People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1897-08-26
Supreme Court Wants Relief.

Topeka, Kan, Aug. 14.-Wbat
shall be done to relieve the state su-
pTeme court and make it possible for
litigants to get speedy trials in the
court of last resort is a problem that
must soon be solved by the people Of
Kansas. 1t has been postponed about
long enough. The appellate courts
established by the legislature of 1895
furnished temporary relief, but their
day Of usefulness has about passed
away, and something else must be
substituted. When those courts were
established two years ago last spring
the supreme court was over four years
behind in its work. A vast number
OF cases were transferred from the SUI
pTeme court to the appellate courts,
and this brought the supreme court
to a place where it was about two
years behind in its work. The high
est tribunal Of the state has ground
very regularly during the past two
years, and it is still eighteen months
behind. This is as near as it ever
will be unless some remedy is afforded.
When the appellate courts were
established that law contained a pro.
vision giving litigantS the right to
appeal from that court to the supreme
court. Those appeals are just begin
ming to come in now. 1t is estimated
that at least 40 per cent Of the cases
tried in the intermediate courts will
have to be heard in the supreme court
after all. So it can be seen that
while large number Of cases were
wiped off the supreme court docket
when the appellate courts started a
large portion Of them are finding and
will find their way back again. In
reality, the relief afforded by those
new courts was insignificant.
BY the provisions of the law estab-
llshing them the appellate courts 90
out OF existence on January |, 1901.
No more appellate judges will be
elected unless some of them die or re.
sign or the law is re-CnaCted. The
influx Of appeals TO the supreme court
from the court of appeals simply
means that the higher court will get
further and further behind as the
time rolls by. Litigation is on the
increase in Kansas, also. 1t grows
with the state.
All of the supreme justices are out OF
town now on their Summer vacations,
and for that reason their opinions
could not be obtained on the question
as to what should be done in the
premises. Ex-senator John Martin,
clerk Of the supreme court, however,
says that the membership Of the su.
preme court ought to be increased to
seven members. Then, he says, that
tribunal could take care Of the work
and keep the docket cleared all the
time. This will require a change in
the state constitution. But Senator
Martin says he believes the people
would vote for an amendment in
creaSing the membership Of the cour
il they understood that it not Onl,
would be in the interest of the com
mon classes, but at the same tim,
would be less expensive than th,
present system.
sat the present time" said he, "w,
have the supreme court with threu
judges and the appellate court will
six judges. The appellate cour
judges get almOsta as much salary eacl
as the justices of the supreme court
Each appellate judge has clerk, il
fact all the machinery necessary t,
run an independent court. The nee
essary machinery in each division i
almost as expensive 10 maintain a
the supreme court machinery. Now
say that four justices Of the suprem
court are added. That would wip
out the six appellate judges. Tn
combined salary of the four suprem
justices would not be as much as tn