New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-02-15

The same amendment to the Constitution, CONSOLE
dating the various courts of civil jurisdiction In this
CITY which failed in the Legislature last year appa-
renty for lack of proper pushing, has been brought
up again this year in both houses. 1t provides for
the abolition of the Common Pleas and Superior
Courts, the vesting of their jurisdiction In the
Supreme Court and the transfer of their
iudres as well as of all pending to
the same tribunal. When this consolidation has
been effected, this scheme of legal reform cOntem
plates the abolition Of the Marine Court, which is
statutory court and may be wiped out Of existence
by the Legislature at any time. There would
then remain one cOurt-the Supreme Court-ln
place of four, II justices in place of 20, one
system of practice in place of four, final ana
harmonious rulings in place of the con-
dieting decisions now sometimes made Under the
present SYSTEM clients and counsel are subjected to
n great deal of unnecessary delay, expense, and
trouble, simply by the lack of uniformity in the
uethods of practice in courts having the same
general jurisdiction and by the occasional conflict
of decisions. The scheme has the warm and unan-
mons Endorsement of the Bar Association. The pro-
cess of amending the Constitution consumes so much
fine that. If the Legislature really approves this
proposal, another year should not be lost
I'm Earle agt The New-York Life Insurance Com
many. heard in the Court of Common Pleas on Tues
day last Judge DAILY summed up to the jury simply
os follows: Gentlemen of the Jury, II you believe
the plaintiff, you will find in his favor for the
amount claimed" The jury believed and found ac-
cordingly We remember a charge given by a
Massachusetts, Judge which had equally the wit OF
breyty. Ii was Gentlemen, i'll this action the
paintiif is Braley the defendant is Braley, ana
most of the witnesses upon either side are Braieys
Put them ali in bag, gentlemen shake them up III
II and see what comes out of it p Judge Metcalf of
the Massachusetts, Supreme Court once charged III
real action which had occupied the attention of the
court for several days literally as follows: Gentle
men of the jury | am sure that in this case the
plaintiff has shown no title; am equally sure that
fine defendant has shown no title The longer con-
slider the case the foggier it grows You may take
il. gentlemen, and sec if you have any better luck
with it, The wrath of the lawyers on either side
was intense but old Metcaf was not man to be
much moved by that circumstance.
Jvnon recent high field day Of economical reform
in the House of Representatives, the library of Con-
gross being in hand there was an earnest debate
unop the question whether Mr.. Hoffman, who has
charge of the law books, and Mr. Solyom, the only
man i'm the library who understands Sanslrt,"
should each have $4,000" OF " $3.50" per an
num. Besides knowing Sanskrit, the House was
informed that Mr.. Solyom is greatly skilled in
making catalogues and Us We have never known
many persons accomplished in that department OF
human energy, we sincerely trust that Mr.. solyom
will have his additional 500 year. Mr.. Holman
was 81 unfortunately blind As not to see why
library clerk should get so much money when labor
ers throughout the country were receiving only
81 80 per diem but Mr. Wood OF New-fork, tn his
credit kindly pointed out the difference in kind be-
tween the services Of Q good librarian and day
laborer and Mr. Monroe thought it good economy
for Senators aud Representatives Ito have tho
means OF information" aud good clerks to coach