The Savannah morning news., 1901-11-16
INTO TWO COURTS
BILL TO SPLIT THE CITY COURT IN
To DIVISIONS.
INTRODUCED IN THE HOUSE.
WILL SHAKE UP THE OFFICERS OF
EVERY COURT IN SAVANNAH.


Misdemeanor Cases I'm the City
Court and Thus Takes Away From
the Officers of the Superior Court
Much of Their Earnings-A Special
Solicitor, ON Salary, for the Grim
inaI Division of the City Court-AE
Fines and Costs Collected Are to
Go to the County-Mr. Hitch Says
There's No Politics in tIe Matter.
The bills to create two divisions of
the City Court of Savannah and TO pro-
vide for the Office of solicitor of the
criminal division of the court were in
troduced in the General Assembly yes
terday by Representative Hitch.
If the new bills should become law
they would have serious effect upon
the Office of solicitor general of this
circuit, which consists of the county of
Chatham, as well as upon. the offices
of sheriff of the county and clerk of
the Superior Court. The emoluments
of the solicitor general depend almost
exclusively, and those of the sheriff
and clerk very largely, upon the fines
and costs collected from those convict
ed of misdemeanors in the Superior
Court. Under the proposed law all mis-
demeaner cases are to be tried in the
criminal division of the City Court and
fines and costs collected are to be turn
ed into the treasury of the county.
There, can be no fines in cases of felony.
This fact will affect the solicitor gen
eral, clerk and sheriff together; the
solicitor general will be further affect
ed by the fact that the Office of solic-
itor of the City Court is to be created,
and his authority in representing the
state in cases tried in that court thus
taken away. One result of the pas
sage of the bills introduced by Repre-
sentative Hitch would probably be that
the solicitor general will have to be
placed on salary.
An Atlanta dispatch to the Morn
ing News, describing the two bills and
their introduction in the House, says:
These bills provide for making two
divisions of the City Court of Savan-
nah, and for the creation of the Office
of solicitor of the City Court of Sa-
vannah.
The contents of the bills are as fol-
lows:
ITO amend the act creating the City
Court of Savannah and the acts amen
datory thereof. Provided that said City
Court of Savannah shall consist of two
divisions, to be known and designated
as the civil and criminal divisions of
the City Court of Savannah.
TO create the office of solicitor of
City Court of Savannah, who shall be
the prosecuting officer of the criminal
division of said court, and for other
purposes.
The bill with reference to the solicit
tor of the City Court of Savannah pro-
vides for such an officer, who shall re-
ceive salary of s125 a month, all the
fines and ferfeitures from the court to
go into the county treasury This
measure is not to take effect until the
expiration of the present term of Soiic-
itor General Osborne
The bill providing for two divisions
OF the City Court OF Savannah contains
many interesting features. 1t provides
that court shall consist of a civil and
criminal division
The judge of the civil division shall
be appointed by the Governor upon the
passage of the bill. Judge Norwood
Is to remain judge of the criminal d.
vision until the expiration of his pres
ent term at his present salary, which
is now $4,000. After this both Judges
cIc~ 10 receive SZ,UUU a year,
The bill provides that no defendant
In a criminal preceding in this court
shall be entitled to demand an indict-
ment by grand jury, either in the city
| or the Superior Court. There shall be
no grand jury called in the City Court
except in the discretion of the Judge.
All indictments for misdemeanor by
the grand jury of the Superior Court
shah be tried in the criminal division
of the City Court. This would take all
the gambling cases into the City Court.
and the fines would go into the county
| treasury. No defendant is to be en-
titled to trial by jury in the City Court
unless written demand is made
No party to a civil case in the civil
division shall be entitled to a jury trial,
unless written demand is made at
the time of filing the petition or an
swer. Continuance and postponement
OF causes by consent are prohibited,
and shall only be granted by the Judge
for cause shown. A daily session of
the criminal court is to be held by the
judge, unless prevented by providential
cause, to dispose of Jail cases. Judges
of both courts may preside for each
| other by agreement. The number of
bailiffs and deputies to serve in the
two courts shall not be increased be-
yond the present number.
Inc DlllS were referred TO the Com
mittee on Corporations, and everybody
who objects to them will be given a
chance to have a hearing.
There is nothing whatever political
about these measures" Mr.. Hitch said,
in speaking of them, land shall not
make any attempt to pass them, if l
find that the people object. Any rea-
sons against the bills will be given
full and fair consideration.
Diploma for Georgia Shoes.