New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-05-19
WORK FOR THE JUDICIARY CONVENTION.


IMPORTANT QUESTIONS TO BE PASSED UPON
RELIEF OF THE STATE COURTS NECESSARY.
Albany May 1e-The approaching judiciary Con-
vention, composed of thirtysiX leading citizens OF
g State, most of them eminent lawyers, as might
be expected Is looked forward to with much interest
all the State, judging from the letters received
here in relation TO it, All the members OF the stare
Bar Association are of course, concerned abont the
outcome of the conventions work, and especially so
since the convention may be considered tlelr OH
spring. 1t was at the annual meeting Of The Bar
Association held here last winter that the present
congested state Of business in the courts the slow
ness with which decisions were reached ana otier
matters bearing upon tine same subject were deoa'e'
The present arrAngemcnt Of the Court of Appeals into
two divisions was criticised by many members ana
IL was argued that there danger that the decisions
of the two courts might clash. however much care
was taken to make those decisions conform Com
ulaint also was made about the diverse courts OF
New-York City. and IL argued that thcy o"Gh1
to be consolidated. The Bar Association ehueu Hs
debate on the matter by appointing committee co"'
sistng of David Dudley Field, Edward G' Wtaker' seo
ond Deputy Attorney General, and d. newton flero'
of Kingston to what ought to be done ID remeuy
lie difficulties complained of. The members ol the
committee. upon meeting found that they could not
agree II Don the remedies which should ne auoPOeu'
Finally Mr. Whitaker suggested that judiciary con-
vention composed OF eminent lawyers and laynen ap-
pointed by the and the legislature shou oc
held to draw up amendments to the judiciary ar'ioe
Of the Constitution, the With Article, ana Nconenu
them TO the Legislature for adoption THIS sugseso"
met with the favor Of his associates Dill was
drawn up for the appointment OF the suggested COM
mission and $25 900 appropriated to pay It's eN-
penses. The Legislature passed the BILL the Gov
crnor signed it, and the Commission was appointed
the last day the Legislature was in session. lhe
names of the distinguished men who are to be me'-
hers of the convention which will meet here on June D.
were stated in The Tribune Of Monday last
Our idea in suggesting convention" sald MI
Whitaker yesterday, "was TO follow preceuc"' %,
by Governor Hoffman in 1872, whch lie susses'
Constitutional Commission. The people In leoo
had rejected a constitution framed by tine 0ons'tu
tional Convention of 1867 with the exception Oh ,e
Judiciary article with that constitution there were
defeated good many excellent amendments tha'
Governor Hoffman thought should be enSraiteu u''"
the Constitution. The Consututl0nA Comhis'io"
csc,led these amendments such that which put inc
canals under one management and the prisons uhuc'
one management; and they subsequently, pat INTO
the Constitution by the votes of the people and the
Legislature 1t was also found that the Constitutional
Commission being a much smaller body, could work
with much greater swiftness than CONSTITUTIONAL
Convention and with quite as good effect We there
fore have created the judiciary Convention III VIC
hope that 1t will suggest amendments TO the Con
sti,utiOn which will end the present confusion Ill ue
courts" , J., .h,
proposed Constitutional Amendmentsl n inquired Ihe
Tribune correspondent , ..oouso
Every court replied Mr.. Whitaker because
tho judiciary Convention Is authorized to propose
amendments to every portion OF the Elth Mucie oi
the Constuton-tne Judiciary article. ,,,
What proposals are made respecting tins article
"One is that the number Of supreme Court Judges
should be increased. We actually have no more suoh
Judges than te had in 1S4l, although there IS fCur
times as much business. The transfer of seven su,
preme Court Judges 10 Albany to form second
division of the Court Of Appeals has greatly depleted
the ranks the supreme Court judges, and increased
OF course the labor of those remaining . A.,
.Is IL proposed that the Second Division OF the
Court of Appeals should be made permanent body =
BY some persons IL Il. Int they also propose, Ill
order TO lessen the chances OF conflict In the decisions
OF The two courts, Jhat they should sit continuously
one court all the time. That Is, while the Judges of
one court should be sitting on the bench tnc olers
should be writing opinions, and vice versa
g How about the courts In Ncwiork?' ,,
"Ah that is where there is tho greatest dllhculty.
II Is believed by many that the Court OF Common
Pleas. the SUPERIOR Court and the supreme oour,
should be consolidated into court Ihc present.
arrangement hindcrs legal business ,,
" How long will the convention be In session =,
81 presume about six weeks, III view OIL Ic inF
portance OF the questions TO be considered'