Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-03-19
IT is AN OCTOPUS
An Attorney Says the Present
Superb Cooa
is A JUDICIAL txcRfscfNcE
Mr. shows HOW u cssas,llo~ses fr@o-
ssoe wnbnat Being Moves
s2rs Jsd1ci.i Facsor.

EplroK GnsSD EsFsps HfRkfp-A
great deal has teen pebiislled in the
news ard editorial cliumns - ell the
city newspapers converting the proposed
abolition q The superior oouri q Grand
Rapids II has been fruitful topic a
conversation smong citizens generally.
and ~ speculation asnoug politicians
With the excepfion Il The editors. who
have given the subject especial study.
there are probably very few sbo ARE
qualified 81 express an opinion az D. the
necessity ~ retaining OF sh'olishing tie
superior court
Those Who have been the most en-
phafic and earnest in their demands f,sr
ar against the abolition u the court. the
editors. will not he offended II | s1y
that their arguments have net haa the
effect, upon the people sho think.
that they Mould have had n
there had been no advantage "a
be gained by either political party. II
the court IL retained. the advantage AT
crues % the democrats. since the cleo
ton returns lasi fall showed the demo
Gratis and ropuia democrats In the city
IN excess ~ the republicans. X tie
court IL abolished the republicans prnff.
since the democrats are deprived Il
several comfortable l,erf,ls- The growth
81 legal business will II the superior
court IL abolished. in all Probability. de
snand an additional circuit Judge IN a
lew years. and since the county i re-
publican under normal conditions. the
additional judge will D. republican.
Thus II Is that tie party newspapers
are biased. perhaps unoonsciously -. ~
their zeal for party profit and advantage.
and therefore What they say must be
accepted with an allowance for THE
bias. The judge Of the superior court
IL elected 10y the vosers ~ the city
only. !. e.. where the democrats pre-
vail. The additional circuit Judge
would be elected by the voters ~ the
county. where the republicans are In the
majority. Hence the motive Of the
party press.
do not intend 70 intimate. q course.
that the newspapers are entirely infiu.
enced by a narrow and selfish pzriizan
desire To furnish patronage for their re-.
spectiye political parties. but | do he
lieye that the arguments pro and contfa
would have more weight with the peo-
/ political considerations involved
The superior court Was created by act
az the legislature. passed March -. 1879.
This act was extensively amended May
/ "a. lss7, and also April -. lssl The
Judge il elected on tie first Monday In
April every SIX years commencing in
1870, and takes office the first Monda, in
May following. His salary IL the same
as the circuit judge. with enough frsm
the city. II necessary. %. make IL f2.sro.
The officers ~ the court are a clerk.
sheriff or his deputy and q stenographcr.
The clerk H. appointed by the judge. and
receives a salary ~ fl 100. lie holds
Office for twoyc The sheriff receives
such fees from the city a. the county
pays fer the similar work In the circuit
court The sienographer il appointed
by the governor on the recommendation
~ the superior court judge. and holds
Office al the pleasure - the governor
He receives a salary ~ 5000 Most q
these facts have already appeared IN
the public press since the beginning ~
the superior court controversy.
The real reason Why the superior
court should he abolished has not yet
been dwell upon boy the press.
Copcisely. IL l. because II - an exercs-
cence upon our Judicial system.
II neediossly complicat.ss our system
II courts
There is no excuse Tor ifs esisfencc,
for the circuit court can do its work Just
as speedily and efectualis.
There is already too much legal ma
chinery. and the methods ~ securing
justice would he vastly simpliied. even
il the abolition 81 the superior court
nrcessitafed an additional circuit judge.
This IL an age ~ legal reform. The
Anticipated legal procedure ~ past
centuries. which has been impeding the
administration a justice IN this country
during the present century. l. being
swept away in other states. and il xln
soon be Michiganis turn. resolution
has been introduccd IN the legislature
providing FOR the appointment ~ q CON-
mission 10 simplify the procedure In the
courts ~ thi~ state Codlfcation if gain
ing a strong foofhold in the country.
Everything points towards n simpIihcs-
ton ~ the methods # securing rights spd
redrcssinr wrongs by process - Law.
The older lawyers those Who are deep
in the ru,s ~ tho ancient and cnmrls.
Gated methods may protect land in
THE may be found one reason Tor tie
signatures - lawyers 81 the rressezfs
against the abolition 81 tho euferias
court. but public opinion and sentiment
IL beginning 90 appreciate that there \
a way o. DO away with long. espes.
sise and vcfstious Litigation. ard the -.
form. when backed by the people. d
bound 20 coue.
The abolition ~ The superior coorf Il
hot step IN this direction. II rinpli
fee We have enough courts already
The circuit court can % All the work a
the superior courf. although third cir
cult judge IL rendered necessary. and
save money 81 the Iltlgarf and o. tbs
people. sho are tsxeJ 10 maintain th'
@ercre~ceDce In furfbersnce a l.gt
RETURN. and irrespective - political 70
suite lci the s.rsni Rapids supesir'
conrt e. 10 join its decreased and onl,
reistiss-s the Detroit superior court