The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-12-19
TOO MANY JUDGES
Numbers Of the Judicial Districts
to BE Jumped.
PARTICULARLY N WESTERN MSS.
Much Honey Can be saved to the state
b. EnlargInE some or the Districts.

Much Honey Can be saved to the state
By EnlargInE some or the Districts.
The people Of Kansas pay out each
year under our present Judicial system
$4,000 to the judges of the district, cir
cult and supreme courts. OF that amount
almost one-half 10 an absolute waste Of
money
There are in Kansas at the present
time thirty i've Judicial districts and the
Judge Of each district draws an annual
salary Of 2.50O from the state Some Of
the judges earn the money and some or
them do not
In addition to the district courts there
is the Shawnee county circuit court and
the court of common pleas Of Wyandotte
county, and the judges of each Of these
courts also receives 1900 year.
There are three supreme court judges
who draw $4,000 each. The supreme
court judges are OverwOrked and il is
generally conceded that their relief be
provided for by the legislature at the
coming session by esta blishing an APP
pelIate court or at least court Of APP
peals.
Judge n. c. Mcfarland who has made
careful study Of this matter, says just
about one-half the judicial districts as
they now exist could be dispensed with.
without damaging the interests Of the
state As the districts are now arranged
about one-half of the judges are idle q
large part Of their time. Some Of them
can transact all the court business Of
their entire district in one month ana
have the other eleven months 10 he year
for outside affairs. but the state pays
ie freight"
Judge Mcfarland says that if the state
was reappOrtioned into about one half
her present number Of judicial districts,
there would be a saving to the state Of
alb ut $4,000 annually.
ia. IL Tn~.@..
be provided for. and i've appellate Judges
can be paid $4,000 annually 4 total
cost Of $4,000. and the state will still
be $25.0OO ahead Of the present arrange
ment, each year
1t is known that Governor elect Nor
rill has for some time been seriously con
sidering a measure Of this kind and will
no doubt make some recommendation
along this line to the legislature, ia his
first message.
When the legislature takes this matter
mp. as 1t no doubt viii, about the first
place to commence cutting viii be in
Shawnee county, and the circuit court
will be wiped out Of existence Then
the Wyandotte county court Of Common
Pleas will be abolished, and its business
will 60 to the Wyandotte county District
court
Atchison county which is a judicial
district by itself can be attached to one
Of the adjoining counties and the one
judge can still do the work and have
time on his hands
Sumner and Sedgwick counties are dis
tricts by theu1selvl5 and they can readily
stand consolidation or attachment to 9th
er judicial territory.
There are six judicial districts com
posed of two counties each and all six
can be consolidated with other territory.
There are fourteen districts composed
OF three counties each and most of these
districts can with their present pOpula-
ton stand additional territory
The TWO largest districts in the state in
area, the Thirty second and Thirty third
are really the smallest ia amount Of bus
mess transacted. There are SIX counties
in each Of these districts, and yet, if the
courts we're So arranged, that 10 would be
possible, for the judge presiding, to visit
them all ia the same month; he could do /
all the business in that length Of time. /
These districts should be and no doubt
will be enlarged
There is scarcely one out of the entire
thirty-five districts which could not be /
with advantage to the state and /
a saving Of money for the people
State Senator w. z Sterne Of Shawnee /
county, says be l. heartily in favor of a I
measure which will reapporti0n the ju- /
dicial districts as suggested by Judge (
The district judges themselves will no
doubt object to such measure, as about /
1ne-half Of them will. If the reappOrtion- (
nent is made, be sure to lose their jobs,
but the interests OF the whole people de-
mand that something should be done;
and If Governor Morrill, makes the rec
in his message, he is
thinking of, something will be done.
1t viii be argued that by charging
iOme Of the western Kansas districts the
territory of some Of the judges viii be
made 80 large that it will tAke most Of
heir salaries for travelling expenses. As
. is now many Of these judges ride on
ree passes, where the railroads will
AIRY them. but the legislature should
make is a misdemeanor for a Judge to
Use free pass aud then provide for his
trans porta-i ion The state should not,
however, pay i've or ten cents a mile
where the regular railroad fare il but
hree-
WANT BLAINE'S HOUSE.