The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-01-11
REPAIRS TO COURT HOUSE
Judge Edwards Addresses the Grand
Jury Concerning the Matter.
MORE ROOM IS BADLY NEEDED
Arbitration Room the Judge Says Is Cnftt
for Court Purposes and After Next
Term VIII he Used rs
Third Court Room.

Today the grand jury will make its
final report to court. Yesterday num-
ber of indictments against ]. W. Gard
ner We're considered by the jury. Dur
ing the afternoon the jury was called
into the court room where Judge Ed
wards spoke to them concerning the
necessity of repairing the roof of the
court house and making additional
room for court purposes. Judge Ed
wards spoke as follows:
Gentlemen of the Grand Jury:-I sent for
you to submit to You some matters with
regard to the public buildings. 1t Is your
province. as | have already said 10 you
i'm my genral charge, to examine the
buildings belonging to the county. OF
course. you have nothing to do with the
city buildings, but with the county build
ings you have right to overlook them and
to see that they are kept in proper condi-
re Communications that you think proper.
And II is well that this power and super
vision is given to grand jurors that APP
pear in court from term to term. You all
know that this court house was erected
about sixteen or seventeen years ago. and
that the third story was never completed.
If you go upstairs during your investiga-
ton of this building, with the exception
of one room l believe in the possession OF
the Historical society you will find empty
completed then Is that the county was
young and the business of the county was
not such as to require the completion or
the third story. But since the organiza-
ton OF the county, and especially during
the last three or four years, We have been
running three courts of common pleas In
this county. We hold Ave terms during
the year. and instead OF having two weeks
In each term as We used TO have we have
three weeks of common pleas alone; ] do
lvs @ -
to the argument courts nor the equity
courts that are held In this county. The
business OF the county has largely In
creased as we'll as the population and
wealth Of the county.
Cutting Down tho Civil List.
Now, In holding. three courts the object
of the judges was to dispose of the public
business. About two or three years We
were behind with our civil list about three
years: that Is a person having q suit which
should be tried in the common pleas 1t
would tuke him at that time about three
years before he could reach II In the Or
dinary course of the administration OF
justice. and IL is for that reason that three
courts were instituted. and three weeks In
each term, instead of two weeks. The re-
suit Is that We are now probably within q
year or within year and three months
of the trials that are Instituted In the COM
mon please, and We have gained nearly
two years on the list.
When 1t comes down tC about six months
II will not be desirable to get any closer,
because time settles great many cases,
and cases that are institute! now, If peo-
pie are allowed six months before they are
tried before jury 1t will produce the set
tlement OF great many cases. The rea-
son | mention this Is that We only have
two rooms to hold three courts. and 1t IL
absolutely necessary in the adm!nlstra-
ton of justice that We have three cour.
rooms. The intention was in time, when
the building was built, to have third
court room upon the third story. upstairs.
the second story from this main court
room.
We have been holding a third cour. in
the arbitration room to the great detri-
mcnt of the health of parties. judges and
jurors. II is impossible TO ventlate 1t.
1t sui.s very well for an arbitration room.
There are not many arbtrations and they
do not meet very often and only involve
few persons. After the next term We shall
abandon the third court for the reason
that we do not consider 1t safe to our
ested 10 hold regular court in that room
downstairs: but We are in hopes that we
shall have "a third court room very soon.
Superior Court Room.
Also an additional duty has been i'm
posed upon the county commissioners In
regard to the court facilities because of
the organization of the Superior court.
by the legislature in which the Superior
court should sit. They sit here commenr.
ing next Monday; they are to sit here gen.
orally think three or four weeks every
year, and 1t is the duty Of the commits.
sioners Of this county to prepare facilities
for them to hold court. Temporarily they
We secured the room in the United States
building on the other side Of the street.
That was done by 4 joint resolution in
congress, and they have it l think for the
,rAx HN'A G No rtt
necessity. 50 far as the Superior court is
concerned, except they will be cramped
for room, but the commissioners must
provide court facilities even for the Su-
per!or court. We are also very shor: of
jury rooms. There ought 10 be at least
three or four jury rooms.
Our convenience for Jurors during the
night In murder cases, where they have TO
stay all night, and IN cases where they
cannot agree and are compelled to remain
over night, their sleeping accommodation.
are not good; at any rate 1t is necessary
there should be more jury rooms. The
commissioners of this county are ready
ana willing to do what IL deemed right
and they understand that ] am submitting
this matter to you. and you have right
to call the commissioners 10 go with or 10
come before you, or call anybody else
that you please and to 10 through the
building, and TO recommend what changes
and what Improvements you deem necss-
y
ira tion OF justice, and for the safety of the
building itself
Condition Of the Roof.
] presume when YOU go upstairs you
will notice the roOf:while / would not want
TO be an alarmist still you will notice it is
i'm very bad condition. After you are
through with the hearing of bills and
disposng OF the indictments before you l
request you to go through this building.
You have right, Of course. TO visit the
county Jail, and to make any recommenda-
tons you think proper in regard to that.
You are puuy coming from all over the
county: YOU are not permanent officers of
the court or of the county, You are only
here doing duty for u short time, tenn
pOrarily, and for that reason II IL always
we'll and it is the province of the grand
jury to examine the public buildings and
make such recommendations as you think
proper.
This is what ! intended to call to your
attention in the beginning. / think on
consultation with the commissioners or
calling them before you in the grand Jury
room. or going through the building you
pan make such rpcOmmpndat ttnns voii