Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-07-03
rr1r cnrnTs ND COSTS.


The Atlanta Constitution begs the law
vers of that state. when they come to-
cether at the Bar Association meeting
This summer. 10 abandon the practice OF
reading long papers discussing reconcile
,oplcs and to address themselves to the
work of removing the dissatisfaction
with court proceedings prevailing in that
State.
our contemporary declares that much
Of this dissatisfaction is due TO What we
in virginia know as Chronic coniinu-
ances." to which cause is also attrlcu-
table the failure of justice in many in
stances.
The Constitution makes bod to say
sbe public believes that II the lawyers
would try, they could correct many oil
the evils complained of, and which have
caused tho oouris To lose much Of the
confidence they should command.
The situation in Georgia seems net IN
like that in Virginia. Certainly, chronic
contlnuances" are great evil here. Con-
tinuances that probably would rot be
granted if the county had to pay all oil
The attendant expenses, are granted
now when the state fools the hili some
NJ these cases have become the jokes OF
the community.
We heard a distinguished lawyer say
The other day that many conunuances are
Granted by county courts that would not
be- granted by circuit courts Ana no
went on to argue that circuit Judges
xould not be as responsive to local IN
fuences as county judges are. For TINS
reason. he contended that Virsinia'Nould
hotter abolish her county court system
and increase the number of circuit judges
and give the circuit courts most OF the
jurisdiction that county courts now nave
SUCH an amendment may or may not
ne among those proposed at the next SEES
sion of our Legislature but we are sa'ls-
fed that the people of this state are pehl
,,non retrenchment--bent especially upon
reducing criminal expenses. Doubtless
yorious propositions will be made with
this end in view. but we DOUBT IL any
thoroughly efiicacious remedy can De
adopted without making the Local TAX
nayer understand that chrome coh'liiu-
ances are made at his cost
CO long as the State Government has
m foot the bills. the local taxpayer VIII
he more or less indifferent, but tax nm
with the expense. or part of the expense
and he will rise up against the prac-
tice at once.
az course. we understand very well,
,ndeed that it will not do to put the
ubole of the criminal expenses upon the
counties and cities, but surely 1t Is pos
sible to hit upon some scheme which VIII
divide the burden between the city or
county and the State.
The Dispatch is not disposed to be
censorious with respect TO the bench or
bar either. We respect both highly.
They are but the creatures of custom
that has long prevailed in Virginia and
which. In most courts. results in causes
being continued for trivial reasons.
That counsel and officers of the law
can be induced to become prompter than
they are in preparing for trials, there
cannot be much doubt Only a few
months ago we heard Ia commonwealth
attorney bewailing the disposition of the
iudge of his court saying that he knew
not how to refuse request for con-
tInuance. Yet those continuances cost
this Commonwealth dearly, as all OF the
work has to be done over at the next
term with the usual taxing of fees
The people are looking around for places
in the public service where 10 apply the
axe OF retrenchment, and it behooves our
bench and bar 10 see to it hereafter that
there Is no just cause OF complaint OF
excessive court expenses.
We have no particular locality In mind
in making these remarks; we are speak
ing quite generally. Our information
comes from various portions of the State
for the grievance seems TO be wide
spread This fact we are sure will bs
demonstrated when the Legislator.
comes here In December next. and wher
It sets 10 work to diminish Virginia's bis
bills for criminal charges.
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"Birmingham. Eng. makes 0c0 pins
Hofly And yef we would he willing