[XXXI-23] Nic., Semanal Nic., Oct. 16, 1873.
[XXXI-24] Marure, Efem., 49. It has been asserted that as a rule offenders are not vigorously prosecuted, and for various reasons often go unpunished.
[XXXI-25] Ley de presidios, Aug. 18, 1858; Ley de Palos, Sept. 1, 1858. Prisoners sentenced to hard labor serve out their terms on the works in forts San Juan and San Cárlos, by president's order of Oct. 6, 1880. Nic., Mem. Min. Gobern., 1883, 22-3, and annex B, 27.
[XXXI-26] Of which 578 resulted in conviction; 244 were dismissed; and 1,087 were pending. Id., annex G, no. vi.
[XXXI-27] Costa R., Col. Ley., iii.-xxii., passim; Id., Mem. Min. Gobern., 1857 and 1859; Montúfar, Reseña Hist., v. 344, 348.
[XXXI-28] The yearly salaries are: chief president, $2,160; the other presidents, $2,040 each; justices, $1,800 each; secretary, $1,200. The yearly appropriation for the supreme court is nearly $43,000. Costa R., Mem. Sec. Gobern., 1884, annex D.
[XXXI-29] Suits for sums not exceeding $100 and trivial offences are attended to by alcaldes and jueces de paz. There is also a special court of hacienda to adjudicate upon claims of the treasury against private parties, and for the trial of offences against the revenue, including also the counterfeiting of coin. The expense of this court is nearly $700 per month. In Limon there is an alcalde who acts as judge. The civil and criminal judges of San José receive $105 a month each; the other judges, $125; the alcalde at Limon, $50. The yearly expenditure of the judiciary, including the supreme court, fiscal agencies, casa de reclusion $720; presidio de San Lúcas $11,560; and contingents for the year 1884 was a little over $90,100. In former years, when the ecclesiastic and military fueros were recognized, each had its own courts, the system being an inheritance from the old Spanish rule. It has been abolished.
[XXXI-30] Costa R., Informe Sec. Int., 1860 and 1865.
[XXXI-31] This was recognized by the min. of justice in his report of May 15, 1884. Costa R., Mem. Soc. Just. y Gracia, 1884, 29.
[XXXI-32] The commissions began their labors at once, but had not completed them in July 1885. Costa R., Mem. Just. y Gracia, 1872-85.