Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-12-22
JUDICIARY Reform.
Important Amendments 10 the Judiciary
Article OF tho Constitution,
HAun Tpx Dec 90 1856

Important Amendments TO the Judiciary
Article Of tho Constitution.
BAIRD, Tx, Dec 20, 1856
To the Editor OF the Gazette.
OF law II can DO no less than acknowl
edged that cher seat Is the bosom of
God and her voice the harmony OF Tho
world" AS the most important subject
with the above caption Is likely to receive
the attention the coming legislature, 1T
is probably not now amlss 10 offer a few
remarks by way Of suggestion, so that the
ball may be started in motion and gather
the concentrated thought of the state as
1t rolls. Aud the opinion Is current that
by q proper activity on the part of the bar
and the pross in explaining the real ne
cesslty OF amendments TO the judiciary
article OF the constitution II VIII re-
suit In some practical solution Of the
much yeXed question by the legislature
In tbs matter OF proposed amendments,
aud be carried by the people. II was
also thought by the last Texas State Bar
agAt clation that the heavy expense In
yolyed Ia having q constitutional conven~
ton could be avoided, and that the neocs.
sary changes can as well be made by
amendments to the constitution. pro-
posed by the legislature and ratified by
the people at the polls.
Now it Is evident that the judiciary ar.
ticle Ia the constitution of 1876 Is unsatls
factory aud has never found favor either
with the people, with parties litigeut or
with the bench and bar Of the state, but
has always been considered Ike Sinbad,
the old man OF tho sea, and
therefore change Is now
absolutely necessary, as " Is TO this
branch Of the government especially that
the people are TO look Tor the real and
nnel protection oi their lives and proper
ty, and certainly that judicial system Is
best for people which at once combines
jut tice with CELEBRITY In It's decisions.
And n precedent In regard TO these
necessary changes Is asked for, we are
amply prepared TO give them, as first,
Witness the strong opposition OF many OF
the aDost lawyers In tho constitutional
convention Of 1876, which made the Judi
clery article. Then see the first message
OF the then GOV, Coke TO the legislature
OF 1876 Then see Gov, Hubbard's mes
sage 10 the Sixteenth legislature, where
he pointed out the various defects Of the
judiciary article Aud then Gov. Roberts
has, in his regular and special meg
BaRea TO the legislature, pointed
out iorcibly its sins OF commission as
well of omission, SO Gov. Ireland has
also directed attention to this article
both In his inaugural address and Ia his
first message to the Eighteenth leglsla
tnre And then in entire harmony will
the views OF these able aud experienced
men, IL tho action taken by the last Tt xa
State Bar association, aud last, but no
with any idea In this article OF associat
to. kA at,Al lat
: as an additional evidence OF widespread
dissatisfaction among the people, W,
will he permittei TO mention the recon-
mendatlon Of the last Dem cratic stat,
convention, |. q. the submission Of th,
legislature TO the people OF appropriat,
amendments to tho constitutional judi
0iary article OF 1876.
Then II must follow from this strong
numerous and Intelligent mass OF oppo
sition TO Article Fifth that there must b,
some inherent and serious defects In tn,
Judiciary article; and TO remedy this II Il
thought that the following amendment
TO the said article will at one and III,
same time combine justice and dispatch
IN the public business, as II liz now uni
yeTsally recognized that The bushes II
tho two courts is c0neiderabl behind
but through no fault OF the Judges Of th
supreme court or court OF appeals.
Section /, The judicial power OF tni
state shall be vested IN one Suprem
court, in a court OF appeals, In distrlc
courts, and in such other special aud In
ferior courts as the legislature may from
time to time establish by law.
Sec The supreme court shall oonsls
Of not less than iye justices, mBjorit
OF whom shall consulate quorum aud
concurrence OF three iustioes shall b
necessary 20 a decision, aud they shall b
elected ny the qualiil "a voters OF tho stat
az q general election, and shall hold thei
Office for q torn Of twelve years, and the
shall receive adequate and honorable sal
les, not TO be Increased or dimiuishe,
during their term OF office, and they shall
select from their number a PRESIDING OF
ileoT, 10 ba called chief justice, and II
shall preside over The court,
SEQ 8 The supreme court shall hav
appellate jurisdiction only, coexteuslY
with the limits OF the state, but ehall onl
extend 20 civil cases, "a which the dlrtrC
courts have appellate OF original iurlsdiS
ton, and Il shall sit az the scat of govern
mept for tho transaction of business, froi
the 1rst Monday IN October 70 the la'
Saturday Ia JNnc Of each year, unless th
business before 1t shall be sooner dil
posel Of.
SIC d. The court OF appeals shall Col
sist ot i've judges, majority u whol
shall constitute a quorum, and concu
renee OF three iudgea shall be necossaI