The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-01-31
|NSAT|ATE GREED
FOR COURT COSTS
Senator ]. D. McNei|I Scores
the Primary Courts.
A TRAvESTY ON JUSTICE
Declares School Fund is Deprived of
Much Legitimate Income.
HAS INVESTIGATED CUMBERLAND COUNTY
Believes That Many Magistrates Are Guilty For
an Outrageous State Of Affairs Upon
Which the Light of Publicity
Should be Turned.

Il nave found an outrageous state OF
affairs in Cumberland county" said Sem
ator James d. Mcneil, of that county,
who was in the city yesterday.
MY information on the matter is that
there are many other counties in North
Carolina where there are similar cond-
tons" he continued, land the light OF
publicity should be turned upon such
pi actices which are depriving the public
schools Of the State of much legitimate
income"
Senator Mcneil had much business of
interest to the State to look after while
ne was in the city yesterday Among
other things he brought in a report OF
the public schools of his county. While
speaking of the educational work in his
county he expressed himself as quoted
above.
Some time ago Senator Mcneil was APP
pointed a special representative by his
County Board of Education to ascertain
and report the amount of money due the
public school fund by the magisterial,
municipal and criminal courts of the
county.
He made inquiry of each magistrate in
his county, asking that they furnish him
with list of the fines imposed and col
lected for three years past, from Jan
usry 1st, 1899, to January 1st, 1902. In
answer to his letters of inquiry he has
found in Cumberland county a condition
which he terms as outrageous. con-
iition which he believes will be found 10
exist liz many counties of the State.
The fines imposed by the courts men
toned 90 TO Increase the public school
fund. and from the report of twenty
che officers Mr.. Mcneil found that in
three years only $685. had been collected
outside of Fayetteville, $3465o IN Fay
ettevilIe a total of S429.70 with only q
few officials not reporting.
In many of the reports sent in Mr..
Mcneil called attention TO the large
number OF eases and the small amount
of the costs One official reported three
cases, with ten cents collected, another
four eases with $500 collected, another
ten eases with $1410 collected Four
teen reported no collections at ALL
magistrate Of Cross Creek township, in
which Fayetteville is located, reported
1887 cases, with a collection OF So1. The
docket OF the mayor of Fayetteville
showed 271 cases, with $34b50 collected.
Commenting OH this state of affairs
MI. MCNtllI Sdtu, dhl ANui biiJ
ashamed 10 report so deplorable an adj
niinistration IN oGr primary courts of
Justice. These reports indicate that it
is "A travesty on justice, equity and law
that is being carried on. and the matter
is so serious that the light of publicity
should be turned en- When this is done
/ doubt not but that other counties in
the State viii find that they are af-
ficted just as badly in their primary
courts OF justice.
The trouble is, Mr.. McNeill declares,
that the officials are paying more atten-
ton TO the costs that come to them,
than to the fines which should go to
the school fund. He. does not mince worcs
in caraeterizing such conduct. but de-
ciares that the officials in these courts
have paid no attention TO the public
welfare or to the educational needs of
The children in their inordinate and in
satiate greed for costs, which. in the
case of magistrates. by most unwise
provision of the law, goes into their Own
pockets. thereby befrisnding the ia~
breakers, enriching themselves and de-
priving the school fund of a legitimate
and proper source Of income.
Yes said the Senator earnestly.
that's true. Too often magistrate says
TO a prisoner whom he has sentenced
Just pay me the costs and l will re-
nit the fine 1t pays him and his depu-
ties, ard he cares nothing beyond the
getting of his money"
Il believe that that is more money lost
to education in North Carolina by such
practices as these than is paid into our
treasury by all the liquor licenses in the
State. The fault is not alone with the
courts, but the public is to be planned
for not scrutiniing these reports, and
keeping track of what is going on
Publicity is the only way to stop this
kind of thing. The Board of Education
in Cumberland wanted to get at facts.
and it appointed me as its special repre-
sentative TO get facts. / got them and |
reported ther just as ] found them. In
every county of the State some man
should be appointed who will thoroughly
investigate these matters, and when a
healthy public opinion asserts itself men
will be deferred from pocketing the costs
and leaving an empty bag for the public
scnooI fund.-
with the money that Justly belongs to
tie school fund, aud which it is not get
ting the terms of the schools in every
county in the State could be made lon
ger and the schools better. Turn on the
light is what is needed to accomplish
this.