Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-10-31

any one explain why, a juror should %
paid 81 to-day, while 81 was enougn
pay throughout the most prosperous
period in this State, when dollar 'V
day is twice as hard TO make, and ~
worth and will buy us much az ~ wouiu
then? If the people OK virginia aesi ns,,s
reduction OF criminal expenses, why eau
our Legislature so back To the sta'uas.SaS
10 bo found in our Codes of $50 anu 1873,
and make the pay OF all jurors 81 ana no
more, when they serve as such, anu WIN
they are summoned, but 40 hol s"i'''
30 cents, and no more?
COST OF GRAND JURY.
The grand Jurors are paid out OF tho
county OF e tbp rand inry does rot ap.
pear and is not embraced In the AudlSots
Item of criminal expenses; nevertneless,
IL is paid out of the taxes collected lroin
the people. and is an item OF expense:
Prior TO the adoption Of the Code OF lsss
the pay OF grand jurors was 81 a cay;
BY the Code Of 1887 their pay Vas
made the same as tHny Si o day.
Doubtless our able reviserS OF the Code
thought that grand juror was erttlen
to as much pay as any other juror, anu,
therefore they made MS pay me s rnIse ss
I'm this conclusion but / think the Time
has come when the legislators OF ylf-
ginia should return to the ways OK their
i@''ei COST OF WITNESSES.
Under the Code OF 1873, when the pay OF
Jurors serving in the trial OF case was
limited TO 81 day, the pay OF witness
was so cents for each days attendaaces
and 4 cents per mile for each mile beyond
ten miles necessarily travelled 10 me
place of attendance, and the same Ior
returning besides the tolls az the DIlcges
| and ferries which he crossed or turnpA2e--
| eates ne might pass This provision OF
| The law presented this fact: The juror re-
| ceived only 81 a day, while the Wines.
who possibly lived no farther from the
| place OF trial might, under the law, DO
| entitled TO receive Sl.5o or - Gay, Mhen,
J as soon as he had testified. he might re-
| turn home. while the juror had 20 Say
| and hear arguments OF counsel, denge-
! rate and render his verdict before no
1 could go. In other words, the Witness
| was paid considerably more tnan ,ne
| Juror while ii cannot be contenoed thas
| his services were worth any more III az
! much OF course, these remarks are IN
I tended to apply 10 witnesses fssiuihs n
the county In which me trial - h 49,.
| should our next Legislature, realizing ine
! necessity Of reducing our expenses, -
| neal the existing laws and reduce tnS
| pay Of jurors TO the amount palu 49,
TO 1884. they would not err ~ , mr,'' 10
! the nav OF witnesses to an amount NOT
Tbere - another class OF witnesses
which needs the special attention OF our
IagfsIature and that Is witnesses AZ
tending trials before magistrates. owinf
to their great numbers. the crimanat
costs In these cases constitute vety
considerable bulk OF the criminal Ell
| nenses OF the State. As generat
rule the trials OF these cases are pad ~
tSa in1rnediate ncighborhood OF all the
witnesses. -, .o,s.,rn~
| only "a fcyy hours: IL any at all, not mere
! than one in a hundred, Will consume ~
| much as half a day. Three fouf ms =, ano
witnesses attending these triais eai,n ss
| earn more than Is cents Gay AZ nny
| other employment; many or mem arc
| children. and can earn nothing The state
| nays each of them - cents Tor ina, "nc
or two hours service Why sn"S W. ~. ~
serviers OF these people? Why should sne
he called upon 20 pay so nuch ino-e 'i ,e..s
| any one else would pay ior ne ssmJ 80 80
| vice under contract2 The Iact ~, sny ~ u
| te,ino n reward for the Institution o. pfoSs~
| acnfions She h constantly muictrd w.
COSTS az trials. Instituted. not for the pun
ishment OF crimes. but Tor the reg "pS1
costs which may be MADE Guy ,,e " ~ ~
: crude laws OF England, said tney cous S
not be justified In theory. but lD prsc,sc NC:
: Ssees could frame none which would hty>
served the purposes OF TINS hauvh 80 WIZ
A. SUGGESTION. .
| ,o,;ove q would be wise for our LeU9'
e | lafrre 10 enact law denyins SD1Ys.s
s5on 10 ali witnesses Tor the connsS1.
1 sroal,h In trials before magistrates; vo'
20 ne legislators are not OF THIS opinion
instead OF paying these witnesses ~ sens.
E ,hstr nav should be reduced 10 a sum ~
: es exec Is cents q day THIS ysauciio9
. would az least be jast 70 ths VII, wisne 49,
= se any other employment II woul(
!. ..es,,cs the number of such cases and -
r s,I, n great saving 10 the state. q -
d Legislature would deal Wisely villa 49,, u
5 ,,F;ecfs herein mentioned. thSy. woet
II ss'a,.ee tho criminal expenses OF thiz b(At
2 frosr $500 to s1oo,ec.
1
y BENJAMIN WATKINS LEIGH
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h orders for rrintlnx sent 70 the plspa11