Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1908-03-06

as saying maj III" 'ri'hthi>trl'i" ION ol
Ia" criminal laW il a.. @. til" States OF
the Eninn. IL Il C,~,srar" So oar riNlil-
Zati"n. Il seems TIT ~ are spc- .
c.1..T under tE..> '&.t'.." ..liurncc. 1t
is indccda @ri'Eu..~ "itta@" upon the
public that IL" ."N : - construed
that an individual. may br prosecuted
for miSdrHr"har 5"i"r Justice OF
III" Peace. >N:.t.'H WITNESSES at tn"
eNr'nS'. OF Tic co;htI. haN" Il JURY
'r1al, amt Il r"ANlrtrd Though ia"
p Aalty assessed may h' merely nom
ina|. can appeal and have the case
retired in the Superior Court, where
IN tn" county generally t"ots the bill,
Many inquiries are being mad" as
to what has been done with the larg"
sums OF money realized from the de-
Ilnqucnt land Sd.'>. 1t IS beyond the
Ken OF those WHO are not behind the
scenes to determine, ana they seem
inclined to drlit with the current
rather than pat oat an oar Tor public
safety. Doubtless ii the crimlnal'N-
pensc hiliS allowed IN the superior
Court ana by lheCouhty COMMISSION
erS shonid DE SHOWN 10 pUoilc view,
large leakage Wo''l" appear 10 our
taxpayers who are now complaining
ABOUT the spcciailH hlgh icVE Oh iaS'
year 1t IS somewhat ullilcuit 10 get
at the real facts from d failure 10 pro-
vide by law lor an adequate method
OF giving the puolc iuii ana exact III
i"r'i'a'ion regarding Puoiic eAPeiio'-
lures. Inc ihPa3er items III tue
county Auoi'or 5 report serve 10
mystily rather 'hah explain lhe ac'u-
ai eApehocs 'oi'il'c'co Win 'iic 'i''-
mlnis'ration OF cfilhihal law Inc
ohis WAY 10 eStiiiiale 'iiis expense
WIN any assurance vi accuracy "ou'o
DC 10 20 over Tue oiils vi 'lie WIN .hc
Auoltor ana the memoranda Vi MS
warrant-pook' III connection WIN Inc
recoroS vi 'lc commissioners anu
'lie superior Cour'' anu milking ''c'''
'he oaSis Oh the true ioo1lhsS'
lhere Is no pralch Oh our law
WHICH neeoS reformation more IMAM
our crihihai Jurisprudence. 1his IS
especially true WIN regard 10 the
TRIAL ol petty oisiieanor cases before
JUSTICES vi the Ieace. "heh there
mas oeen d trial ana inc imposed
Vi not more THAN nity ooliars' or I'M
prisohment not eNceeolngs SIN months
there should be no appeal on the
lheriIs' put ON some substantial point
OF law certified up to the Superior
court wherelnt 1.-THE whole issue may be
settled by the Judge without the as
slstance OF jury. II The court should
ind substantial error IN the proceed
ings before the Justice, the case
should either be remanded for re-
trial or retained IN the Superior
Court IN like manner as prosecu-
ton originally instituted therein. If
this policy was adopted the people
would be more careful IN electlng
their justices, who would be induced
to exercise greater caution and con-
sideratlon IN the hearing OF such
prosecutions. Moreover, 1t would
have 4 more salutary effect on Of
tenders, and the expense to the
county treasury would be greatly
diminished. Ihere Is good reason
for the position that if Justices de-
clslon in every petty criminal case
may be retired in the Superior Court
on appeal, then why not dlvcst the
justice court OF such jurisdiction al
together' and institute the prosecu-
lions IN the higher court?
been having of late in connection
with the Holy Rollers and other
criminal matters, bring the law into
con tempt, and furnish the tramp agi-
tator with fuel with which to keep
alive the flame of discomfort. There
is strong occasion for the amending
hand. but owing to the conservatism