The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1899-04-07
TENNESSEE LAWMAKERS
NASHVILLE. March 2a

that since the Jarvis law went into effect there
has been an increase in the business OF some
courts to the extent OF 60 per cent. The de-
crease in business in the criminal court of David
son county was II per cent; in Knox county, 46
per cent; in Shelby county, 80 per cent. The
committee presented tabulated statements OF
the decrease OF business in ali chancery divisions
and judicial circuits, with the number OF days
each judge sat during the year. 1t was shown
that some judges were busy only about one-third
Of the time.
AS to the court of chancery appeals, the COM
mittee quotes the decision of the supreme court
that it is a constitutional court, and then by
presenting facts and figures as to the number of
cases heard and the time saved to the supreme
court, it is shown that the supreme court, even
with the assistance given, had all the work it
could do. 1t is recommended that the court OF
chancery appeals be retained. The committee
concludes as follows:
upon these facts the committee is unayoid-
ably driven to the conclusion that there are
more courts in the State, under the present
arrangement, than are necessary to transact the
business, and have decided to suggest the fol-
lowing as proper solution of the difficulty:
The committee deems it best to redistrict the
State into chancery divisions and judicial and
criminal circuits to take effect in 1902, so as to
avoid the necessity of appointing the necessary
present to abolish such courts as may be unne-
ceSsary for the transaction of business now to
be done and apportion the work heretofore as
signed to these courts as equitably as possible
among remaining circuits and divisions of the
State.
"The committee therefore recommends that
following courts be abolished: Twelfth chan
ecry divisions, criminal court of Knox county /;
third judicial circuit, criminal court of Mont
-fr,,iyo 1I 1nt of fhn
eleventh judicial circuit; and No. Of the
eleventh chancery division, which, upon recon-
mendation of this committee, has already been
abolished by an act of the present general as
sembly the ninth judicial circuit. The COM
mittee also recommends that second circuit
court of Davidson county be abolished, the bill
aboishing this court, however, not taking effect
until September l, 1892. its existence in the
meantime being regarded as necessary by the
committee. The committee is satisfied that
after the foregoing courts have been abolished
there will then be left remaining sufficient
number to do the work of the State, and to
abolish these will result in saving to the State
annually, until the redstricting bill takes effect
in 1902, SIG 250, and under the redistrictng bill
there are ten chaucery divisions, instead of
twelve chancery divisions, as now Constituted;
and twelve judicial circuits, instead of nineteen
judicial circuits, as now constituted"
The report of the educational committee, re-
ferring to the Normal College, sets forth the
irregularities of w. R. Payne, and censures his
father, Chancellor w. H. Payne, and the State
board of education and its secretary for per-
LJitting such practices as w. r. Payne stands
charged with. 1t is shown that the latter was
only private secretary to his father, and yet he
handled the finances of the institution and repre-
sented himself as its secretary. He ran the col
lege bookstore In his own name, had 1t rated at
a million dollars, and charged students such
prices as he pleased for books. He also had one
of the lady members of the faculty. who was
receiving salary of a thousand dollars year
from the State, in charge of this book store, to
the neglect OF the duties for which she was paid.
In the senate bills were introduced prevent
ing the sale of liquor to any habitual drunkard
who is husband or father; preventing persons
guilty of Wiilful patricide or matricide from in
heriting property from the parent whose death
they caused; permitting judges to investigate
the truth or falsity of afidayits for continu-
ances: prohibiting child life insurance; appro-
prialing $50 900 for the colored industrial and
agricultural school to be located near Knoxville.
MARCH 27.
The committee on judicial reform introduced
in the house today bill to divide the State into
judicial circuits and chancery divisions. 1t
provides that it take effect August l, 1902, for
the purpose of eleeting judges for the several
judicial circuits, chancery divisions and Grim
inaI courts but in all other respects it is to take
effect September l, 1902, at which time the terms
of offices of judges aud chancelIorS to be
elected under this act begin. The bill fixes the
judicial circuits and chancery divisions and
criminal courts as follows:
The first judicial circuit shall comprise the
following counties: Johnson Carter, Sullivan,
Washington, Unicoi, Greene, Hawkins, Han
cock Claiborne.
Second-Jefferson, Sewer, Granger, Ham
blen, Cooke, Morgan, Scott, Campbell, Ander-
son, Union, Fentress.
Thlrd-Knox.
Fourth-Bradley Polk, Meigs, McMinn, Lou
don, James, Roane, Blount, Monroe.
Ffth-Pickett Cumberland, Putnam, Over
ton, Clay, jackson, Smith, Trousdale, White
Macon.
sixth-Franklin, sequatchie, Marion, Hamil-
ton.
Seventh-Yan Buren,, Grundy, Coffee, Warren
Moore, DeKalb, Bledsoe, Rhea, Lincoln.
Eighth-Wilson. Rutherford, Bedford, Mar
shall Cannon, Williamson.
Niuth-Montgomery, Robertson, Stewart
Houston, Humphreys, Cheatham, Dickson
Sumner
Tenth-Davidson.
Eleventh-Maury Giles, Lawrence, Wayne
Lewis, Perry, Hickman.
Twelfth-HardemaD, McNairy, Hardin, Ches-
ter, Henderson, Decatur, Madison.
Thirteenth-W Weakley, Crockett, Haywood
Benton, Carroll, Henry, Gibson.
Fourteenth-Obion, Lake Dyer, Lauderdale,
Upton, Fayette.
There shall be special criminal court fol-
Davidson county, to be styled the Davidson
county criminal court, with jurisdiction OF all
criminal cases.
There shall be a special criminal court fol-
Shelby county, to be known as the Shelby coun~
~ criminal court, with jurisdiction of all
criminal eases arising in said county; to meet
the first Monday in January, June and NOvem-
Der.
The first chancery division shall comprise the
following counties: johnson, Carter, Sullivan
Washington, Unicol, Greene Hawkins, Han
cock, Claiborne, Granger, Hamblen, Cooke
Second-SeYier. Blount, Loudon, Campbell
Anderson, Roane, Morgan, Scott, Union, Fen
tress, Jefferson.
Third-Franklin, Rhea, Bradley, James, Ma
rlon, Coffee, Bledsoe, Sequatchie, Grundy
McMnn, Moore, Warren, Monroe. Polk, Meigs
Hamilton.
Fourth-Cumberland Pickett Overton, Clay
Jackson, Putnam, White, DeKalb Smith, Ma
con, Van Buren, Cannon TrousdaIe.
Fiftn-Rutherford, Bedford, Marshall, VIII
Hanson, Lincoln, Lawrence, Maury, Giles
Lewis, Wayne.
sixth-Sumner, Robertson, Cheatham, Mont
gomery, Stewart, Houston, Dickson, Hickman
Humphreys, Wilson.
STANDARDIZATION.
Eighth-Decatur, Hardin, Chester, Benton
McNairy, Crockett, Henderson, Carroll, Henry
Madison, Perry.
Ninth-Dyer, Obion, Lake, WeakIey, Gibson
I.auderdale, Fayette. Haywood Upton, Harde-
man.
TeRth-Shelby.
senator Eldr'dge called up the motion to re