The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-01-27
ElI1lg1l3!

cents per day. Under bill No. "a. one OF
the five measures under discussion the
jailer shall receive for the keeping and
supporting OF prisoners where mere are
three or less, forty cents each per DAY;
for all over three and not more tnan
ten, twenty-five cents per day: for all
over ten and not exceeding hfty. twenty
cents each per day; for all over hfty'
fifteen cents each per day.
IF this bill becomes n law, II VIII cause
saving 10 the State OF about $4,000
In the penitentiary the keeping and sup
porting Of prisoners under the manage
ment OF Major Lynn cost $40 cents
each per day. and by their general ap-
pcarance they seem 10 indicate that
they are well fed and well taken care
OF In the penitentiary Of Maryland
where they are fed almost like In
hotel. their support costs I IA cents each
per day, and those under the charge OF
the charity department OF the city OF
Richmond. many of whom needed better
nouishment, are supported at cost OF
S clio cents each per day. This bill al
laws the jailer. who has TO keep fifty
or more prisoners. fifteen cents each
per day. which will certainly give him
profit on each inmate per day
In the Jail of the city of Richmond
there are at present on the average $50
inmates per day. but this number very
much decreases during the summer
months. so that the average number for
:he entire year Is about 200. The man in
charge of the Richmond Jail is located
where he can take advantage OF the
wholesale rates and he can buy his va
rlous articles Of food at the same prices
as the superintendent of the Penitentiary
and the Superintendent of the Depart
ment OF Charities. There are only two
other places I'm the State where the aver
age number Of prisoners in Jail is over
fifty per day. in Norfolk and Newport
News. and in both places the iailers can
just as well take advantage Of wholesale
prices as in the city OF Richmond.
OF course / take 1t for granted that
this bill will meet with opposition on
the part OF those who are directly inter
ested in the proposed changes. IL the
sheriffs and jailors complain that they
will not be able TO make any profits under
the proposed amendments. then they do
not manage their affairs properly In
three-fourths of the counties OF this State
there are never more than three prison
ers at the time kept In Jail. If there are
not more than ten prisoners kept i'm one
jail, the iailor will only lose five cents
per day on each one under the pro-
posed amendment, and for from one TO
three prisoners the same fee as at pres
cnt. forty cents, Will be paid under the
proposed bill.
ABOUT MIGRANTS.
Bill No. 2i9 proposes only an amend
ment TO Sc, tion SS6 Of the Code to meet
the exigency which seems 10 prevail in
Warwick county. IT provides that in cases
Of yagrancy. I'm order 10 prevent the JUS
tice from collecting fees from the State
and the county. he shall make his fee out
of the defendant. II he does not succeed I'm
that. he shall receive nothing from the
state and from the county he shall only
receive one-half Of his present legal fees.
while under the present law he receives
all bis fees out OF the county.
This last bill discussed suggests the
Introduction Of bill No. 2i5. which is real
" he parent bill. and which seeks TO re-
adjust the existing system In the entire
State Section 1921 Of the Code provides
that fees Of attorneys for the Common
weath. clerks. iu;.ices, sherffs. sergean-s.
jailOrs coroners. etc. shall he paid out
OF the state treasury in misdemeanor. az
well rs IN felony cases in the most frivu-
lous misdemeanor cases as well as the
ms ne nous felony cases. The amend
ment ,yntained ir this till provides that
the state shall pay these fees only in
felony cases. and The defendant or prose-
ctitor shall pay these fees in misdeneanor
cases II tn, OFFS r. fli to 'CCe'yc u
Fees from the LITTER. then the respective
counties shall pay them one-half Of the
fees to which they are legally entitled.
"A thorough investigation on this line
has shown that the greatest abuses have
existed I'm regard 10 misdemeanor cases.
and these abuses will most likely be cor
rected. when they are scrutnized by local
authorities The most essential section
NJ this bill provides that hereafter the
cities and counties shall pay portion OF
the expenses in misdemeanor cases ana.
in my opinion. they should bear the en-
tire expenses. This section. as amended,
also provides that one-half Of the legal
fees shall only be paid 10 justices In
felony cases sent on 10 the higher court,
# the grand jury fails 10 find an indict-
ment.
This bill also seeks TO amend section
1854 Of the Code. so that the Judges OF
count and corporation courts shall he
held 10 certify the costs In misdemeanor
cases to the Boards Of Supervisors and
CITY Councils instead Of - fhe auditor Of
Public Accounts. as al present. They shall
also he held 10 call FOR proofs OF the var
ious items Of the bill or costs presented n
them. other sections Of the bill contain
amendments only In order 70 conform
their provision to those OF the two sec
;ions already mentioned.
"Tne other companion bill provides that
the counties. IN return for assuming Inc
expenses in misdemeanor cases. shall 700
relieved Of tho payment ~ tho salaries
Of the county and corporation judges
which amendment Is considered 10 be
sufficient comnens ltlon.
OPERATION or THE BILL.
AS to the Operation Of these several
bills would like TO say that the
Senata has passed a bill. introduced
by Mr.. Turrbull and which is now
before the Committee on Courts OF
Justice In the House, which abol-
ishes the fees and mileage IN misde-
meanor cases whereby the tax payers IN
this State would be saved about $4,000 an
nually. The saving from the reduction
OF the jailcr fees will be $4,000 and the
effect OF bill No. 2l5 will be saving OF
about so Geo annually. Besides this bill
will bring about another saving mas
much as the number OF misdemeanor
cases will he largely reduced by the en-
actment of the law. which will no doubt
bring about a saving Of az least SJO.W0
making n total saving OF slOrWo De
Quoting this saving from the criminal eN-
Denses of last year. II would leave the
sum OF $4,000 as annual criminal ex-
penses 10 the State.
"As 10 how much of this sum Is to he
paid by the State and how much by the
county. I would like TO say:
1.-THE State will have TO continue to pay
the fees for jurors also about $3.50 In
fees in fcIonv cages for Commonwealth