The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1899-01-05
THE COUNTY COURT SYSTEM.
N Bill Has Been Prepared to Estab
lish County Courts When aud
Where They arc Wanted.


The grand jury OF Grcenville County
not long ago recommended tho cstab-
lishment OF county courts, IN order 10
expedite the criminal business and TO
decrease the county expenses, and this
recon un andni'na hra a:str: .ntoa nucn
attention eli over the State. The
Greonville MOuntGincer has published
| intcrviews with several lawyers aud
members Of the Legislature, and
among others the following from Hon.
w. l.. Mauldin, former Lieutenuut
Governor Of the State, aud Hon.
Joseph A. Mccullough, both OF whom
are members OF the House for the next
two years. Mr.. Mccullough explains
o bill he has prepared for the organ
ization of county courts:
Hon. w. L. Mauldin, member OF the
| House, states his approval Of tho prop
osition in this way:
with the lights before mo I shall
| favor proposition to submit the que.s-
tiOn of an inferior court for tho lnrgC T.
counties to the people for their dGci,-
Ion. In my opinion such q court could
be operated at IN expense ~ least not
greater than tho present system Of
Magistrates courts. This now costs
this county twenty-five hundred do
lars, and is not at all satisfactory.
Honey could be saved by having
smaller jurics, and by speedy trials We
| would have less expense for witnesses
and jail fees. As | talko 1t. we arc al
Interested In anything that promises
reduction in our heavy taXcs, county
as well rs State, hence it aDpoArs 10
me that this Is u commcndablc fcatur..
There has been much complaint Of the
delays Of the law, sud the tnrdy way Ia
which Justice is dispensed. Would not
a county court tend TO correct that
complaint?
aside from tho nero pocuniary
Wow OF thi: question believe that ina
mediate trials OF persons charged wits
violation OF tho law would bo bound It
exercise C. wholesome influence upon
tho public mind. The jurisdiction o;
such Il court might safely embrace the
trial OF civil causes where the amour [
involved WAS undcr five hundred dol
lars, or some fixed amount, and thus
rclievo the Superior Court OF lArE |
number OF cases.
"It will be borne In mind that In CO c
of the establishment OF q county cOuy t
| Wo would have no need for magi tr0 t. :
except a9 committing officers, AMI
that item OF expense cOnld be discharE.
cd.
81 an glad to sec that you have &sl<.
cd for opinions upon this matter, &uG
hope thcro viii be p general cXprrSsiCU
from those who feel Interested. There
may be some better o: wiser plan, ana
II so, 1T would be wGll TO urge it nov
OF couroc the Legislature can only sub
nit the question 10 the people for tnC!r
a0optiOa or rejection, and In event it
should meet with popular approval 4
bill for the establish hrCnl OF tho COuri
with other details cf It's machincry
would follow lator on"
Mr.. Joseph A. Mccullough, mcmbtr
OF tho House, gives his position in TIL,
following:
81 see that Senator Tiliman Gucs
tions the conYtitutionality OF an Act ca
tablis hing county courts. Section
Article 8, Of tho Constitution OF lS9;
especially provides for SEER cstGbIisi.,
ment. ara turpriscd that the dis
tlnguished Senator should not rCmcn
bor such an item 80 this.
VI am preparing general bill frl
the establishment OF county courts Il
go into mediate effect in any county
when ratified by q vote OF the majority
OF the yOters OF tho said county. My
Dill contains the following provision )
VI. The county judge is to be olcctc
, by the Legislature just as circui
| judges arc oloctcd do this because
l believe that he should be above loca