The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-10-29

During nearly six weeks past o number of
the judges Of the Supreme, Superior and Com
mon Pleas Courts have devoted nearly, and in
some instances quite, all their time during the
day to the business of naturalization--a very
important branch Of the public service and
one which must be performed by some one, as
it is also highly desirable that 1t should be
done. The Supreme Court Of this State COM
prises eight Judicial districts, seven of which
are allotted four judges each, and the Eighth,
called the First Judicial district, and embrac-
ing the city and county Of New York, has five
judges. The other two courts--the Superior
and Common Pleasarc organized solely for
the city and county Of New York, the former
being provided with five judges and the latter
with three, and all are courts of record, there
fore competent to naturalze. But these tri-
bunals were not established for the express
purpose of naturalization. The two last
named courts were organized, and the fifth
judge Of the Supreme Court was created to ac-
commodate the requirements Of this populous
district by the speedy adjustment Of the nu-
merous litigations that are continually arising,
and which accumulate so rapidly that there is
generally no prospect Of q cause being reached
for trial for two years after Its commencement
and the filing Of the issue. II Is fact we'll
known to the entire bar Of this city, and to
most Of those who are SO unfortunate as to be
compelled to resort to litigation to secure their
rights, that ''ihe laws delays" in this county
at least ara not at all mythical, while they are
invariably tedious in the last degree, and FREE
qucntly result disastrously to one or other Of
the parties to the action. The trial calendar
for the current year embraced in January last
nearly five thousand cases, and il Is very
fair estimate to say that not more than two
thousand Of these suits will have been disposed
of by trial by the close Of the year, thus
throwing about three thousand cases over TO
the calendar for next year. The other
courts are embarrassed prorortonately to the
amount OF their business. The judges do not
sit to attend to the trial calendars more than
seven months in the year, making due allow
ances for the midsummer vacation Of three
months and for subsequent holidays, adjourn
mcnts and delays.
or course, rs naturalization must be attended
to, there must be some ono to discharge the
| duties which il entails, but the time It occu-
pies might DO very much shortened il there
was more system introduced in its accom-
plishment There is little question Of the fact
that as a general thing il is done by the judges
very willingly rs means Of aiding or securing
their own re-clections az there Is always
some influence attaching In an clectloneering
point Of view to the fact that man receives
the legal and tangible evidence Of his citizen
ship from particular judge, who, IL may
happen, Is shortly again to DO y candi-
date for the popular preference. But
such considerations must not 10 allowed
| 10 govern the action of The courts In grant
| ing too much timo to the labor OF love
thus devolving upon them. There are other
and worry vital subjects which demand for the
people a considerable share Of atieution and
oil possible promptitudc Of despatch, and II l.
| only proper that the people should have that
| attention and Justice which are cmincDtly their