Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1910-01-06

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Increase of Judges and Redistrietins.
Our supreme court. consisting. a. when
our state was organized. of only three
Judges, with our business and population
increased more than tsnfold. has more
business than its members can efficient.
" perform. Not only does Il constantly
pass on questions involving lives, liberty
and all the property Of citizens, but their
decision both settles. finally. the law in
that case. and also establishes a prece-
dent for similar litigation for all time.
such vital and far-reaching results
ought not TO be hurrie,lly and imperfect.
ly attained OF necessity. when the
proper labor involved exceeds the avail.
able time of judges. nothing 10 left to
them, but such quick. though imperfect,
action ss will clear the dockets. Even
without that investigation might lead
20 opposite results. This constantly
srsT''-s evil stevti % ror rrasLia..
The fewer the Judges. the greater the
work for each. as one Judge = ordinarily
selected to give special attention "a
each ease. This work cannot be done By
proxy. Mississippi Is the only state in
the union OF anything like its population
OF legal business that has fewer than
i've supreme court ridges The member
ship Of the court should be increased tn
at least that number through constitu.
tional amendment.
Judiciary Should Be Elected.
The people Of Mississippi desire an op-
portunity Of passing Judgment, through
constitutional amendment. on the ques-
tiou OF whether or not our Judiciary
should b. elective. In a former instance.
though the amendments we're hamperesl
by objectionable restrictions, about
three-fourths Of those who voted on
that subject favored eIecting Judges Our
present constitutional system j. confess
edly based upon distrust Of the ability
Of the people to select this class OF their
owo officers. and requires the governor
to determine what the people could and
should be coustitutionally to determine
for themselves the naming Of those who
passed upon their lives and property.
Special Defects in Criminal Laws.
County attorneys should be created 20
that the state could be represented by
counsel in every court in which II has a
case Prosecution. in some OF the JUS
tices and municipal courts, when the
taN il
farce. Professional criminals seek these
courts. at times. in order to obtain.
through aequittats or nominal fines. pro-
lection from the circuit or other court ;.
The usual fine OF one dollar. or other in
significant sum. encourages and licenseS
crime County attorneys could render
great and mueh-needed public service,
not only prosecuting mi-.iemeanors in
Justices courts. but also fslonies investi-
gated for committal purposes. In the cir.
euit eocrt, with the benefit of special
knowledge Of the facts and local sur
, roulssiing- a. es,at.i ts ot valuable asstss
anee to the district attorney, giving the
grand jury attention when both il and
circuit court needed. at the same time
service Of the states counsel II. cuuli
also represent the state and county in
civil proceedings. receiving compensation
on a percentage OF the money collected,
his other fees eollectible from convicted
criminals
BY an oversight. the Legislature oi
1906 failed 10 embody in that code any
provision authorizing or regulating com
initial trials of felony cases. Probably
for the first time in its history. Missis.
sippi Is without such important law
Good men usually seek to keep OF Of
and evil men to get on. grand and petit
juries. The good men are thinking Of
their personal sacrifices and harlship=,
amt the evil men OF protecting them
selves and fellow offenders. Supervisors,
with political aspirations ami desires "a
please. sometimes select Jury lists on
this basis. such work should be done
by Jury commission. composed Of
about three members. chosen in such a
manner as to eliminate political and
other evil Influences
Weapons
Our statewfle prohibition law = a
well, or better. enforced than our sun
dsy, gambling, eoueealed weapons. bias
phemy. and some other statutes. It, ef.
feet Is beneficial. and il meets the ap-
prevail of vast majority OF our citizen
ship. Probably. by oversight. the see
tions authorizing attachment and eollss
tion of penalties for hguor selling. in
civil proceedings. was repealed by rs
number. That provision should be ~
enacted and strengthened, and collections
authorized eoncurrentiy by the ehancery
court in proceedings 10 enioin blind tig
ers a. nuisances In some localities, for
a time. confirmed invaiids openly detie,i
the state and city governments by ia
grant and continuous liquor selling. re
living upon physical infrmities a. pro-
lection against the aw- Appeals have
been made TO me, and refused. for par
dons upon the ground that the commits
sion of this crime was the only way the
applicants could make living. The sec
ond conviction, or proof of being an ha-
bitual liquor seller. ought to be felony
punishable, at the discretion OF the
court, BY fine or BY penitentiary impris-
onment The state has hospitals, wei
equipped, for taking care of its helpless
prisoners. Those making profession OF