The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1903-02-08

ent judiciary system OF the state made by
the County Judges association now in SEES.
sion in Fort Worth, aud asked by The Post
correspondent II he had no,ieef the obJec
ton. Yes" he answered, II have noticed
that my resolution relating 10 the
judiciary had met with some adverse criue
cism In the County Judges association. IL
has been attacked on the ground that IL
would entail greater expense on the state
for maintaining Its judiciary. deny that
fact, While economy is not the principal
feature which ] think should commend the
measure TO the people OF Texas, yet | be-
lieve that under it's provisions these eS'
penSeS VIII be greatly reduced, Take, for
Instance, the Sixth Judicial district com
posed OF the counties OF FOnnln, Lamar and
Red River. There are three county Judges
IA this district whose aggregate compensa
this the salary Of the district Judge, $500.
aud we have total of $500 Tor maintain.
ing the judiciary IN that district. Under
my resolution, each Of these counties would
be entitled to one Judge, aud allowing that
he should receive the sum Of S2NN per
annum there would be saving In that dis
rate OF saying ~ the salaries Of judges
may not obtain In all OF the counties OF
the State, yet | believe that my system
VIII largely reduce the expenses OF paying
business transacted In the sixth judicial
district, feel warranted In saying that one
court IN each of those counties would have
ample time TO try and dispose Of every case
upon their dockets. The provisions OF the
resolution are such that the compensation
or Judges may be paid in salaries by the
state or By counties In fees, as may be de.
termined by law. 1t Is safe to say that II
the fee system CommendH Itself to tho peo-
pie OF Texas as the best method OF provid.
Ing for the compensation OF Judges, the leg
lslature may be depended upon to enact
the necessary law. what ! consider the
most importan Mt feature OF my resolution Is
mat provision which dlsppScs Of the neces.
s,ty and opportunity for delays In the trial
In on N
county a tribunal whose powers for the
trial OF cause, for the granting og writs
ana restraining orders can be evoked al
any time. No citizen OF Texas needs to he
told that the greatest objection TO the ~
dicial system OF this State lies IN the fact
that continuance can be had almost for the
ASKING ana are frequently unavoidable, and
that such delays furnish the most effective
opportunity for the escape OF the guilty
and oppression by the rich and powerful
Under the provlsions OF my resolution It is
possibie for court to convene In regular
session In each county on the first Monday
In each month and continue until the busi-
ness is disposed Of, thus giving an oppor.
tunity 70 Try criminal cases while tho testl-
mony Is fresh and before the witnesses
nave left the country, or have been tam.
pered with by those who are disposed to
resort 10 corrupt practices Under the sys.
tenn now In use II murder Is committed il
y almost Impossible to get q trial In less
than one year ana frequently more than
two years elapse between the commission
OF the otfense and tho Anal trial Of the nc.
cused During this time IL tho accused il
unable TO give bond he Is forced, to lie in
jail and the county must pay the expense
Of caring for and maintaining him IL he
is able 20 give bond and IS disposed to cor
rupt witnesses he has ample opportunity
out or the country and thus destroy INC
Testimony. upon which the State must RELY
for conviction There are many more
features about the resolution which I think
should commend IT, but which / have hot
time to speak Of ! feel that IN formula
Ing our legislation we should nlways be
governed by. the interest Of the people Of
the state Of Texas without regard to the,
naltry ambition OF some aspiring politician.
The fact that the hostile criticisms which
has reached me has come, not from tho
mass OF the people Mt large, but from como
gentlemen who apprehend that their of0cIai
tenure VIII be molcsted leads mo 10 believe
That there is no well-grounded opposition