The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1896-01-30
ADDITIONAL COURTS.
I"o More Proposed-Thc Reasons
Why,

Why.
COLUMBIA, January 21.-The advo-
CUES OF the proposition to create two
auuitiona! circuit courts have distrib
uscu Inc following circular among the
inemoers OF the General Assembly:
oohe hgures by way OF comparison.
Present cost OF courts: Eight ci.cuits,
averaging now 4.37 counties each Six
Judges, $500 each, $2l, 1000; two
Judges, $4,000 each, $6,0OO-eight
Judges, total, $27, 900. Seven solicitors,
Sl,360 each, $0,450: one solicitor, 81, 900
eight solicitors, total $11, ,050. Eight
sstenographers, 81 ,250 each, $4,000.
per county, 81, ,372.8 IS; average cost nor nor
circuit, $6,0O6.25; 105 regular courts
per year--averago cost per court,
Cost with ten circuits; ten circuits.
averaging 3.G counties, with Snludal
each ten Judges, each 81, 900, $50, 900
zen Ten r rs0ilcltors, each averaging $I ,25O,
Sl2,50O; ten stenographors, each aver.
aging $l, 100, $l1 900. Total for State,
%9e,oCo. 90 Average cost per county.
81, ,4o6. .lO; average cost per circuit,
$3.50; lO5 courts, as now hold, plus
80 additional courts in sixteen counties,
total of 1877 courts per year-averaeo Q
por court, $39O.59.
Comparison Cost, ten circuits,
$53, 500; cost, eight circuits, $l8, $50.
Total increase for State, $5,45O
Average cost Of increase pur county,
1851 80
Total taxable property of the State,
say, Sl74 ,OCO, ,0c0; increase levy less
than 32-lO0 of IL mill, or about 3 cents
on evcry ST. 600 worth Of property.
| There arc sixteen counties in the
State of over 10000 Inhabitants, in
which it is proposed to hold four courts
for criminal trials annually, instead OF
three, as now. c., an average Of one
court every three months. This will
save the dieting OF prisoners for about
three months in each year. Ii each
! county averages only ten prisoners
awaiting trial, their cost each per
month is 50, or 800 per month, or $27O
| for three months for each county, or
for the sixteen counties $,320. If
| twenty counties adopt four courts
| $1,000 (if thirty connCios adopt four
courts $S, 1907 will be saved on account
| CT dieting prisoners alone, more than
sufficient to meet tho increase of $5, 400
| for the State.
Besides, it will increase the number
and lengths Of terms of tho hands Oh
the chain gang, and speedy trials will
! DC had.
The saving to tho State in the fees
OF witnesses for the State, and for the
defendants in folonics, in cas- 8 necos-
sarily continued on account Of want OF
ttno to try them, is beyond culcula
tioD, but it may bo safely estimated a.
at least 20 pcr ccnt. In mileage and
attendance.
This does not lake into considora-
tion tho relief wEich will b. eXpc
rienced by ltigants in civil cases,
| whose cases are continued from ternl
| 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 docs not afford them tho neccs-
sary machinery for the trial of their
| causes.
In addition to tho cost OF tho present
| circuit court, county court would
cost Tor Zach county not less than from
| 900 to $1,000. Should the General
Assembly see fit to reduce tho salaries
| Of Judges to 81, 100 each, there will be
further saving of So, 600, leaving only
~, $50 to be made up in tho way before
mentioned.
Judge Townsend, who is member
OF the General Assembly, has resigned
| rs assistant Attorney General in Wow
of his membership in the Assembly,
Ills resignation is in the hands OF At
torney General Barber.