The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-02-15
SORT OF REGULATING FEVER.
Mr. B. q Crisp Takes This View and Thinks
Halt Should be Called.

To the Editor: From reading the News
and Observer, it would appear that the
present is the most regulating Gener-
al Assembly ever convened in North
Carolina, and judging from many of the
bills introduced and seriously considered,
some of it's members have the least con-
fidence in the ability of the people to
manage any part of their affairs
1t is all right to regulate" the liquor
traffic, because drunkenness and its at
tendant evils exist to large extent in all
sections, but when our paternal law
makers go further and attempt to "regu-
late what toys our children shall use,
just how they shall celebrate Christmas,
Fourth of July and other holiday, etc,
it seems to some of us that they are in
fringing on the proper domain OF parents
and local municipal authorities to whom
it should be left to regulate" these mat
tiers.
If everything by which accidental in
jury may be inflicted, when carelessly
used, is to be legislated against, we may
look forward to the time when those
charged with the execution of the law,
instead of being servants of the people,
will become the managers of even the
details of their domestic affairs.
One of the most Objectionable measures
so far introduced, is the bill to give the
judges power to limit argument of coun-
sci in our courts. Some of us are old
fashioned enough to view with apprehen-
sion the present tendency to concentrate
power in individual hands. BY legisla-
tive enactment and judicial legislation,
under the guise of discretion of the
court our judges already have power
sufficient, if arbitrarily exercised to de-
feat the administration of justice in most
cases. With our present judiciary, it is
safe to assume the discretion vested in
the judges will be used for the admin
istration of justice, but who can tell
when and what changes will be made
The time is fresh in the memory of the
people of this county, when a judge held
our court, arriving on the steamer on
Tuesday night of the term week. He
stated on arrival, without having seen
the docket that he should leave On the
steamer at daylight, the following Thurs
day morning and when told there was
more business than could be disposed of
in day, his reply was Just wait till
you see me go through that docket.
Court convened on Wednesday morning
at nine o'clock and the grand jury had
been drawn and the charge delivered
the performance began. Cases in which
all parties were ready for trial were con-
tnued, attorneys were told they need
not discuss matters before the court,
many cases were withdrawn from the
jury and the judge did 'go through the
docket in, time to adjourn for the term
at $50 p. m, when all present were
struck with the peculiar fitness of its
concluding ceremonial, as the crier asked
God ito save the State and the honorable
court"
Courts are for administering justice to
all litigants and the small amounts in
volved in the suit of the poor man are
often more important to him that the
much larger sums involved in the suits
of the wealthy. Whether the amount be
$45, or $4,000 ample time should be