Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-01-11
W ednesday January II, 1899.

for each of the three courts of sessions.
The idea of the Radical leaders was to
create many high.salaried offices.
Since the Radical regime was over
thrown, the political leaders of the
state seem to have been reluctant to
guide it back in the direction of the
former harmonious aud economical
system of district courts.
The constitution of 1895, however,
empowers the general assembly to es-
tablsh county courts where majority
of the voters of the county approve.
This does not mean that a special act
be adopted for each county; but evil
dently contemplates general law
which may be put in force in those
counties where it is approved by a
majority of the voters.
1t is clearly the duty of the general
assembly to provide such general
law. If its provisions are such as 10
recommend it to favor, it will, no doubt,
be adopted in many of the counties.
Now, as to the general features of
such an act, in order to meet the con-
ditions of economy, uniformity of ad-
ministraliou and efficiency, | would
suggest
1st. A county judge for each
county; the several counties being ar.
ranged in groups, with salaries of
judges graduated at 500, $3.50 and
81 900, according to the group in
which The county is placed.
2ud. A venire of Is petit jurors, to
be be drawn to serve for three terms.
Each jury should consist of six, having
three talesmen. They should be drawn
from the whole county, and in case Of
a deficiency, substitutes should be
drawn from the vincinage.
3rd. A certain number of grand
Jurors, drawn, to serve for the year in
the court of sessions, with their FORE
man, should be required to attend the
county court. Their duties can be
discharged in one day, if all bills Of in
dictment are ready and handed out at
the opening of the session. And this
can be required. -...
4th. A county attorney, with
moderate salary of S400 to $500, should
be provided. Let his duties be as pros
eculing officer and as counsel to coun-
ty boards of commissioners as well.
The salaries now paid to such counsel
would be saved. Reduce the salaries
of circuit solicitors to 5000 per annum
for their duties would be to a great
er extent diminished-and give them
the assistance of the county attorney.
The enlatter? should also be required to
attend all inquests and important pre-
liminary hearings courts where the
state is not now represented. =.
9th. To keep the jails clear of
boarders at the expense of the county,
these courts ought TO be held every
month, or every two months at least.
County judges and attorneys should
be elected by the people, and judges
should be allowed to practice in all
other than county courts. The mod
crate salary provided would thus Sc
cure higher grade of judicial value.
The county courts should also be given
Jurisdiction in civil causes to a reason
able limit.
The clerk of the circuit court should
also be the clerk of the county court.
Although, as these officers would re-
ceive no salaries, separate clerk for
the county court would involve no
additional expense. The county sher-
iff would, of course, be the sheriff of
all the county courts as he now is.
That such system would result in
safer and more efficient administra-
tion of justice, hardly admits of ques-
ton. / believe further, that law
framed on these lines will prove to be
measure of economy when all the
savings it produces are computed and
placed on the credit side Of the ac-
count.