, 1889-07-25

Judges were elected to please the people.
Mr. Warner favored four-year terms
| I'm this primitive condition of the state,
and thought there was just now alih.
bility to put judges on the bench who
were not competent because, as vet, in
some of the counties there were no law.
yers competent 10 ill the position,
Mr.. Griiiitts favored the four-year
term, both because II was the recon.
| mendation of the minority report which
he had signed and was IN accord with
his Judgment, and because the expert
ment of putting the probate business in
the hands Of the superior courts was
now being first tried and he did not wish
to commit himself 10 that experiment
for more than four years in tho hands Of
only one judge.
Mr.. Comegys favored the four.year
J. u. Moore delivered long and earn
est argument In favor of the six Near
term and Of removing as far as possible
the judicial system from politics'and the
politicians.
Mr.. Weiscnburger took the same posi-
ton and would 4 he had his way, Ke
them out of politics entirely by making
the Judges appointed.
Mr.. Young had heard no good argu-
ments against the long, term, II II SIX
yeas term could be called II long terni
The bench should he a bulwark between
placed out Of the reach of attack by long
terms and good salaries.
Mr.. Goldman asked ii anyone else de-
sired to speak.
Mr.. Turner said he wished to close.
Mr.. Goldman took issue upon the
claim of Mr.. Turner to the right to close
the argument upon his (Godman's) mo-
ton, and called the chairs attention to
rule Al. The chair said that was a rule
of the convention and not applicable to
the committee OF the whole, and that in
all legislative bodies the chairman of "A
committee making report has always
the close of the debate.
Mr.. Goldman called the chairs atten.
ton to rule 3s. The chair said he was
familiar with that rule also, but should
adhere to his position.
Mr.. Turner rose to argue in, favor of
his right to close, but Mr.. Goldman an
nounced that lie should not appeal from
the ruling of the chair, and Mr. Turner
sat down. Mr.. Goldman thought all tho
gentlemen arguing for six-year terms
were really in favor of four. II a Judge
is such man as could be owned or cor
rupted for four years he could for six.
The extra two years amounted to moth.
ing in the argument, for Judge would
be just as likely to
i WORK FOR A Rg.ELECrIoN
for six years as for four Six.year terms
do not take them out of politics. Even
ii created by appointment they arc not
out of politics. Lamar and Fuller were
appointed by a democratic president
and republican presidents appoint re.
publicans. If we get IA bad man on the
bench let us cut his head OFT as soon as
possible. No one else appearing desir.
Gus to spgak upon call of the chair Mr.,
Turner was recognized TO close the de.
bate.
Mr.. Turner denied any inconsistency
between, his statement yesterday that
the bench was not corrupt, and his state.
ment OF to-day, that judges We're only
human and liable to err through their
prejudice and passions and the presence
of public opinion. He declared from
personal experience that the hardest
task judge had to perform is TO de-
liver an opinion which he knows to be
law, but also knows is opposed TO the
feelings ofthe people around him. Two
years longer Is not much perhaps. bu /
If judges are 70 truckle to public opin.
ion il certainly is better to let them
truckle only once in six years instead OF
once in four years.
On Mr.. Godman's motion the vote
stood ayes &C. noes "a, and IL was there
fore declared carried.
MIR. Presser proposed to submit an
amendment to section 5, but gave way
to Mr., Dunbar, who said that so long as
the convention would adjourn for dinner
the regular hour, so he moved that the
committee rise and report progress,
Carried, and the committee rose.
The convention resumed its session,
the president in the chair.
Mr.. Cosgrove, from the committee OF
the whole. reported progress and asked
leave to sit again. Granted.
Mr. Dyer moved to adjourn to 2:S0,
but accepted Mr. Godman's amend.
ment making II 3
Mr.. Turner moved to make it / 80
Lost.
The. convention then adjourned to
2 Z. NJ.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The convention met ht o'clock. Roll
all and all present except as excused.
On motion of Mr.. Dyer tho committee
of the whole resumed It's sitting, Mr.
Cosgrove in the chair, Consideration ol
section was resumed.
Mr. Powers amendment, changing tho
arrangements of districts by exchanging
Island and kitsap counties so that Jetier.
son, Kitsap, San Juan aud Clallnm shat
form one district, and Whatcom, SKngit
Island and Snohomish shall be anot her
was taken up, Mr.. Power claimed that
by the committees arrangement Kitsar
county, which was on the western side
of the Sound, was Joined with Whatcom
Sl<agit and Snohomish on the eastern
side. lie wished To- change this by put.
ting Kitsap with the other western coun
ties and Island with its neighbor on the
eastern side
Mr.. Dickey heartily concurred.
MIR. Eldredge moved to strike out Kit
sap and insert it among the western
counties, but without changing Islant
county. Even with this change five
. counties in one district will have bu
1880 voters and the three rumaininl
counties will have 3714 voters.
Mr.. Power accepted this amendment.
Mr.. Weisenbcrger endorsed the amend
ment. IL would only be short time
that one Judge could do the work of the
countes of Whatcom, Skagit, and Sno
homish, they were increasing SO rapidly
Mr.. .Schooloy heartily endorsed Tho
amendment also.
!, Mr.. Jones said the section left 1t with
the legislature to make any necessary
changes, and explained that by reason
-of present means OF travel tho arrange
ment.as reported by the committee was
: the best.
Mr., Dickey made further reference to
tiic means of travel and communication
! nthe amendment which would make hi.
district larger than it ought to be, but
will not be us large, perhaps, ns tho
3 sothcr district. He thought, however
! that Mr. Powers project of exchanging
Island and Kitsap was the hest an I,
, location ana communication, but agreed
( that there would be more business il
, Whatcom, Skagit and Snohomish thar
i'm the other five put together.
; Mr.. Kellogg thought the change wa.
3 all right.
4 Mr.. Turner said the committee hae
made its arrangement with the concur