Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1902-07-05

from S0UO 10 oOUU.
For the present the city courts are
retained. They may be abolished In
cities of under 10000 inhabitants by
a popular vote, and for the future
the courts of all cities will be largely
within the Legislative control.
The county courts are abolished.
The State is divided into 24 circuits,
and for each circuit judge is to be
elected with minimum salary of
s.. 900. The number of terms to be
held in each locality is left to the
wisdom of the General Assembly
The circuit courts are to have the
most extensive civil and criminal
Jurisdiction. To guarantee the
amplest facilities and meet every
emergency it is provided that the
city judges may be called on to par
ticipate in the work Of the circuits;
that the General Assembly may turn
over to the clerks much of the pro-
bate and other routine business now
confined to the courts; that it may
provide by whom applications for
bail shall be heard and disposed of,
and that, after two years, it may
create additional circuits, subject to
the one restriction that there shall
be no circuit in the State having less
than 40, 900 inhabitants. 1t Is claimed
and believed that the new system
will promote efficiency in the adj
ministration of justice and result in
a very considerable saving of expense
Judges are forbidden to practice
law.
The General Assembly is to pro-
vide for the election or appointment
of justices of the peace. 1t is TO have
authority to establish court or
courts of land registration, and this
takes in view the possibility of the
adoption # the Torrens title system.
County Government.
County officials will be elected in
the fall for term of four years, ex
cept that clerks will be elected for Il
term OF eight years. There will be
no more spring elections, with the in
cident trouble and expense
Treasures are to be ineligible for
more than two consecutive terms.
Commissioners of the revenue, who
assess personal property for taxation,
are to be chosen as the General As
sembly may determine, but if elect
ed by the people they are to be in
eligible for reelection.
The Boards of Supervisors are to
meet at fixed periods, it being sug-
gested that such meetings may in
some sense offset any popular dissd-
vantage resulting from the abolition
he n1 n | of hn nnnnf
courts.
A part of a general plan to insure
the closer collection aud more care
full custody and disbursement OF the
public revenue is the requirement
that the General Assembly shall pro-
vide for the examination of the |
books, accounts and settlements OF
county aud city officers.
Education.
The State Board of Education now |
consists of the Governor, Attorney
General and Superintendent of Pub
lie Instruction. There are to be add
ed three educators chosen from the |
educational institutions of the State |
by the Senate from list of eligibles |
furnished by the boards OF those in
and there are also to be |
added one city and one county sup
of schools The whole |
area OF administrative and educa-
tional ability and influence will be |
represented.
The Superintendent of Public In-
struction is to be elected by the PEG
pie, and his duties are to be prescrib- |
ed by the State board To that eX.
tent he and the system are to be dis
connected from legislative control
The powers of the State board are |
authority being given TO |
appoint uperintendents for districts
and divisions instead Of necessarily |
Tor counties aud cities and to remove |
the same; to bring order out of chaos
by making all needful rules and regu-
iations for the schools; to exercise a
wide discretion as to the selection OF
books and appliances, and to put the
OF the State Library In
charge of a board so as to make it
more accessible and of full value to
the public.
The establishment of high schools
is encouraged by authorizing the
levy of a special tax in any district
tor that purpose. The General AS
sembly is empowered to build up
agricultural, normal, manual train
ing and technical schools, and thus
adopt for the State a policy which is
now being SO warmly advocated III
many quarters.
The manner of selecting school
trustees is relegated to the Genera
Assembly, with the apparent eXpec
alton that provision will be made
or their election by the people.
Agriculture And Immigration.
1t is provided that the people shall
,lect commissioner for this depart
nent, who shall hold Office for
eTm of four years and discharge the
luties prescribed by law. The Board
If Agriculture and Immigration is to
,e composed of a practical farmer
appointed by the Governor from
ach Congressional district for
erm of four years and the president
# the Virginia Polytechnic Institute.
Nbe board is to have power to elect
nd remove its officers and establish
ubordinate branches of the depart
lent. The details of the work of the i,
department. are left to, and its ELI q
ienoy will greatly depend upon, the
ction of the General Assembly.
Institutions And Prisons. 4
The penitentiary and branch
risons and prison farms are to be ,
ontrolled by board of directors s
ppointed by the Governor. 1t will
e the duty of this board, among
ther things, to appoint tne super Q
ltendent of the penitentiary and
he surgeons.
Each hospital for the insane is to I
e controlled by a board of three I
irectOrs appointed by the Governor
nd these boards are to constitute
ne board intrusted with the general +
anaOampnt of all tho bOepitalo