Mexico weekly ledger., 1884-10-30
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
Concerning the JudiciarY--oplnioi
Of Members Of Mexico Bar.

o. WtoItlo6FS 81 N0AtSO o0I |
There will be submitted to the voters
of the State at the election on the Ard
of November, next. a constitutional
amendment providing for an additional
court of appeals to be held in Kansas
City. At present, as is we'll understood
all appeals are taken from judgment Of
the Circuit Court to the Supreme Court,
as is the case with judgments in all
other counties in the State, except the
city of St. Louis, st. Louis, st. Charles,
Warren and Lincoln counties, from
which appeals are taken to a court Of
appeals, similar to the n proposed,
which is held in St. Louis. 1t is now
proposed to divide the State into two
districts, continue the St. Louis court
of appeals in one, and create another
in Kansas City. Our county will be in
the Kansas City district. In order
en- this subject consideration, may vote
intelligently on the question, we have
thought it advisable to make a brief
statement of the purposes and needs Of
the amendment.
1t is known to most citizens that in
case justice has to be demanded through
the courts, the delays are such that
many forego their rights rather than
take upon themselves the delays Incl
dent to litigation. After a judgment in
the Circuit Court, there is now a delay
of about three years before the Ease
can be determined in the Supreme
Court. Hence a person who is forced
to ''go to law" has about four years to
wait for a determination of his case.
This in many cases amounts to a de-
NAL of Justice. Many cases are appeal
ed for mere delay. The rich and the
interruptions can Cypress the poor and
honest. Money and property are tied
up and business and prosperity thereby
retarded. The needs of opening and
clearing this. channel to prosperity are
obvious.
1t is thought by the judges and those
having business in the courts, that
the proposed amendment will give the
needed relief, and IN a few years, after
the accumulation of business has been
disposed of, that cases can be deter.
mined in the appellate courts at the
term to which they are taken. After
the adoption of the amendment, all ap.
peals will go to this court, as will those
now pending in the Supreme Court,
except where the amount in disput.
exceeds $500, except cases involving
constitutional questions, United State:
treaties, revenue laws, title to office,
title to real estate, and cases of felonies,
which will go direct to the Supreme
Court.
The crowded condition of the
Supreme Court docket was such as to
demand relief of the last session of the
Legislature. 1t was not able to
meet the needs of the people on &C,
count of the provisions of the present
constitution. The legislature did pro,
vide a commission consisting of three
lawyers to assist the Supreme Court il
its work, but as all the decisions made
and opinions written by the commits.
sioners required the examination anC
approval of the Court, much of the
time of the Court has necessarily beer
taken up in that work, and while the
commission has been composed of law.
yers of great ability and industry, the
object of creating the commission hat
not, and cannot be accomplished.
The court proposed will consist O
three judges, who will be paid a salary
of $500 each annually. This amount
is the same now paid the commission,
ers. The clerical work and other ex,
penses of the Court of Appeals viii
not exceed the expenses of the com
mission. So there will be but little, il
!, any additional expense in maintaining
this court, above what is now zee ssary
The management by the people of thu
affairs of this county, however. teach
us that the needs of the people and tn,
State is enough to insure their sup
port of any proper measure. though al
additional cost may be necessary.
1t is useless to say that this is no
q political question, but is one tina
: concerns persons of all political opin
ions alike; nor is it one of interest t,
lawyers more than citizens engage,
in other pursuits. The adoption of tn,
amendment, will, so far as We can see
Z add nothing to the business of tn
: lawyers. We make this suggestion
simply because our business makes q
e more familiar with the judicial system
of the State and it's needs, than thos
engaged in other business and profes
Z sions. Some of US would have prefer
red a different provision, but We al
agree that the n proposed is mucl
better than none, and will consequent
ly give It our votes.
Orlando Hit w. w. Frv.
H;B. Mclntire, Geo. Robertson,
McD. Trimble, w. o. Forrist,
": B. M~acfarlane, s. NJ. Edwards,
7 WI. KEENAN,. ]. NJ. Gordon,
L. L. Buckner, j. G. Trimble.