Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1917-01-27
representative Magee to
Offer Bill Providing for
New Tribunal.
NEATS MORE, MONEY
FOR COUNTY, CITY
I'll Officials 10 be Paid Salaries ONt
OF Fees Earned, Remainder to be
Paid Into County and City
TrenSurieS.

The establishment Of municipa.
court IN Pine Bluff. the operation vi
which, il rs estimated. Will aid from
$4,000 to $4,000 to the revenues NJ
the county and city. IS provided for in
q bill prepared by Attorney Alex Row
ell of Alexander & Rowell, ad'ing at
tho request Of a number Of Pine Bluff
people and which was given in charge
CT Representative |. F. Magee for pre-
sentation n The general assembly. II
V as expected that the bill would be
introduced several days ago but DELAY
vas encountered. Mr.. Magee will
probably introduce tho measure Mon
Gay. and it &c. expected to receive the
support of the entire jefferson dele
&ation and become law.
Under the terms of the measure pre-
Jared by MI. Rowell with great care
and after deep study CT constitutions
al provisions and municipal cou- t
laws Of Little Rock, Hot Springs and
Helena, a court having conc lrrent il,
risdiction with all justices of the
peace in the county is created in Cit
les having population of from $1,000
to $4,000 at the time of the taking OF
the fe5eral census in 1910. This
makes it = general bill in terms, but
applicable only to Pine Bluff at this
time.
1t provides that the Judge shall be
qualified to practice before all state
courts. out that he shall not be quail
fled to practice law during his tenure
OF office. The measure provides for
a constable. one deputy. who shall
serve as clerk. and another to serve
with tho constable as peace officer
and in serving writs and summons.
The county court is given authority
TO appoint other deputies should the
need therefor become apparent.
The measure, as it reads at present,
provides that the judge shall be paiG
a salary of $4,000 per annum; tn ,
constable $l.SOo; the clerk, $1,000,
and deputies SIS per month.
The salaries are to be paid out VI
the fees collected, and the remainde, !
OF the amount collected in fees Is to
be turned over to the county and city.
this being apportioned according to
the amount of fines imposed and col
lected in convictions of state laws and
city ordinances. The present police
could would he abolished and cases
from any part of the county could be
tried in the municipal court.
The sentiment for a municipal
court has been growing steadily all
the while. and while, il is not expect
ed that the progressive and econom
zeal step will not be opposed, it is be-
lleved that the public demand for a
municipal court of record, with all the
advantages it offers over the present
system. will result in the speedy en-
aFment of the bill into law.
Under the present system. only the
fines collected in justice of the peace
courts go to the county. 1t is not in
frequent that a fine Of 81 is imposed
the costs amounting u SIS or more.
The county gets the dollar, and tla
justices and constables pocket the
remainder.
With the municipal court having
jurisdiction to try civil and criminal
cases originating in any part of the
county, it is contended that the fees
will exceed by $4,000 to $4,000 the
costs Of operation; the system will be
an improvement over the present
practice and justice better served.