Charlevoix county herald., 1904-12-31
EharlevOix County
\ Probate Court.
(By Judge Of Probate J. n. Harris


the following criticisms Of the Probate
Judges office we're made by the East
Jordan Enterprise and extensively
circulated throughout the county, and
IL NAV be that individuals other than
the editor OF the paper are curious TO
know the facts relative to the admin
istration of this important office. The
criticisms W. 2 as follows:
l. During Nudge >troud's admins
tration the salary Of the office was Six
HUNDRED dollars, and that now 1t is
Tkelve Hundred.
2. That l drew One Hundred doll
ars a month from the County fol four
days work.
3. That Judge Stroud never had
any allowance for clerk hire, while the
present administration had drawn ih
one year something like Fifty dollars
for clerk hire.
Ibid not reply to these criticisms In
any public way during the campaign
for the reason that felt that anything
that might be said would be taken an
coming from me at that time with .
purpose Of placing myself iD IS favor
able light rs possible for my own
advantage in the campaign.
The affairs OF the Probate office are
too important. and so little is known
OF the details by the taxpayers gener.
ally of the county and the public at
large, and often by the Dracticing
attorneys that II Is easy. in my opin-
tow to create more erroneous impres-
sion In the public mind relative to the
administration of this ONCE than now
exists.
I also believe IL to be true that there
Is no public Office in the county which
the correct administration OF its
affairs means so much to so many
peop'e ~ does the administration of
the affairs In Probate Court. The
Probate Court differs from all other
Courts in our system of Jurisprudence
in this, that the great bulk OF the
matters are decided without the aid
and assistance Of discussions by legal
counsel. In fact, most OF the legal
papers are drafted by the Court itself
and passed upon by HIM. and the in
dividusls with any kind Of interests at
stake In Probate Court nearly always
leaA the entire disposition OF these
interests to the Court itself. And so
little Of Probate Court business has
been dens by practicing attorneys in
the newer counties Of Michigan that
the attorneys themselves have not
kept posted ia Probate practise; and
no matter how genial and accommo
dating the Probate Judge may be 1t is
quite possible for him to make an
error in the administration Of any
estate, which for the time being. Will
not be known TO himself or TO Others
whom IL affects until long years after
When the error may show up affecting
valuable rights. and oftentimes does
this occur after it IL too late TO correct
the error. make this statement be-
cause have in mind, coming under
my own knowledge, divers cases OF this
character al well as many others where
the.errors have had to b. corrected by
proceedings taken later.
In the newer counties there have
oeen times In the earlier history OF the
county when the pioneer has died and
has BEEN buried that has been all that
there has been u IL. Sc We find that
in the earlier history Of this county
the Probate office has been regarded
first "a a nominal affair. the duties OF
vhich anyone could perform as we'll as
another, and carrying with 1t merely
nominal compensation. Later as the
county grew the business OF the pro-
bate Office has increased; the residents
OF the county have cleared up farms,
and have succeeded in business, in-
dustrial and professional way in &C
cumulating a little property. which In
nine cases out OF ten, upon their death
must be administered and distributed
through the Probate Court. This has
continued until In Charlevoix County
at present 1t has become, as is above
stated, very important part Of the
judicial system OF the County, peculi.
ar in itself, and carrying with IL a
great responsibility In many ways To-
the man who administers its affairs.
~ reply to the several criticisms of
the Enterprise Is made not that l,
Any more than any other citizen, may
be particularly benefited bv It but
that the actual conditions may be
understood and appreciated by the
public who supper, the office.
TO the first criticism the answer is;
The criticism was. no doubt, aimed at
the Board OF Supery sors for paying so
h;o,b a saInry but the BOARD Of Sinner