TWENTY-NINTH (CRIMINAL) JUDICIAL CIRCUIT FOR JEFFERSON COUNTY.
Mr. Branham's bill [H. R. 72] in relation to criminal circuit courts, and creating the twenty-ninth criminal circuit (for the county of Jefferson), providing for the election of judge, the transfer of actions, etc., was considered on the third reading.
Mr, MILLER would like an explanation: the criminal court there has been lately abolished.
Mr.BRANHAM said he introduced that bill at the solicitation of prominent citizens of Madison. It is true, there was a criminal court there, and it was at the last session abolished.
Mr. BAKER, having been requested by sundry citizens of Jefferson county to oppose the bill, stated that some years ago there was a criminal court in that county, and that, by petition of two-thirds of its citizens, that court was abolished. When he was at home he was asked by those people to have the consideration of the bill deferred till he might be furnished with a remonstrance against it. I simply ask for this, not feeling sufficiently interested in the matter to ask for its indefinite postponement.
Mr. BRANHAM had also been in communication with those persons in Jefferson county who are opposed to this bill, and it was agreed between us that it might be best to let the bill pass the House to save time, and their remonstrance could be sent to the Senate.
Mr. WILSON, of Ripley. This bill, only of interest to the citizens of Jefferson county, was before the committee, with all the facts connected with its necessity or desirability. He had seen many residents of Jefferson county recently, and their expression of opinion has been almost unanimous in favor of the bill. Jefferson county is populous and Madison is a city, and they have a large amount of criminal business.
The bill was finally passed the House of Representatives--yeas 54, nays 25.
