The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-02-10
NO CRIMINAL DISTRICTS
Bill to Return Discharged Convicts to
Their Old Homes Defeated.
SEVERAL BalsKDEBATEs DURING THE DAY
Mr.. Thompson, Of 0nsIow, Hits The RepubIi-
cans Stme Mighty Hard Licks. Mr..
ROuntree is Very
Sarcastic.

The sub committee which was APP
pointed on Friday afternoon by the
special committee on courts and judicial
districts to formulate bill abolishing
the two criminal court districts and
increasing the number of Superior
courts and judges from twelve to six
teen reported the bill to the House yes
terday morning. Judge Allen, of
Wayne, submitted the report, and ex-
planned that the joint committee on
courts and judicial districts had come
to the conclusion that the increase was
necessary only after long and careful
consideration and thorough examination
into the needs of the different counties.
There was considerable discussion
over the BILL but 1t finally passed by a
vote of "a to %. without amendment.
Judge Graham of Granville. offered an
amendment to make the number of
courts fifteen instead of sixteen, but
this was lost.
The bill introduced by Mr.. White, of
Halifax, providing that the authorities
of the State penitentiary and State
farms place all convicts on board train
one day prior to their discharge, Civ
ing them tickets for their old homes
was lost. The object of this bill was to
relieve the communities adjacent to the
penitentiary and State farms from the
presence of so many ex-convicts There
was quite lively debate over the mat
ter
IL JUDICIAL DISTRICTS.
The bill to increase the number of SUI
pcrior courts and judicial districts was
then taken uD on motion of Judge Allen,
of Wayne, who proceeded to tell the
House what action the Joint committee
had taken on the matter
No one, he said, can realize the amount
of work imposed upon the Judge out of
court. On inquiry from Mr.. Beddingfeld
as TO whether the committee was unani-
nous for Is districts. Judge Allen said
there was only one dissenting vote, and
tEat was for fifteen lie average time
of the judges for holding court With SIX
teen districts would be aDou. thrty-five
weeks.
Judge Allen said there were some cour .
Ties that had all the court facilities they
reed, but others have not. want to sug-
gcst that the bill calls for the abolition
of the criminal courts, and therefore to
make Il districts would not increase the
the court facilities.
Mr. Mclean. of Scotland, favored the
bill because a committee of competent
lawyers had by large majority decided
Tor H. He went on to saw
that he had followed the plough
from sunrise to sunset, but the
hardest work he had ever done was
10 sit on legislative committees in judg-
ment on cases, and he could appreciate
how hard the judges had to work.
GRAHAM FAvoRs FIFTEEN.
Judge Graham said he thought there
was no need of haste in the matter, as
the measure would not go into effect until
July There are some districts where the
court facilities are not sufficient. and
others where they are. This matter was
first submitted to a committee of FL, and
1t was proposed to have p districts, and
the Is. think there is certainly need
for some increase. out not for more than
Is. l want more time given to the mem
bers for consideration of this matter.
ask the House to postpone this matter.
and make it the special order for next
Wednesday at II o'clock. Judge Graham
then put this in the form of motion.
MIR. Craig, of Buncombe: / hope this
have to be followed by another which
Will require a great deal of time to draw
up, providing for the redistricting of the
State The bar Of Asheville decided that
four additional districts were needed, with
the abolition of the criminal districts
When this committee considered the
needs of the different counties, they did
not ask for all they needed, but only
for what they thought they could get
In my county, the courts are so crowded
that justice is denied to a great many
whose cases cannot be reached. This
matter has been considered for two years,
and there has been caucus. |
don't see how any more light can be
thrown on it. The general opinion of the
committee that investigated this matter
was that the judges had at present about
IS weeks and would have about the
same with 16 districts.
Mr.. Beddingield l think this bill ought
to pass, and that it ought to pass inn
mediately. Every judge has to do great
deal of work outside of court. 1t would be
to the best interests of the people TO
pass this bill now and give time for the
re-districting of the State.
Mr.. Ebbs, of Madison, claimed that the
work of the judges could be done under
inc present system. Ii the lawyers would
go to work. prepare their cases, and
go before the courts without prejudice,
the present number of courts would suf-
ice The trouble with us is we do not
work as We should | am in favor of
having more work done by the men who
NIL positions rather than taking money
from the already over taxed people of
North Carolina to pay more officials. The
people are getting tired of paying judges,
to have good time
ROUNTREE is SARCASTIC.
Mr.. Rountree: / certainly agree with
the gentleman from Madison in his elo.
quent political speech, that since the LIST
OF January. 1885, we have had judges who
have not done their duty.
II the gentleman feels he has not done