Omaha daily bee., 1889-01-20
REFORMS.
The Bar Association Meets and Fur
ther Them.


The Omaha Bar association held a meet
ing in the lecture room of the Y. M. c. A.
building yesterday to hear reports from the
judiciary and legislative committees. Mr..
Howe, from the committee, stated that two
members of that body had called upon two
judges of the district court and consulted
with them in regard to certain changes in
the mode of conducting the district courts of
this district as set forth in the following
resolution adopted at a recent meeting:
Resolved, That the member of the Judi
ciary committee be requested to confer with
the honorable judges of the district court at
the earliest practicable opportunity, with a
view of ascertaining from them whether or
not it Is possible and practicable for said
Judges, by rule of court, to so arrange the
dockets and business of said courts at the
beginning of each term Of court as to
divide the dockets between said judges,
assigning to each a distinct portion
thereof, and a certain room IN which to con-
tinue their sittings, and In order further to
avoid joint sittings of said judges; and that
the Judges be requested to abolish the morn
ing hour and have all the business now done
at that time put over until motion day.
Mr.. Howe said that the two judges with
whom the had conferred had eX-
pressed a desire to do all in their power to
accommodate the members of the bar, but
that under the changes already made in the
manner of conducting court this term mat
tiers were running very smoothly and all
cases had been promptly called. To divide
up the dockets amongst four judges would
be impracticablc, but as far as the other sub
ject matter of the resolution was concerned
they would be willing TO make the desired
changes. This report was accepted. Upon
motion the matter was referred to a special
committee to further investigate the matter.
Mr.. Roberts moved that this committee be
instructed to prepare court rules as they
think would correct the present difficulties,
and further that these rules should be sub.
mitted to the judges concerned to obtain
their approval, the idea being to work with
and not antagonize them. MIR. Roberts, in
support of his motion, said that some, en-
phatic action upon the part of the bar was a
crying necessity as, under existing circum-
there was no system in the mode OF conduct
ing business. The motion was carried.
To this same committee was referred the
work of a legislative bill providing for a
municipal court for this city. County At
torney Mahoney upon this proposition said
that such a court had become a necessity in
appeals from the decisions of the police
court were taken to the superior courts, and
as the presiding judge of the criminal court
of the county was overrun with county bus
mess. these appeals practically amounted 10
n nOn-suit, and many criminals were al
lowed to go free who should be punished.
The legislative committee, to which was
referred the subject Of devising ways and
means to increase the salaries OF the judges
of the district court, reported that IL would
be necessary to change the state constitution
relative to this matter.
Upon motion of Mr.. Davis the same COM
mittee was instructed to frame bill TO be
submitted to the legislature correcting the
evils of the present mode of selecting jurors.