Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-10-28
STATE EXPENSES.
Amazing Growth of Criminal
CHARGES Offices That May lie
Abolished


siderable attention Of late from the press
OF the Commonwealth. number Of cor
respondents OF the Dispatch have eX-
pressed their views on the subject OF
retrenchment. and have suggested from
their standpoints various methods Of d.
minishlng the expenses OF our State GOV
eminent. | notice IN the issue Of the
Dispatch OF the 18th instant an editorial
on the Expenses Of the State" In which
the estimate Is made that said expenses
are $40 1851. OF this sum the criminal
charges are put at 1862. 00O or nearly hall
OF the running expenses Of The State.
Should this be so? This is a bad showing
Tor our civilization at the close OF the
nineteenth century, period noted for
Industrial and educational progress. DIS
tributing this large sum equally among
the counties of the State, omiting the
cities. would make the criminal expenses
Of each county $500 This sum is more
than some of our Tidewater counties re-
ceive from the State for the maintenance
OF our pubhc-school system.
In 1850 the criminal expenses Ot ane
Stale were estimated at SV,OOV. 1hry-
six years subsequent they are tNeNe
times as much, in territory less thah
third OF that which the state contaihen
at the former period, Whlle lhe POPui"
ton has not doubled.
expenses must be attributed In great
measure to defective legislation, the SLOW
and tardy process Of administering JUS
tice. and the cumbrous ana expensive pio-
ceedlngs attending IL.
FARCICAL PROCESSES.
Numerous illustrations might be given
,f the slow and sometimes farcical pro-
cess OF Justice in our courts OF law. NJ
long since negro was condemned by TWO
different iuries to be guilty OF murder III
the first degree, ana YET me !uuse eli" art,ei
"a a stay OF proceedings that the crlInl-
nails counsel might have opportunity 10
hls a bill OF exceptions and take an appear
for another trial. Some two or three years
since two negroes in our Sts's Me,s ~,
t-ial for the usual crime. ana nau 70 pe
escorted 10 and from city 10 the place
or trial daily by a body OF the mll'ary
numbering some forty or hfty. BON were
finally condemned 10 be hung, Out an
eforr wls made by the counsel of one
OF them 10 take an appeal although there
seemed 10 be no doubt Of his gullt. Inc
expense of this trial TO the state was
several thousand dollars. IL may De sdlu'
in Justification Of this enormous eApen .1
that the presence of the military, the
compensation of whom for their services
added largely TO the cost, was
necessary 20 prevent lynehing: Grant
ed that this Is true, Is me-
remedy for the violation of law and order
on the part OF our peopleY why rs IL
rot ivnrhing Is resorted to so rarely in
tho case OF other crimes merltlng cspltai
punishment? Ii is generally 10 pe traced
10 the peculiar character OF the usuat
crime that under our present judiciary
system the victim passes thrOuSh an
ordeal almost worse than deatn. Inc
public VINO sympathize with her' anu
especially her friends. resort 10 lyncn
law. not 50 much to punish the criminal
as 10 save a timid, shrinking female from
such a dreaded ordeal Change our laws
ON this subject. and ynchlng Will dlmln-
ish 20 a minimum. But II is nOtsthe pur-
pose of this communication 10 enter into
any full discussion of the laws enacted
as al present on this subject ana when
are a blot on our civilization. To return
again to the laws slow delays, trials or
criminals In our courts are often post
pOned for months, and the prisoner is
kept In Jail for twelve months or TWO
years before The case is fnaily DECIDED;
Meantime witnesses appear again anu
sgain, as well as jurors, TO be INFORMED
hat the case is deferred 20 the next
sourt These witnesses and jurors ana
officers have 10 be paid by the state. Oc-
casonally. after long delay, the IN
dictment against the prisoner al the par
IS Quashed on a mere technicality-a
nimsy pretext to defeat the end of JUS
lice Sometimes a case is postponed on
the Plea that an important witness is
absent II turns out, however. that when
said witness gives In his testimony ho is
the least important As the State at
large has to meet the criminal expenses;
the courts seem to be little concerned
about the cost of judicial proceedings
EDUCATIONAL.
Possibly. II each county and city had to
pay one half of such expenses, the matter
Of economy and prompt administration OF
Justice would receive thoughtful and ma
ture consideration. Then every Taxpayer
would feel a personal interest IN dl-
mln'shing our criminal expenses 10 nv
utmost 20. sible limit. In discussing me
general subject OF retrenchment In our
State. a broad field seems before US. II
We are 10 take into consideration all tne
Services aud suggestions PROPOSED; Cne
suggests that the State appropriations
10 the high schools under her Fostering |
care are in excess of the Common |
wcalth's real ability TO maintain them. |
In 1894 and 1895 the sum or SlfoOoo was
contributed by the state for the mamie,
nance Of these institutions. OF which sum /
the University OF Virginia received xi1VV5, |
the Virginia Military Institute, $5V'VvO;
William and Mary College, $loOVO ana
the Farmville Female Institute the Only
female college aided by the Statel. Sl2.VO9.
II may. perhaps be possible TO diminish
the appropriations 10 the nrst three lnsi-
tutiona named. ] have not a Worq 70
lay az inst these Institutions. especially |
our noble University. But II may De
asked Does II follow as matter OF rlgnt
and justice because the State recognizes
n as roitic and even necessary 10 edu-
cate the great masses IN ntT o'Sttli VI
common schools, that she Is under oDli-
cation 10 furnish higher education ~
select few A young men VINO ATTENDS |
either Of tina three institutions In ques-
ton or Blseksburg. IL IL presumed, pays
biz matriculation fee his board. clothes
himself purchases his textbooks. ana |
meets other incidental expenses. a young
man with pluck and push VINO meets an
these expenses can generally manage 10
tay his tuition fees. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. |
these reasons for limiting such appropria-
tons. / am the last to oppose such dona-
lions by the State. II these schools should
Dc crippled or cease 10 be maintained
Without them
COUNTY JUDGES.
Another has suggested. as a means
or retrenchment, reducing the number OF
fur county Judges 10 about one half OF
ne present number. How much would
te saved 10 the State. II those who would
DC REQUIRED 10 perform dopn'e service
az their present salary should do SO
en- not able 70 say. but II the judges
labors and responsibilities are increased
,Ncfoid. Is n not just and right shat
lher compensation should be IN thel
same proportion? Is Il to be presumed
lhAt competent men for county JUDGES
could be secured under such circum-
tences; When our legislators shall be
compelled 10 devise legislation Df this
sff 70 diminish the states current sx-l
'ffikfS thnY Kal3Id halter abolish tNGl