The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-01-13

value OF ttAEs G0HFAr tnet Aztk N411t4F AA-A -
grant the reIiei 10 which the people are en-
titled. The people never learn the fruth
that all judges and court officers know. that
the mere coarts we have TIE less they cost
the people. up 20 the limit Of faily and ex-
peditiouzly dispatehing ali the business Of
the people. The supreme court Of King
county cost the people OF this county every
year more unnecessarily than the salaries
Of ten additional judges would aEnount 70.
There have heen cases in which costs
amounting 70 many hundreds OF dollars
have accrued without any reason except
the wasting delay born OF the conditions
above stated Some persons foolishly argue
that Is hsiganfs pay most OF the costs. It
does not matter 70 the general public, not
realizing that sooner or later every body has
bis day in court one might just IS well
say that King county would become no
poorer should each htigant destroy by fire
q large portion Of his property each year.
Again. suppose il 10 be true that the peo-
pie litigate too much, there is no way 10
prevent IL except by a Law which would de-
prive the deserving Of the most sacred right
preserved to men. why should there be
enough litigation in King county to keep
three judges basv2 - nay be asked, and
First. the conditions which govern the old
Eastern cities are unknown in Seattle. LitI-
CATION never bears proportion to popula-
ton. bat 10 the number of business trans
actions Trades, contracts, transfers.
these are the meters with which to gauge
the probable law business of people, In
the city Of indianapolis. for instance.
there are more than twice as many people
as there are in Seattle. vet the court business
is far less there than here. There real es
tate has little connection with the volume
OF business. here il is commodity. There
no new corporations are formed. here they
swarm like bees and their conflicting
claims fiji the courts with iniunctions.
Without attempting schedule OF the rea-
sons why there are necessarily more causes
coming into our courts than into theirs,
suffice it to assert that It is a fact easily
proved. Yet indianapolis has FIVE courts
in constant session. and no one can be
found who doubts the necessity of their
existence.
There ii tenant wrongfully withhoids
from his landlord either the possession or
rental of his property the remedy is immedi-
ate and certain. Here in such cases there is
no possibility of relief within two years if
the tenant resists Who viii put money in
new buildings for the purpose OF furnish
ing homes TO tenants when once it is fully
realized how completely such an investor
is at the mercy of his tenants? Who in
the East viii care TO loan money upon Sc
eurities here if informed of the utter lack
of remedy in case the borrower shall re-
fuse to pay bis annual interests
No doubt the counties of King Pierce
and Spokane are the principal sufferers,
and it may be that our need Is greater than
theirs. 1t is certain that the conditions
here are such as 10 produce a feeling Of
disgust at the drought Of asking justieef for
an invaded right A leading banker of
SEATTLE has cause pending in the superior
court which was begun five years ago, and
during all that time he and his attorney
have been fruitlessly trying to get 1t set
down for trial
The city of Seattle is growing in popula-
ton, in wealth. in volume of business in
new and complicated relations with all the
outside world. King county is keeping
pace with its wonderful chief city. Why
Ia IL that no look ahead can be taken2 How
Is 1t possible that 1t can not be seen that
what was sufficient for provincial village
wholly fails To answer the calls OF a COM
mereial metropolis Is it not foolish to
provide mere temporary relief now, which
viii be a total failure next wear? Is there
not courage enough IN the legislature TO do
right7 l am slow to abuse the members
of the legislature, for largely they are nnin-
formed of the shameful condition of our
tribunals. l make the statement without
fear Of exaggeration, that three Judges
working as hard as any man can safely
work. will find more legal business In King
county than they can dispose of and do
justice 10 the litigants Indeed the APP
pointment of one additional Judge will
only serve as an assistance 10 get part of
the old cases off the docket during the
first year, for with the beginning Of the
next year the retirement OF the probate
Judge will leave us with no more Judges
than we now have. II some one with the
patience and public spirit 10 do so would
examine the records and make a fair
estimate of the loss to the people of King
county. by reason of the failure OF justice,
resulting from she inability OF the courts to
grant relief. il would startle the public
mind. The few thousand dollars that two
or three additional judges would cost
would be but a small per cent of the loss
saved by their appointment But IL is hard
TO get the people TO realize this Too little
is said upon The question. II is hoped
that the press may use its powerful inlu-
ssee 30 remedy one of the greatest evils at
present affecting US.
Will ri. THoNFSoS.