Arizona silver belt., 1897-02-04
M E NACINc!
The Circuit Court Biil a Measure That Will Bank
 rupt the Counties.

"hiCu "t TtSIct to OuseTNt IS IeCtlNlup
 but very little notice from the press,
 and the provisions of the billare known
 to few persons save those interested ir
 seeing it become law.
 The bill provides for the establish
 ment of circuit court in each of the
 four judicial districts as now desig.
 pated, the new conrts to have general
 common law and equity jurisdiction
 in fact, jurisdiction in all cases, civil and criminal, arising under the laws
 of the territory of Arizona. of which
 the district courts now have jurisdic-
 tion, and besides jurisdiction in all probate matters are to be transferred to the circuit courts, and the probate courts abolished. United States cases only shall engage the attention of the district courts, save that the judges of the district courts shall constitute the supreme court with appellate jurisdic- tion over all cases tired in the circuit courts.
 The law is to go into effect immedi. ately after its passage, and the gover- nor of the territory is given the power, by and with the advice and consent of the council of the Nineteenth Legisla- ture, to appoint the judges, whose terms of office shall hold until Jau. |, 1899. The first election of circnit judges shall occur at the general elec- ton iu the year 1898, and their term shall be for four years.
 The salary of each circuit judge is fixed at S3OOO per annum, to be paid by the respective counties composing | the district wherein he was elected, in proportion of the assessed valuation of property Tn each county in the year such judge was elected or appointed; {; and esch circuit judge shall be paid his travelling aud necessary expenses incurred in holding court in any county other than the county of his residence
 Terms of court shall be held twice a year, in Gila county on the secoud Mondays in April and October, each term to continue for such period as in the opinion of the court may be neces- sary for the transaction of business, snd the court may adjourn from time to time during she term and may call and hold such special terms as tue judge may deem necessary.
 The law provides for the election of a county clerk at the general election in ls3S, and every two years there after, and who shall be clerk of the cIrcnit court and ex otlicio county school superintendent. From the date of passage of this act up to January, 1899, the present acting and qualified probate iudge in each county shall be county clerk. He shall receive as com pensation for his services the same fees and compensation that are now pro yided by law for similar services rem dered by the clerks of the district courts, and for all services rendered by him in matters of probate he shall receive the same fees now allowed by law to clerks of the probate court. In addition, he shall receive salary of Sl0O as county school superintendent.
 OBJECTIONS TO CIRCUIT COURTS.
 The first objection to the bill is the general one that there is no necessity cuit courts, as the present district courts amply provide for the transac- tion of all the business, both criminal and civil, arising in the several couu- ties of the territory.
 TLe bill smacks of a political job to create lucrative offices and insure the appointment of Democrats AS judges, and very likely, as has been suggested, in the interest of the present federal judges, who expect to be officially de- capItated, and Republicans appointed to their places by the incoming admin istration.
 Circuit courts would greatly increase the court expenses in the several coun- ties. The district court judges are paid for their services by the United States government, although some of | the counties have been paying them ! $50 per month additional, which IS illegal, and which we believe has yer been exacted by Judge Rouse. How ever, it is said n bill has been intro duced in the legislature to legsllze the paymenl of 5000 per year to the federal judges by the several counties, and if it becomes a law Gila county will be called upon to pay Judge Rouse the full amount from the commencement of his term. The circuit judge would receive from Gila \ county $l100 or S1200 per year salary and expenses. with two terms of court annually, If they were of ordinary length, and us each term may continue as long as the judge elects, and as he