Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-12-24
4utaI anS 9tfsonaI.
Tne judiciary Of this District. Ma

The Judiciary Of this DIstrict.-The Ma
no1ai Iateligeneer, of Saturday, in copying our
hasty summary of the "bill to reorganize the
courts OF the District of Columbia and 10 reform
and improve the laws thereof" which was passed
by the House OF Representatives, on Friday by
msjoriiy ofseventy eight votes takes the occasion
to remark, "as due TO the truth OF history" that
we mistake in saying, in reference TO this bill
that the year 1885, the voters of this city gave
an overwhelming expression Of opinion in favor
of judiciary reform The vote thus characterized
by the Seafinel was an informal expression OF
opinion by portion Of the people Of this District
recorded in pursuance of suggestions made at
several public meetings, but not authorized in any
regular manner calculated 10 attract serious no.
tice orto elicit full and intelligent expression OF
the views of the citizens Of this District on %.
grave and momentous a question. The whole
number of voters who at that time cast their SUIT
frages for municipal affairs exceeded three Mon-
sand, of whom less than thirteen handred COM
piled withthe irregular request TO vote upon the
question Of judicial reform'-a measure that had
only been urged and discussed ca parte at meet
ings Of its advocates, and on which its opponents
did not feel called upon 10 vote, and did not
Vote"
Our respected contemporary further says, ga,
onesided vote, taken under these circumstances,
and without reference, we believe, 10 any specific
substitute plan, can hardly be regarded as com
hitting this entire community 20 the bill which
has just received the sanction Of the House OF
Representatives"
The official returns show that, in June, 1850,
Al 4. 10 Iiosor farm
one thousand two hundred and seventy -four votesj
and, although the InteAigencer says that the oppo-
nents of the measure 7" did not yote," we find that
twenty-seven citizens declared themselves against
il ida very small number, in contrast with that of
the majority There was no return from the third
ward; from what cause we are not aware, unless
il be that tickets were not provided for the "sove-
reigns y in that portion OF Washington.
The vote, however, if not :" overw heming,
was certainly respectable, considering, in the Ian
guage ofihe hteAigeneer, that it was not author
s=ed in any regular manner calculated to attract
serious notice or to elicit FULL and intelligent ez
preston Of tie viecs OF the citizens Of the District
on so grape and mome1,tous question" n
We do not contend that the vote in June, 1850,
"commited this entire community 10 the bill
which has just received the sanction of the
House of Representatives" or that the bill is just
such one as should become law, but it does
certainly show that large portion of our citizens
are in favor Of Judiciary reform !" and even the
HlteHigemcer acknowledges " some defects IN our
existing system" and speaks of ga great evil OF
the system'-namely, "the enormous tax i'm
posed on the community in the shape of Judicial
expenses" Our contemporary it is reasonable TO
conclude would not object TO Judiciary reform"
in those particulars.
But the BILL according TO the explanation given
TO il by Mr.. May, who framed and reported il,
does propose to remedy &c great evil Of the sys-
teR,, and that is the enormous tax imposed onihe
community in the shape Of judicial expenses"
He said "there TOO many courts; there are
too many judges; THE WHOLE SYSTEM Is TOO tx
PENsrvE; il is too cumbersome its imperfections
| appear even TO the blind"
| The great object was declared to be the reorga-
nzation of the Judiciary in accordance with the
spirit Of the age speedy process to law and the
| smallest possible cost 10 the respective parties
| htigani. Such things certainly desirable; but
we repeat, we are not prepared to say that the
| bill of the House will effect the great object Of
| judiciary REFORM" although not few of our
citizens are Of the opinion that "no change could
be for the worse" That some reform is needed,
no one denies.