669

Mr. Stewart, of Balt. city, renewed the notice given by him on
Saturday, of his intention to move to reconsider the vote of the
Convention on those sections of the Judicial report, which relate
to the organization of courts in the city of Baltimore, and also
gave notice that he should offer the following amendments which
he desired to be entered upon the record.
"There shall be established for the city of Baltimore one
court of law to be styled The Court of Common Pleas, which
shall have civil jurisdiction in all suits where the debt or damage
claimed shall he above one hundred dollars, and shall not exceed
five hundred dollars; and shall also have jurisdiction in all cases
of appeal from the judgments of the justices of the peace in said
city.
There shall also be in said city another court of law having
jurisdiction over all suits where the debt or damage claimed shall
exceed the sum of five hundred dollars, and in case any plaintiff or
plaintiffs shall recover in said court less than the sum of five hun
dred dollars, he or they may be allowed or adjudged to pay in the
discretion of the court the costs of said suit, this court shall be
styled the Superior Court, and in addition to the jurisdiction here
by conferred ,shall have and exercise jurisdiction in all applications
for the benefit of the insolvent laws of this State, and of the ad
ministration of the estates of insolvent debtors, and the appoint
ment and supervision of the trustees thereof, and the said court
shall also have and exercise jurisdiction as a court of equity.
Sec. 13. There shall also be in said city a court to be styled the
District Court of Balt. city, which shall have in said city exclusive
jurisdiction as a court of law over all cases of mandamus quo
warranto of appeal from the decision of commissioners, for the
opening of streets in the city of Baltimore, of petions for freedom,
and petitions to cancel or enforce contracts of apprenticeship, of all
issues from the Orphans court of Baltimore city and from the Su
perior court, and shall also have jurisdiction over all other contro
versies proper to be decided in a court of latv,which have not hereto
fore been assigned to the court of common pleas or the superior court;
and the said court as incidental to its powers as a court of law is
hereby vested with full power and authority to cause a jury to be
summoned, whenever a jury may be required for the business of
said court; the District court of Baltimore city, within the city of
Baltimore shall also have and exercie all the jurisdiction of a
court of Equity, as now held and exercised in this State or as may
be hereafter conferred or defined by the legislature.
Each of the said three courts shall consist of one judge to whom
the salary of $2,5OO per annum shall be paid or rateably for a les
ser period, shall hold his office for the term of ten years, subject to
the provisions of this constitution, which have reference to the
election and qualification of judges and their removal from office.
There shall be a clerk of the court of common pleas, a clerk of
the superior court, and a clerk of the district court of Baltimore