Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1921.djvu/516

 464 UNITED STATES

In 1920 there were in the United States 2,398 daily newspapers, 14,008. weeklies, 487 semi-weeklies, 3,156 monthlies, 293 semi-monthlies, and 670 other periodicals. The total number of periodicals was in 1916, 23,024 (in 1918, 22,842) ; in 1870 the total number was 5,871 ; in 1900, 20,806 ; and in 1911, 22,806.

Justice and Crime.

The judicial system, like the executive and legislative systems, is dual. The Federal or National Government maintains courts for the trial of civil and criminal cases under national laws which include Admiralty, Patent, Banking, Bankruptcy, and other laws, both civil and criminal, of the United States ; the jurisdiction of the Federal Courts includes cases between citizens of different' States when the amount involved is in excess of 3,000 dollars; and of crimes against the laws of the United States. The State Courts have jurisdiction over all civil and criminal cases arising under State laws which do not conflict with the National Constitution and laws enacted by Congress The State Courts also have jurisdiction of proceedings in probate and divorce.

In the separate States the lowest courts are those of Justices of the Peace but in many towns and cities of fairly substantial population, Police Judges have jurisdiction as Examining Magistrates in criminal matters and to hear and determine misdemeanours for violation of the municipal laws. In all matters, except in misdemeanours for violation of the municipal laws, the Justices of the Peace have also jurisdiction in such towns or cities as examining magistrates, as well as to hear and determine civil cases involving usually not more than 200 dollars, and also to hear, determine and sentence for certain petty crimes which are not heinous.

The States are divided into counties and the latter into towns, cities, villages and townships, and there is usually a circuit or district court for each county, in some of which there are one or more judges for the county, while in others the judge's jurisdiction embraces the courts of two or more counties and he goes from county to county to hold terms of court therein. These are the highest State Courts of original jurisdiction and they have grand and petit juries.

The highest court in each State is the Supreme or Appellate Court with a Chief Justice and Associate Justices and, in some States, commissioners who hear and determine cases under assignment of the Chief Justice and tin- Associate Justices. The Chief Justice and Associate Justices are usually elected by the people, but sometimes are appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the State Senate ; they usually hold office for a term of years, but sometimes for life or during good behaviour. Their salaries range from 2,500 to 17,500 dollars.

The Judges of the United States Courts, which include the District Courts, the Circuit Courts of Appeal, and the Supreme Court of the ■United States, are appointed for life, but retire, with full pay, at the age of 70 years, if they so desire, and if the* have served the full period of ten years.

The United States District Courts are the lowesl of the Federal Cm There are 81 of these, each State forming one or more districts. These Courts appoint Commissioners, who have the power of Examining Magistrates, hut may nol finally adjudge and determine, except in the Territory dr Alaska, whdre they have jurisdiction equivalent to that of the Justices of the Peace and PWbatS Courts n|' thr cniuiticsof the States. The United Siates Distridl Courts try all criminal eases arising under the Laws of the I'niied Stal indicated above, including capital offences, which are punishable by death