Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1897-04-29

State. Population. judges, Aggregate
North Carolina l,6l7.947 II S 49, $50
Georgia 1,837,353 20 $1,000
Tennessee. ......1,76I51s 40 $4,000
Georgia, with larger population and
more wealth than Tennessee, pays
SOS, 900 a year less in the way of judicial
salaries, while North Carolina, with
little less population, pays $40, $50 less.
Yea, IL our figures and information are
correct, the unfortunate taxpayers OF
Tennessee, under the separate law and
equity system, are forced every year to
pay judicial salaries exceeding the COM
bined amounts paid for the same pur-
pose by tho people Of both the States of
Georgia and North Carolina, by the neat
sum of $21, $50, an amount nearly equal
the alleged expense of the constitutional
convention of 1876.
A constitutional change abolishing
the separate courts of law and equity
woald not only save about $4,000 per
annum in judicial salaries under proper
legislation, but it would relieve the
people from the burden OF supporting
one extra clerk in each Of the ninety
six counties, as there would be no need
for both a clerk and master and Circuit
Court clerk, for the court which would
combine the jurisdiction now separately
exercised by the Circuit and Chancery
Courts.
In fact the clerk Of the Superior Court
in each county in Georgia, being ex-
ofiicio register of deeds, performs and
combines in himself, under the re-
formed procedure, the functions of three
of the most expensive and important
county offices in Tennessee, viz: chan.
Gerry clerk, circuit clerk and county reg
lister.
There is a difference of opinion as tt
whether the new court of ChancerJ
Appeals, which has fastened an addi
tional burden of $40, 500 per annum OF
the shoulders of the taxpayers, is ;
necessity, even under the present re
gime, and certainly it would not b,
necessary under new constitution
which would fix the sittings of the Su
preme Court at one place, and allow tht
establishment of a modern, improved
and simplifled system of courts AM
court procedure. 1t seems to be tn,
general opinion of our best iniorme
lawyers;
l. That the Supreme Court should 81
at the capital only.
9. That the county court, which
enormously expensive and cumbersome
and which is fixed in the constitution
should be abolished.
3. That separate courts OF law an
chancery should be blended into one.
None of these things can be don
without new or amended constitution
and they are all Of great and increasiu
Importance. With a judicial salary lis
amounting to Sl23, 900 yearly, which ]
being biennially increased by nearl
every legislature, and which is moi
} than double the amount paid for th
p same purpose by our adjacent state
, greater wealth and population, it is ce
. tainly high time to take steps in the d
= rectlon Of constitutional and radical r
, form in our judicial system.
, II the government Of Tennessee is
B be hereafter administered in the int
est OF the people who pay the taxes ar
: bear the burdens Of government, then
i new constitution is greatly needed.
a on the other hand, the state Cover
y ment is to be continued for the sole an
j. peculiar benefit Of those who consuu
@ the taxes and thrive and fatten at q
% public crib, then indeed may the stu
tion under the existing state chart6
e be considered highly and complete
IS satisfactory. J0HN II CANrEELL