JUSTICE AND CRIME — PAUPERISM 391
Justice and Crime.
The judicial system, like the executive and legislative systems, is dual. The General Government maintains courts for the trial of civil causes arising out of the admiralty, patent, banking, and other laws of the United States; of certain causes between citizens of different States; and of crimes against the United States. Almost all offences against the person and against property are dealt with by the State courts; also all civil causes where the parties are residents of the same State, and matters of probate, divorce, and bankruptcy (when, as now, there is no national bankruptcy law).
In the separate States the lowest courts are those held by Justices of the Peace, or, in towns and cities, l)y Police Judges. In the counties, courts of record are held, some by local county officers, others by District or Circuit Judges, who go from county to county. In these courts there are usually the grand and petty jury. The highest court in each State is the Supreme Court, or Court of Final Appeal, with a Chief Justice and Associate Judges. These judges are usually elected by the people, but sometimes appointed by the Governor, with or without the Senate or Council; they usually hold office for terms of years, but sometimes practically for life or during good behaviour. Their salaries vary from 2,500 dollars to 7,500 dollars.
The judges of the United States Courts are appointed for life. Of the United States Courts the lowest are those of the districts, of which there are about 60, each State forming one or more districts. These courts may try any case of crime against the United States not punishable with death. Each of the nine Justices of the Supreme Court must hold a Court in one of the nine circuits into Avhich the country is divided, at least once every two years. There are also circuit courts of appeal. The Supreme Court consists of a Chief Justice and eiglit Associate Judges, appointed by the President with the consent of the Senate. It deals with appeals from inferior courts, and has original jurisdiction in cases affecting foreign ministers and consuls, and those in which a State is a party. The Chief Justice has a salary of 15,000 dollars, and each of the Associate Judges 14,500 dollars.
Other courts with criminal jurisdiction are the Court of the District of Columbia and those of the Territories.
Pauperism.
A special report of the U.S. Census Bureau gives the number of jiaupers in almshouses on December 31, 1903. The number of almshouses reported on was 2.748, and the number of pauper inmates, compared with numbers on June 1, 1890, and on June 1, 1880, was as follows, the proportion per 100,000 of population in each year being also shown : —
—
1903 ' December 31
lS9o June 1 1
1680 June I
Males Females .
per 100,000 No. of pop. ■ .52,444 127 -0^ 29,320 74-51
per ^ 00,000 No. ot'i>o]i. 40,741 127-0
32,304 105-7
1
No. 35,564 30,639
per 100,00 of ]iop. 139-4 124-4
Total .
81,764 101-4
. 73,045 116-6 1
66,203
132-0
1 AssuTning that sex distribtition was tVie same in 1903 and 1S90.
