Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1884-11-01
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.

EDITOR INTELLrGEECEE:-The Importance OF
the uroposed amendment 10 the constitution OF
the state extending the jurisdiction OF the 81.
| Louis court of appeals, so as TO embrace III"
counties of Monroe, Shelby, Knox, Scotland,
Clark, Lewis. Marion, Rails, FIX Lincoln
Warren, St. Charles, St Louis, Jefferson, Ste.
Gpncvievc, Perry Cape q rardeal, scott, Missla-
sippi. New Madrid, Pemiscot. Dunklln, Stod-
! lard, Wayne, Bolling+r, Madison, st. Francois.
Washington, Franklin, Crawford, iron. Key
noiis, Carter. Butler, Ripley. Oregon. shan
non, Dent, Ii:cips. Pulaski. Texas, Howell,
OZARK. Douglas, Wright. Laclede, Webster,
Christian. fancy. stone, Green, Lawrence,
Barry. Newton and Mcdonald. Us well rs the
CITY o! st. | uuis. And providing for the cSlhb-
lishment of another court Of appeals, TO be
known rs tn. Kansas City Court of Appeals,
with Jurisdiction cO-eXtcnsiye with all of the
other counties Of the state. including Lafayette.
and the near approach OF the election ale my eN-
cusrs, il any be needed, Tor calling special at
tcntlon to the sam. through your columns. lie
proposed amendment is to be voted ON at the
general election on the first Tuesday IN Nov"m-
her next-and there is danger that the control!-
ing interest of our people in the election OF pres
id,n, and other political officers will lead them
to overlook this important question.
That there is IL necessity Tor another appellate
| 'Ohit IA o"i ''"'N wv
person who has given any attention to the sub
jcct, will deny.
Experience has iuIiy demonstrated that the
supreme court is unable to Keep up with the
ca es taken by appeal and writs OF error to that
court from Inferior courts; and hence. for many
years. there has been such ii glut oi the supreme
court docket that 1t has taken about three years
after 1t reaches there for II case. i'll regular or
der, to be reached and decided in that court;
thus keeping sIiiors III doubt and su 5pense in
regard 10 personal and property rights, amount
ing almost TO IL denial OF Justice. The increase
OF litigation consequent on the increase OF our
population in our one hundred and fourteen
counties, and The extension of railroads, and
the building up of new towns, cities, manuiac-
lures, mining and agricultural operations, viii
year b. year render the necessity for such u
court more imperative.
This hcw appellate court to he held ut Kansas
City. is to be composed of three Judges with a
salary of thirty. fve hundred dollars each, being
one thousand dollars each less than that received
by the supreme court. Tie decisions are To be
final except Ill cases involving two thousand five
hundred dollars. exclusive of costs. Gases in
volving the construction of the constitution OF
The United States or OF This state. Cases where
the validity of Il treaty or statute of, or authOri-
ty exercised under the United States is drawn in
question. Cases involving the construction OF
the revenue laws of this state, title to an Office,
title to real estate. and where Il county or other
political subdivision of the state, or II state Of
her is Il party, sLd all cases of felony. And in
, these last named excepted cases; appeals from
and writs of error to circuit courts may be taken
directly TO the supreme ceuri, without the delay
an I exp,n-e of travelling through the court OF
appeals. Tfus practically making this court oil
-,.a. -, .,,,,t - G,I ,~-- - --, ,I. IT.
sum involved is less than 81, 500, and where no
constitutional or othel excepted question is in
volved rs above stated. So that practically the
great mass of ordinary litigation, including
suits against railroads for killing stock. 81,
will never so 10 the supreme court. but be final
ly decided IN the courts of appeal.
The importance of a speedy Il .icrmInation of
sui 5 and IL consequent reduction of costs, is
doubtless manifest 10 every person who has had
occas on to go through the ./HeIici0 min. These
courts of appeal would prove the III st ,ffectual
rel cf to the supreme court against its oy,r
crowded docket. a dcsldera um long sought
and altempied by rigid rules OF court and the
supreme court commissioners, which with tn.
expense thereof, might he dispensed with ON the
adoption of said amendment. One OF the many
eXceilencies OF our constitution is The provision
tneiein for amending the same by the action of
the Legislature and the vote of The people ut Il
general election. as the wants and necessities of
the people may require. without the cost and en-
nense OF calling and holding a constitutional
convention. Whilst the pro posed amendment
NAV no; be perfect, it is the best we have been
able, TO procure alter several years tria, IN The
legislature. and will doubtless, with appropriate
legislation hy the general assembly, prove :,ic-
quatc to the demands OF our people.
II ~ &'E