Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1893-01-10
AN ASSISTANT JUDGE

The subject discussed by the Bar as
ISOLATION of Whatcom county at its re-
cent meeting is of much more import
ance TO the people of the county than
would seem to be indicated by the re-
ported proceedings. By a vote of
eleven to five it was determined to APP
point committee to draft bill to be
presented to the legislature, providing
for another judge in this judicial dis
trict. The grounds taken at the meet
ing by those who favored the measure
were that it would facilitate the trans
action of business and that the limit of
expense would be the salary of the
Judge to be appointed. Unquestionably
two judges could transact more bust
ness in a given length of time than
could one, but where the amount of
business is such that one can keep the
calendar fairly well cleared this is of
doubtful advantage. The court as at
present constituted succeeds well in
trying about all the cases which the at
torneys have ready for trial at each
term. There will always be a large
number of cases pending at the end of
every term. The delays in the trans
action of business are due in a much
greater degree to the action of the at
torneys and parties than to inability of
the courts to hear causes. Dilatory pro-
ceedings Of various kinds, motions, de-
murrers, continuances for service, and
on account of absence of witnesses con-
sumo the time of the court and carry
cases over from one term to another.
We have heard the court on days of
assignment Of cases call page after page
of the calendar before finding single
case in which all parties interested
were ready for trial. A careful exam.
ination will show that with two judges,
both would be idle almost one-half the
time.
1t is certainly great mistake also to
suppose that the advocates of this
measure, who declare that the only
expense would be the three thousand
dollars salary of the judge, are anything
like correct. A want of careful con-
sideration has evidently led them into
error upon that question. In these
hard times it is well before going into
this or any other scheme which is not
a necessity, but at most a convenience
only, to get some tolerably clear idea of
the cost. First, there is three thousand
dollars for the judges salary. Second
comes the expense of providing place
for the holding Of the court. That
means another court room IL not
another court house. The present one
is fully occupied. How much will be
the cost of providing and maintaining
an additional court room? For another
court there must be an additional set Of
court records with an additional clerk,
and bailiffs, and in fact there is not a
single item Of cost pertaining to the
present court which will not have to
be duplicated by the appointment of
another judge. Even ia the matter of
jurors the expense will be largely in
creased. Either panel will have to be
enlarged or special jurors summoned In
the trial Of every case. The regular
panel of jurors consists Of twenty-four
men, or just enough for two trial juries
II every man attends, which seldom
happens, and IL no one should be ex-
cused by the attorneys, which never
happens at all In the trial of causes.
Experience in such matters has shown
In this state and elsewhere that two
courts win cost twice as much as one,
and the reasons are to be very plainly
seen BY any person who viii look into