Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1909-02-25
MUNICIPAL COURTS.

MUNICIPAL COOHiS
Quoting a recent editorial in this pa
per on the subject of the establishment Of
municipal courts, the Island Pond Herald
replies:-
Does the writer Of the above claim to
speak from knowledge either first or
second hand, or to make his charges the
general principle of the average obstruc-
zionist, to whom any innovation, unless
its success and necessity are absolutely
guaranteed. is a scheme for "graft and 4
plum-sucking % The late legislature es-
tRblished a municipal court for this town,
with territorial jurisdiction over the 4
towns of Brighton, Norton, East Haven 1
and all the unorganized towns and cores /
in the county. The judges salary is
fixed at $500 and the judge is the present |
Judge of probate for this district, and a
lawyer, but by no means of the hack /
variety. The promoters Of the bill to es-
tablish this court had three objects, at
least, in view; to expedite the admins
tration of justice; to settle grave ques-
tion Of venue likely to arise in the prose-
cution of minor offences occurring in the
unorganized territory, which, during the
winter months, contains large numbers
of lumbermen; to save the state expense.
Respecting the last object. the first day
the law went into effect there arose a sit
uation that, had the bill got through the
/ judiciary committee as it was originally
drawn, would have saved the state at
/ least one-third OF the judges salary. A
young man was ready to plead guilty and
receive his sentence for arson. The orig
inal provisions OF the bill would have
permitted him to do so. As it is now,
he will remain in Jail till late in April.
ave expect our municipal court to ac-
complish all three objects aimed at, and
we regret anyone's state Of mind who can
see nothing but dishonest motives in new
ventures"
This paper has no special knowledge Of
the situation in Brighton which made
advisable the establishment OF munich
pal court, consisting of one chief Judge
and two assistant judges, for town of
about 1000 population and the backwoods
surrounding it. We assume that there
were some plausible reasons for it, or the
legislature would not have voted it.
However, we do not recall any instance
! in the past where miscarriage of justice
has resulted in that locality through the
} absence Of such a court, and, to be frank,
we have no idea that it was absolutely
! necessary.
! The chief judge Of this ponderous court
draws only 1900 salary, hut it means a
nice little addition to his stipend as judge
OF probate, and altogether provides for
him very comfortably. We note that he
: draws also 500 year as Office rent for
this municipal court. Wen take the
chance Of gambling a cookie that he
doesn't pay out an extra dollar as rent on
e account OF this court, and that it means
just another 800 added to his salary. II
; not, it's an exceptional case.
The Herald urges that there will be an
{ actual saving to the state in expense.
i This has familiar sound. 1t was the
: plea put up two years ago when the
2 courts were reorganized and the referee
!. system abolished. 1t is the argument al.
: ways heard when there is shift from the
n fee to the salary basis. But somehow Il
i never eventuates. Court expenses keeT
II increasing, year by year, aud anyone whC
, cares to may trace the cause. The money
p goes very largely into the pockets o
/ court officials. Let no enc be deceived
g because this Brighton court involves onl!
L yearly outlay of $500. Like other goor
Il things, it will grow in time. They al
n ways start in moderately, but session b,
le session the legislators are told in piteou
e accents how the poor judges are fairl
8 shaving their lives out for mesgre pit
Ut lance, and it is cruel for a generous stat
n to so niggsrdly reward their onerou
a. services. Statistics are produced backin
C up the assertions. Nobody appears t
re dispute, and up goes the salary, also tn
ne office rental, 1.-THE wear-and-tear on tn
Of desks, cushions and floors being simpl
ID ruinous.) Very soon we shall have tn
Il allowances Tor clerk hire, stenographer,
at etc, and maybe bill for robing the iu,
rs tices in becoming gowns.
n This is not imaginative by any mean,
and il the contemporary at the mort
OF wishes to investigate farther, let it loo
re up the situation at Brattleboro, Spring
field and other places where these court
be have lately been established.