The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1916-07-19
DR.. WILLIFORO AGAIN
WRITES OF CITY COURT
SAYS IF WE'RE GROWING BET
TER WHY NOT ABOLISH SOME
THING AND SAVE TAXES.

apparent that in my article / succeed
in opening few eyes. Mr.. Gurr says
that the burden of my article was
''an attack on him" Such was not
intended, but Mr.. Gurr happens to
be, at this time, the Solicitor of the
City Court, hence his connection
Herewith must of necessity play an
important part in any reference to
that institution. My sole object was
to call attention to what | regard as
of no small import to the people of
Terrell county. On making a little
inquiry was impressed that there
was something wrong with our City
Court and that the people of the
county should know the facts. am
glad | have brought out some facts
which have caused Mr.. Gurr to bring
forth few more just as important to
the tax payers. showed that dur
ing the five years preceding Mr..
Gurr's administration of justice in
that court there was paid a sum of
more than $1,000 in excess of the
Solicitors salary in the county treas
ury, and that during the last FIVE
years there has been shortage of
almost as much below the Solicitors
salary during the same period.
had no way of knowing just why
all this happened, but I felt that the
facts should be public property, and
that such situation should find cor
rection. did not dwell on all the
facts as to the expense of this court
When the Judges salary is consider
ed, when the expense of the sheriff,
the bailiffs, the juries, the clerk, etc.,
are thought of it is at once apparent
that we have on US an expensive in
stitution, and if there is not enough
business through this court, as Mr..
Gurr now tells you, to even pay any
thing like his own salary, and the
people must be taxed to pay all bal
ances, there is something wrong
somewhere. Note, too, Mr.. Gurr
brings out the statement that during
the last three years the Superior
Court has fallen off in fines and for
FIXTURES from so to rs per cent. Nat
urally, then, we are to draw from this
statement that there is much less use
for courts in Terrell county than for
merly, and that there should. be a
decided pairing, doing away with
something, a lessening of grating,
for this can only be the situation if
Mr.. Gurr's statements are to be cred
tied. 1t is evident that it is not a
change of the law governing the City
Court, but doing away with the
City Court altogether which we need.
in face Of Mr.. Gurr's utterances. The
Superior Court can easily handle all
court work and save the tax payers
much money.
Why should we continue to tax the
dear "folks" to maintain a few off
GERS? I am sure an honest officer
wants no such situation. am,
however, of the opinion that there is
still more business for the City Court
than the Solicitor admits. | have
heard few things which make me
wonder if all the cases referred to this
Court are properly pushed through
the same, if some of them do not
finally find their way into the hands
of the Grand Jury, and, indicted, are
put through the Superior Court,
where fines and forfeitures go, not
into the hands of the county, but into
those of Court officers? Courts are
institutions which are supported by
the people, hence they should be post
ed in the ways governing the same
If we are every day growing better,
and having less use for them, let's do
the thing most needed, do away with
a part of them, and save some tax
Do not understand that | favor such
a procedure until it is clear the time
has come for it, but | am, at all times,
in favor of as little taxation as posi-
BILE, especially if but few are profit
ing thereby. Mr.. Gurr says, in sub
stance, that Courts should not be sup
ported by the receipts therefrom, that
those least able to pay, in such case,
would be greatly imposed upon IN the
form of fines, etc. Now, just here
he dishonors the Bench greatly. Does
he mean to say that there is Judge
in Georgia who would be guilty of
imposing fines solely for the benefit
of officers? Really. does he not know
that, aside from the Judge himself,
the principal officers of the Superior
Courts have always received their
chief support, or pay, from fines and
forfeitures?
Now, Mr.. Editor, my object in writ
ing nv first article was to call tax
PAYERS attention to what | think is
sorely neelel, a thing which they
should have known before this. |
also desired to impress upon the cleo
torate of Terrell county that it is to
their interest. and not the interest of
anv Corporation which / ask them to
elect me to represent. Much more
on this line can be said if it becomes
necessary.
Now. Mr.. Editor, noted you plac-
ed Mr.. Gurr's reply on your local
page. and not as an advertisement. l