Wichita eagle., 1889-01-15
THAT NEW COURT.
The Matter Becoming Slightly Mixed and Tn
certain-Petitions Out.

/
| There is a phaze of this proposition for a
| new court which is liable to become en-
| tives in the legislature, to which we wish
to allude:
At the first the discussion Of the subject
naturally arose among the lawyers and
| litigants whose cases were for the time,
and for that matter are still denied hear
ing, simply because they could not and
cannot be reached owing TO the voluminous
docket of the district court. The EAGLE
after weighing the.matter as best it could,
| came to the conclusion that the over
| crowded docket was due to ondition of
things which coming suddenly was likely
to be removed or relieved almost as sud
denly as it came. This conclusion being ar
rived at we entered square pro-
test against another or additional
court; not so much because of the
additional expense which such court would
entail as because of the wrong that was
liable to be worked against people who
were not to blame for being involved in a
collection or foreclosure suit Still little
later on the directory of the board of trade
took the question up and decided on a
compromise course, that is, decided that
an additional court was necessary but
that it should only have Jurisdiction in
criminal business and in suits for collec-
ton Of debts other than secured by mort
cages.
SO the case stood when our representa-
tlves and senator departed for Topeka On
the face of things it looked as if the law
yers. litigants and board of trade were On
one side with the EAGLE alone on the other.
But the more the matter has been dis
cussed the more plain it has become that
there are two sides to the question, and
two big and important sides, and it now
seems steps are being taken to test whether
the EAGLE is in the minority or whether it
reflects the views of the majority On
Friday last prominent lawyer ordered a
petition, or more properly, a remonstrance
In the form of petition, printed at the
EAGLE Office for voluntary distribution.
He did not take out the petitions himself
but gave out word that they could be had
by calling at the job rooms of the EAGLE,
a number of these blanks were called for
Saturday and yesterday, we suppose for
circulation. What we desire to say at this
at this time, and all we desire to say is.
that while the EAGLE has not changed its
opinion touching an additional court. it
does see that we as a people, as board of
trade and as bar, are likely
to place our representatives at
Topeka in very embarrassing position
We don't want to leave them in doubt as
to what is really the will of the people. AS
the case now stands they are liable to be
damned if they do, and damned if they
DON'T" which would both be embarrassing
and unjust to them. Some of the heaviest
and longest headed and most successful
business men in the city declare that in
the absence of an additional court business
must become tied up, while equally good
and equally strong men say upon the
equitably adjust itself and work out for the
best interests of all if let severely alone
The EAGLE has no pride in the matter, |
nor other interest than that of the city as |
a whole, and we would like it if some way
could be suggested which would at once |
determine the will of the majority and at |
the same time make plain what is expect
ed of our representatives at Topeka and so |
relieve them of a cross fire which is likely |
to needlessly lnjure them.
In the absence of any more definite and |
speedy way of getting at the Judgment of
our people why would it not be the proper
thing for the board of trade to take it
up at their annual meeting on Thursday
night?