The record-union., 1895-02-15

to come another day, to the neglect of
their own affairs and at the county's ex-
pense. 1t Is the very class Of people that
object to third Judge who would be
saved trouble and expense if we had
one. II there were three Judges, one
should have exclusive charge OF criminal
business.
II understand" said Mr.. Clarken.
that some persons object to a third
Judge Tor the alleged reason that the
county would have TO go to great expense
TO provide another courtroom. This. in
my opinion, is all nonsense. In the first
place, a courtroom doesn't need TO be
large, nor should 1t be made especially
InVltIng to idlers as a iounging-place, nor
afford comfortable seats Tor a crowd of
curiosity-seekers. y few hundred dol
Iafs, outlay would provide an excellent
courtroom IN the present Courthouse.
spacious enough for the proper discharge
OF the functions of the court"
ENTITLED TO A HOME JUDGE,
Neither litigants nor lawyers wish to
De compelled 10 run the chances OF hav-
ing to accept Judges OF ineXperience,"
SAID Wilbur f. George. ''rhe people of
this county who have business in the
courts are entitled to have their cases adj
Indicated by Judges Of their own choice.
1nlS IS especially true in criminal mat
ters. Judges of courts should be in posi-
tlon 10 know something OF the character
ana antecedents OF persons OF trial before
them.
The proposed constitutional amend
nlent Is both costly and impracticabIe.
It's Chief merit lies IN the fact that its
autAOr seems to recognize the claim that
TWO courts cannot handle the business
ana That outside help is necessary. Fur
theruore, sacramento is entitled to three
courts on the score OF population. That
IS, her population IS greater than that OF
other counties that nave more than two
Judges.
And, above all, I regard this PROPOSE
ton to keep the Judges OF outside coun-
Ties running about the State as involving
greater expense than the election OF resi-
GENT GugeS enough to attend to the bus
mess OF county"
TOO MANY CONTINUANCES.
Under present conditions" said w.
y. GET, the continuance OF cases are
necessarily SO frequent as TO cause great
annoyance and expense to all persons
having business in the courts There
should be a jury called each month and
cases tried when they are set for trial
suppose, Tor Instance. Jury case
comes on. In setting the calendars the
Judges give precedence to Jury cases.
ven, The case Is called, jurors are sum-
moned from remote parts OF the county
anu come to town. Butthe court, owing 10
us press OF business, Is III the midst of
an ia portant case, or Tor some other rea-
son Is Obliged TO continue the case. The
jurors nave TO return 10 their homes ONLY
10 come back on the date the case IS next
set Tor trial. Or, they may have to wait
1 lew days IN town until the court can
reach the case All this is extensive.
Dolh 10 IltIgants, jurors, and the county.
20, sir, we don't want the kind of
help tAat Is proposed in the constitutional
amendment, Tor that would cost US more
~ The long run than another home Judge.
lAey say The public Is opposed TO a third
Judge, but deny 1t. l know that nearly
ali the heavy taxpayers in the southern
emu OF the county are III favor OF having
tnlru Judge and would even sign peti-
ton to that effect"
ECONOMY II A HOME JUDGE.
Those who object to a third JurIoa -
salu Charles /. Hughes do so on ac-
count OF the expense that would he an
tailed IN hitting up another courtroom.
but II, as l understand is the case. a
courtroom, ballltt ana clerk would have
TO be provided for an extra visiting
Judge, where would the saving come in3
Inc advantage Of having a third resi-
dent Judge would be to assign to him all
the criminal cases, leaving the other two
Judges to attend TO civil cases. which
wound Keep them busy. Taking all
things into consideration, [ think a third
Judge, selected in our own county.
would result in saving to the peODle.,j
THE DISTRICT ATTORNEYS OPINION,
District Attorney Ryan said: IN nv
opinion II would be Tar more expensive
all round TO be bringing Judges here from
other COuuIes TO try cases, many OF
which would require days and even
weeks. Our criminal cases are now set
every two months, bur they should be sci
every month. As il is now. we can't ba-
gin 10 keep up with the criminal calen-
Oar, ana owing to the pressure OF impOr-
tant civil cases the criminal calendar is
crowded over and over and reset from
time 10 time while Jurors have to he ev-
cuseu and sent home repeat ediv, thus
eutalung heayy expense to the county
ana much inconvenience and loss to them.
e should have one court alone Tor
the trial OF criminal cases. Owing IN
sacramento being a central point. the in
lux mere OF bad characters makes 4 con-
slant increase il the criminal business
OF the county, and we could keep one
court pretty busy. In my opinion il
would be more expensive to import
Judges and 10 provide for them than TO
pay the salary OF a third Judge, even if
we could get competent ones 10 come lust
when they are needed.
our criminal calendar now Is q LONG
one, ana the present courts cannot Oct
through with their other business raDiClv
enough 10 afford any prospect of having II
soon cleared. We need 4 criminal court
very much"