The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-03-03
ROOM IS FAR TOO SMALL.
Complaints of the Lawyers About
District Court Room.
NOT EVEN ROOM FOR THE BAR.

The Only Pleasing Feature is That
There is Very Little Room for me
Great UnWashed, and Part of What
There is, Should BE Given to she
Lawyers.
District Judge Hazen is not at all
pleased with his new quarters in the
court house. "This is a magnificent
building for show" said he today.
"There are some fine halls, indeed, but
what does a man want with halls? What
we want is some room to do business in.
sit seems to me that if the commits
sioners, or the architect, had consulted
people who have had experience in
court houses, who have done work there,
the result would have been more salts
tory. If they had asked the sheriff, or
an ex-sheriH, about that Office, he, would
have undoubtedly had consultation
room. Lawyers and judges, psopie who
go through the mill ever day, know what
the needs of court room are better than
any architect ! don't care who he is or
where he comes from.
"Ihe district court room should have
run from the west 10 the east wall
eff the building, taking in the space now
occupied by my chambers, which are
very elegant, indeed. The room is much
too small now, and we shall probably
have to use it so years If the popula-
ton increases to only 10000 in that time
it will be absolutely impossible for all
the lawyers to get in the room"
Judge Robert b. Spillman, Manhat-
tan, judge of the Fifth judicial district:
This building is given over to halls, and
Judge Aazen's room Is not at all adapted
to transacting court business. The
Marysville court room is better"
Joseph 6. Waters: "If God Almighty
had been as wasteful of space as these
builders have been, he would not have
room to turn his planets"
W. A. s. Bird: "lt's the greatest traves-
ty on architecture man ever designed"
Judge John Guthrie: tNo court room
at all No conveniences for holding
court"
w. A. DeFord of Ottawa: ssThis is a
rank court room for a town of this SIZE
Our court house cost only $40 O00 but
the bar includes more space than this
whole room"
Thos. II. Balm: This is shame. There
isn't room enough for half the attorneys"
Stenographer Ralph CAV: This room
is away TOO small"
Not lawyer who expressed an opin-
ion gave one favorable to the room. The
condemnation is universal. Nearly
every one remarks about the lack of con-
Vehlences. sucn as CLOAK room, onsuitlng
room and SO on. There is absolutely no
place where lawyer can consult with
his client while the trial is in progress,
or just before going into it. 1t will have
to be done in the halls.
But the court room and court house
are there to stay for many long years.
The attorneys rail might be moved back
SO as to include the whole lower floor,
allowing spectators in the balcony only.
There is no crush of lawyers except on
motion day or during some important
trial The new room will do very nicely
for the court trials and unimportant &C
tions
The presence of any number of spec
tators is out of the question. This is,
perhaps, good thing, and all those that
do como should be required to show a
certificate that they nave taken a bath
within twelve months