Antrim, with valuation of $3.50 more,
ouly received $6s.99. 1t has been claimed
that the large cities got more than their
share of the temporary relief, but this is not
always so. Last year the city of Owosso,
with an equalized valuation of 81, $50, 900,
only received S1,454.s9, while one small
ward in the city of Corunna, received over
$500.
believe that the supervisor, especially If
he cares for reelection generally looks
closer after the taxes in his own township
than he does those of the county, and for
that reason it would be much better for
each to care for its own poor.
There seems to be an impression that the
money belonging to the county can be used
almost Unfortunately, while the fact is II
should be guarded just as zealously and
used with just as much care as that of the
private individual.
| now come to the consideration of the
matter which above any and all others is
the cause of heavy county expenses, namely
the cost of courts. Shiawassee county has
paid during the past year for jurors services
rs, 1880 From the present outlook the
amount for 1896 will be still larger, as court
has been in session almost all the time since
last October. There has been paid for wit
ness fees $500; for attorney fees, outside of
prosecuting attorney, $40; attendance of
sheriff and deputies at court $S6S.40; be-
sides these expenses are those of justices of
the peace, constables and deputies serving
processes, stenOgrapher's pay, printing court
calendar, judges salary, meals for jurors at
hotel, taking testimony in justice courts, and
other expenses which have not space to
mention. Is it any wonder that your coun-
ty taxes are high? While the cost of GRIM
inal proceedings in the courts must of course
be expected to increase with increase of in
habitants and prevalence of hard times and
will be found on comparison not to be so
very much higher than in other years, it
seems to me that the greatest increase in
court expenses is caused by the trial of so
many sO-called speculative suits, or suits in
which somebody is trying to get damages
from somebody else, but in which the coun
ty has to pay the greater part of the ex-
penses. How many times during the past
few years have we had the spectacle in our
courts of someone trying to get damages for
Islander, for alternating affections of wife or
husband, for damages received on railroads
or sidewalks in cities or villages, etc., in all
of which cases the people in general were
not the least concerned but still have had to
foot the bills. When we think of these
things we are almost tempted to exclaim
with the poet:
"For while the many with their thumbworn |
creedS
Their large professions and their little deeds
Mingle in selfish strife.
Lo Freedom weeps.
Wrong rules the land
And waiting justice sleeps"
Cases in which only few dollars are in
volved are often continued until the cost to |
the county is many times the original |
amount.
AS rule these cases are the ones which !
Jake up the most time of the courts, and /
submit that it is not right or just for the
people of the county to pay expenses in
suits where some party has been led on
by some lawyer in the hope of getting large
damages or to crafty some petty spite.
1t seems TO me that 1t would bein the
way of reform if it was fixed so that no suit
should be appealed to the circuit court in
which less sum than 500 was involved,
md that in all civil suits tried there should
De sufficient security given for all costs, so
hat the county should not be responsible for
my costs in such suits. l am not lawyer
md am not able to tell just what ought to
De done to effect reform in this matter.
As q citizen l enter my solemn protest
against the pay ing out Of the peoples money
Tor costs in cases mentioned, and in doing
10 l believe ] but echo the sentiments of
every taxpayer before me today. believe
he legislature which will pass laws reliev-
ng us of the burden of expense entailed by
he trial of these cases will confer upon the
people one Of the greatest of blessings and
Tor which it will have their thanks for years
10 come.
In conclusion wish to say few words
with relation to the board of supervisors.
There has been paid out during the past
year for the board of supervisors S1,543. So.
The October session lasted fifteen days, the
January six with one day special session.
Now, while this has been about the average
lime spent for several years past, still if
things were pushed and time utilized as il is
lone by business men generally there is no
doubt but what the business could be done
n ten days at the October session. A re-
less of one hour at noon instead of one and
4 half with little earlier commencement
n the morning would make quite differ
snce in weeks work. At the January
session of the board, Supervisor Parker
made motion that the chair be instructed
% call the regular order of business In the
morning and afternoon, and that no reports
If committees be received at any other
line. This motion was lost, but had 1t car
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