Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-04-22
THURSDAY. ..AERIL %, 1897.
TIE orEIcE OF CoRoxER.

The Committee on Rctrcnchment and
Reform of our City Counc! has agreed
to recommend that the General Assembly
be asked to amend the Code Of Virginia
so as TO give our City Council authority
70 elect the Coroner for Richmond and
prescribe his pay. At present al coroners
are appointed by the Governor upon the
recommendation of the judges Of the
County and Corporation Courts, and the
CoSe fiSes their fees.
-rhe Coroner is now, In most instances.
an expert witness for the Commonwealth
dn criminal cases, and il is becoming more
and more the custom for prisoners 10
employ expert medical men in their be-
half, 10 combat him. where possible
The judge Of the criminal court, therefore
soon learns whether his coroner Is 1T
or unfit TO he an expert witness. But To-
the proposition is now boldly advanced
that the City Council is better qualified
TO pass upon the selection of a Coroner
than the Judge who hears all the testi-
mony in All the great criminal cases in
his jurisdiction, 1t is on the witness
stand. and under cross-questioning sug-
gested by the prisoners expert, that the
value of capable Coroner is shown, and
the court that has not such an officer IS
in deplorable plight. indeed.
OF course. if this authority is given TO
the City Council Of Richmond. it will be
asked for by each other City Council of
the State. Then each Board Of superyi-
sors probably Will come before the Gene
raj Assembly. asking that it be permitted
TO eGect its Coroner And 50 it will go.
Hitherto. in Virginia, the Coroner has
been considered one of the right-hand
men Of the court. and 1t has been deemed
wise not to subject him TO the pains and
penalties of active politics The fees
that he is entitled to receive are fixed
by law, and are not too large, when
really scientific man holds the office.
AS much OF native intellect and pro-
fessional study and skill are required Of
a physician as of lawyer. and il would
seem that the pay OF members of the
two professions ought to be about the
same. where the same labor and time
are expended; but, we ave always noiice1
a disposition 10 underrate the worth OF
physicians services, especially when
rendered to the public. We know. OF
course. that not all of the Coroners in
this State are physicians. but where the
Office is filed by layman he must. of
necessity, call ia medical man TO make
post-mortems. and that man must be
paid a fee greater than that Of the
Coroner himself. When an analytical
chemist has to be employed the fee must
be a great deal. larger
But. 10 return 10 the main question:
The change proposed here ought 10 be
well considered. because IL means the
Inauguration of a new system in Virginia.
IL Is incorceivable that the Legislature
would give the City Council OF Richmond
a privilege that II would deny to Norfolk.
Newport News. Petersburg. Lynchburg.
Roanoke, Danville, stanton. Charlottes-
Vile. Alexandria. etc. Nor would the
LEGISLATURE give TO city privilege that
Il would deny to a county.
So we may as well make UP our minds
hat II the amendment suggested by the
committee should be adopted by the Leg
lslature. IL would be the entering wedge
Tor the dissolution Of the appointing sys-
lem that has prevailed In Virginia with re-
,pect 10 Coroners from time immemorial.
What good, il any, is 10 be expected from
the change. we have not heard. and do
not know.
OF course, It may be said that the City
Council ought 10 have the appointment.
because our city has 10 pay the Coroncrs
fees But, by the same token. we ought
70 be permitted 10 elect the Judge OF the
Hastings Court (and amend the Consti-
tuition TO accomplish cur purpose), be-
cause we have 10 pay his salary.
The Legislature saddles upon cities and
counties the payment Of number OF
expenses In the administration of JUS
tice. end the Coroner's fees is
one OF that class. And. by the
way, from a thorough reading OF our
State exchanges. we Judge that the next
Legislature will probably unload npon
the counties and cities the payment OF
many additional criminal charges, for
II Is seen that In no other way can tho
people be made TO understand the ne
cessity for economizing IA the admiristra-
ton of criminal justice.
However, we only wish, now. 10 call