The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1885-12-02
II JUDICIARY,

There is little if any complaint against
the Judges'in this Territory, SO far as their
ability or the. impartiality displayed by
them in administering the laws are con-
cerned. The offices h:Ad by them, being
Executive appointments, are, however, re-
garded as political, because they are liable
to be removed with every change in the Ma
tionaF Administration. Notwithstanding
+ the'1aw fixes their term OF Office at four
wears, yet they stand upon the same del
icate'g ground occupied by thousands OF
other Federal appointees.. The Judges
themselves are aware OF the precarious ma
ture OF their tenure, and rs they were all
appointed through political influence when
the Republicans were in power, they
do not ask for nor expect any favors from
the Democrats. Judges in some of the Ter
ritories have already been removed and
others, Democrats, appointed to their
places. In the, usual course OF events. the
time will soon come around when our Ju-
dietary will be required to surrender tier
robes Of office to their successors. In doing
this, it is only an act of justice to them to
say, that when their successors pat on the
judicial ermine they will find it unsullied.
The change in the Judiciary being immi-:
nent, there ought to be steps taken, without
delay, to secure the appointment Of Mon
tana lawyers to these judicial offices. Our
bar stands second to no. other in the
country for it's learning. and ability. TIL
gentlemen composing it, as a class, are
characterized for honor and. integrity;
hence they are eminently qualified to dis
charge the important duties OF the judici-
AIRY, in u manner alike honorable to the
government, the people and themselves.
So far as the peculiar litigation in this
country, .relatingeto mines, mining interests
and cattle raising, is concerned, there is no
class of lawyers in the lar SO we'll adapted
to adjudicate such questions as u own.
Ii no efforts are speedily made to secure
these positions for our own lawyers, Others
will be commissioned and sent here from
the states. This would be very unpopular.
with our people; for no matter how well
learned in the law they might be, the pre-
judice against carpet: baggers is so great
that it Would prevent them from COM
LHetIitilHS eihaO NCSiCO Va ACSPCCp ILL OHH
dence SO. necessary to make. their decisions
acceptable to the people.
If the lawyers and other citizens inter-
ested in securing the appointment OF ac-
c;eptable judg es in the respective districts will
only. come together and unanimously agree
upon three gentlemen, from our own bar,
qualified by experience and learning for
the bench, there is no doubt that influence
enough can be brought to- bear upon the
President and Acknowledgement to secure
their appointment. There must be no de-
lay in this important matter. It must be
attended to at once. There is, we we'll un- !
derstand, a difficulty in the way OF har-
monious.% action, and that is that there is
too much jealousy among the lawyers
themselves. A few OF them have practices
too valuable to sacrifice for a temporary
jpdgship. The great mass OF them.. how
ever, would like such positions. They can
not, however, all be appointed, hence they
should lay aside personal aspirations, and, |
a higher motive, that of securing &C.
ceptable judges, agree with intelligent lay
men in recommending suitable. lawyers for
the positions. "
Who will take the initiative in this mat
b &C.