The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-01-17
Bill Rejected.

Immediately after the disposition OF
this matter. tho report of tho special corn
mittee on the increase In the 5urlsdic-
ton OF justices of the peace was sub
mitted by Mr.. Lewis c. Williams. its
chairman.
This report recommended the establish
ment OF civil Justices court In each
city of the first class, and submitted IL
bill prepared with the assistance OF Mr..
John Garland Pollard, who first sus-
gested the plan, endorsed by the asaocla-
ton at It's last meeting. Tho bill pro-
vided for the appointment by the Judges
of the courts of record in each city OF
the Commonwealth containing 10000 in
habitants or more, OF a civil Justice, who
should hold office for term % four
years, IL salary OF not less than s2,40o q
year. AT the time of his appointment the
Justice should have practiced law In the
State not less than five years. The jiris-
diction OF such justiaAS would be over
claims not exceeding $780, but such juris-
dlction would not be exclusive, since 1t
was vested also in the higher courts,
which thus at the same time would have
had concurrent and appellate jurisdic-
ton. Jury trial could be secured by re-
moving the case to higher court and
furnishing sufficient bond.
Various features OF the bill were Mt
tackled and the discussion went m,rriiy
on wavering from side to side. The vote
was very close. Eighteen members were
in favor OF the report and 20 opposed and
the bill was cast aside. The entire 1ues-
ton OF a new court of any sort TO-. Rlch-
Inond was then laid on the table.
To Facilitate Court Work.
The recommendations previously made
for facilitating the trial of cases in the
persent courts were taken up and the
suggestion that lawyers stand while e1-
aiming witness eswas, TO the arnusA-
ment OF many, voted down. The other
recommendations were adopted and bills
already prepared upon the subject will
he offered at once in the Legislature.
as follows:
To engage court stenosrapher for the
Law and Equity Court and the Circuit
Court.
To extend tho terms OF the Law and
Equity Court and the Circuit Court.
To require the clerks of the Circuit
Cour. and the Law and Equity Court
to keep an additional common law
docket to be known as the suspended
docket
On the suspended docket Will be placed
all actions which have ben pending III the
courts for more than a year without any
order or proceeding. except to set aside
action for trial or continue 1t. and no
action on this docket will be set for trial
until all actions on the regular docket
shall have been called to be set for trial;
provided. however. that the judges Of the
courts may. on motion Of the adverse
party and for good cause shown. transfer
anyaction on the suspended docket back
to the regular docket.
The stenographers will be appointed for
terms of three years, with salary Aot
exceeding $1,000 to be paid out Of the
public treasury. The stenographer will
be sworn officer of the court. The
duties OF the stenosrapher are set forth
i'll detail in the bill. Under the bills to
be offered, the terms Of the courts would
hereafter be as follows:
Law ana Equity Court-Six terms a
year. beginning on the second Monday in
January. March, May, July, September
and November. and continuing so long
rs the business before the court may re-
quire. aasl
Circuit Court. Henrico-First Monday III
March and juno and second Tuesday In
September and December; city of Rich
mond-'Third Monday In October and JAM
uary and first Monday in April and May.