The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-01-29

riod, but cay 1t is not the pay but tho
man who ~ at fault. An unscrupulaus
man as a Judge viii be the more 80 II he
knows that he can not Be Ss oSstsd for slsns
to moro clearly define the dutios Of Judges.
to dismiss Judges who permit legal errors
TO enter into any trial. II seems to he the
habit In murder cases to set a certain day
for trial and TO summon for that day a
venire OF 100 or 200 Jurors, numbers OF
whom come from a distance OF from ten
| to thirty miles. II ia only then that the
| Judge finds out that though the States ut
| turney may be ready for trial the defend
ants attorneys are not ready and the 1u-
| rors having come 10 far are told that they
| may go home, that they are not wanted
| This could be easily avoided II at the be-
| ginning OF the courts session the Judge
| would summon tho States and the defend
| ants attorney OF each murder case and In
ouire whether both State and defendant
| arc ready for trial or not. II not he should
! ask for the reason. II considered sufficient
! the case should AZ once BIO continued to
/ next session: II insufficient the trial should
| be ordered for certain day.
! In the frst case there would be no need
Ito summon special venire. which would
/ save from 100 to zoo men considerable
! trouble and would save tho State some
| expense. In tho second caBo tho venire
would not be less nor would the expense be
| wasted
The law should prohibit the granting OF
more than one continuance In murder
caees, Every continuance makes the defeat
| OF justice more probable through loss of
| witnesses or through defect Of witnesses
| memory.
The fact that Jurors have read the pa
| pers discussing murder case should not
be permitted to be 4 cause for challenge,
as long as the Juror takes the oath that he
i will find a verdict In accord with facts and
4 evidence presented by the court. II is an
insult to any man OF sound reason. In
thus challenging the defendants attorneys
can selec. Il Jury which they know to DO
favorable 10 the defendant This Ia one OF
the many ways III which Justice is defeat
ed. as long lis the defendant Is abla to pay
for the attorneys efforts. Few contiDu-
ances and few challenges arc made when
tho defendant Ia without means and the
lawyer 10 restricted to what the state al
lows him.
Purely technical errors should not en-
title to remand or revision of case IN
any OF many courts.
Our appellate courts seems to be q super
fluffy and q useless expense 10 tho State
II appeals from these courts may be taken
to the supreme court. II is n known fact
that not even the supreme judges are In
all cases OF like mind The appellate
court, therefore. may as we'll BIO the court
OF last resort. or be dispensed with alto
gether and then enlarge tho membership
OF the supreme court, make four divisions
out of IL, divide the Stnto Into four dis
tricts and assign one of the Districts to
each part of the court. No need TO move
4 any OF the courts from the capital, but
each OF the four parts of the court TO be
OF like composition and 10 have the same
powers of final jurigdiction In all cases
with the other parts OF the court, 30 thet
the four parts OF the court are but one
court In enimus This will not only 81 70
costs to the State, but II Will gave the
time consumed between the judgment OF
the district court and that of the appellate
court: though think that this. my sug-
gestlon. will find III favor with the gener-
atty Of our lawyers. numbers OF whom arc
busy making laws.
Times are very hard upon the common
agriculturIst. the holder Of small proper
ties Thousands upon Thousands OF acres
Of the very best farming lands are holh
by Spectators, valued aud taxed at the
rate OF % cents, II not less per acre. when
the poor mans acres adjoining the LANDS
held for speculation are valued at from 81
TO Sc per acre, exclusive OF the improve
1nents made thereon. Why can not the
used as we'll as the unused land. II OF llke
quality, be valued and taxed alike WHY
/. "a the greater burden Of the taxation
pusbed upon the shoulders of the small
holder 50 MS to allow the large holder
whose holdings lie Tide to go as near az
possible rrtaxed?
A land classification should be made, o
|
: SCISSOR should DO forced 10 examine the land
and assess It's value In accord with the
/. classification value.
Assessing and collecting Of taxes M
, done under presont laws are too costly
II the assessor and collector were the one
and the same official much OF the s,sse SAG,
; expense could be saved. The ofhcia
should mike sutheicnt and good bond FOL
his honesty In his dealings with the people
= anG with the state.
II Is a great tax upon the small agri
i culturist and laborer TO give twice veal
, SIX days OF his time to jury duty and be-
, sides this 10 lose hye days ON roaa wor'
!. yer friends and the variouE officials tyin'
a in clover out OF the States and out o
: tho defendants means. The question ns
furally occurs. could not Law be passe'
q forcing each county TO furnish Tree log
4 ing and boarding TO all the jurors Gum
,nSnea for the week or for any othe
: specifc time, The county might be per
\ rnitted 10 pay Itself for such outlay out q
: my OF defendants properly, " foun'
r guilty. or may be permitted 70 ,sharge par
4 at least 10 the State. MANY a Juror y
J, summoned must camp nut In wet and colo
: having for his bourd crust OF stale brea'
r brought from home and drirk Of water
a II often happens that some Jurors arc es
Z eused on every case and he therefore get
!. no pay whatsoever, The wealthy an
. .hoss liyl,g near the court house ccul
hoard and lodge NJ a hore) or Ut homs
q I,.t tbnse who come from distance with
2 o,,t means the county should supply Wit
4 board and LODGING The sacriAce OF tim
! s,lsuId be sufficient for the State TO re
a ruire; she should do somsthing at leas
! for the comfort n those who have 10 ODE
). the States summons
d AZ TO the Law penslcning Confsde-at
II soldiers, may Gay that AN an old Con
II federatc. now past ~ years, poor an
/ partly crippled. yet say let the ieeisla
n lure keep HANDS on ahy such law. WIS
would 100000 b. 70 perhaps 100000 OIL
IL Texas Confoderates and their widowf
n One-tenth OF the sum would fsi' 20 IN
% tenths would reach the pockets OF ID