The Covington leader. (Covington, Tenn.) 18??-current, 1918-06-27
]. A. PEELER, Trustee.

lily apparent to any thinking man
who is familiar with the facts. IL
is true that the county pays the jury
that tries cases in the criminal court.
But the county also pays the jury chat
tries cases in the circuit court. The
jurors get exactly the same pay for
services in each court, and every case
that is tried by jury in the criminal
court would have to be tried by a jury
in the circuit court if the criminal
court were abolished, and the jury
expense would be just the same. If
it should take longer to try a case
in the criminal court than in the
circuit court, the fault is not in the
law, but in its administration, since
the procedure is exactly the same in
both courts. 1t is true that the grand
jury meeting once a month may en-
tail slight additional expense for
that item, but the term of service Of
the grand jury in the circuit court
is shortened about as many days
as they spend in the consideration Of
presentments and indictments in the
criminal court. Every man indicted
by the grand jury in the criminal
court would have to be indicted by
the same grand jury in the circuit
court, and the same amount Of time
would be spent in one court as in
the other, since it is the same grand
jury that considers the eases, end
the expense Of the county would be
the same.
But the outstanding fact that shows
beyond controversy the financial value
to the county Of this court is the
fact that on the first Of last April
the county account proper for the
first time in more than 30 years,
had a balance to its credit. This
was largely due to the saving effected
by this law
have not called attention to
these facts with view to preventing
q repeal of this act, since all the can
didates for the legislature are pledged
to its repeal and will, Of course, re-
deem their pledges; but to show the
result Of its administration from a
financi ! point Of view.
There is another impression in re-
gard to this law that has no foun-
dalton in fact, and that is that the
lawyers desired the creation of this
court. The facts are that a majority
of the lawyers were opposed to this
law, and have been since it's passage.
In addition, the sheriff and all who
expect at some time to be sheriff
are opposed to law that SO materi-
ally reduced the profits of that Of
flee.
Neither the county judge nor the
circuit clerk receives any additional
compensation as a result OF this law.
4 have tried about $50 criminal
cases as Judge Of this court since its
organization in May, 1917, and though
this involved considerable extra work
without additional pay, ! rendered
the service cheerfully, believing that
! was serving the county in SO do.
ing.
In this connection would say,
that the county attorney does not
receive salary under this act. He res,
'ceives fee of ten dollars for each
conviction, and nothing unless he
convicts, but this fee is not paid
by the county, but BY the defendant
as part of the costs of the case.
The repeal Of this law would lie
a backward step, and means re-
storation of the enormous Jail and,
workhouse expenses it SO largely Tes
duced, but the people seem to favor
its repeal. and as they are the. ones
who pay the taxes and are most
vitality concerned, their wishes should
prevail, though the repeal Of the
law means additional burdens to the
taxpayers Of the county.
June "a, 1918.
Respectfully submitted,
S. E, STEPHENSON,
County Judge.