The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-03-05
The Bar of the City Takes Action
Favoring a Division of the Sixth
judicial District-A Term of Court
In This City In January, rlay and
September - Some Wanted Four
Terms Year.
Terms a Year

judicial district This committee
consisted Of Attorneys Pau, Cray,
Young, Benedict and Comstock.
A. r. Pfau, president of the bar as
ISOLATION, presided.
The committee presented report,
as follows:
The report reciteS that the pOpula-
tion of the district is rapidly increas-
ing and exceeds that Of fOur-ffths of
the other districts of the state where
there is but one judge, and that the
legal work of the district much eX-
ceeds that of other districts having the
same population; that it is impossible
for one judge. to dispose of the legal
work of the district; that the judge is,
though labOring unremittingly andbe-
yond his strength, from one to three
years behind with his work and has
been compelled to hold adjourned
terms from time to time, necessitat-
ing a large additional expense, both
public and private; that the litigation
of Blue Earth county and more espec
tally Mankato is increasing at much
greater rate than in the other coun-
ties, and furnishes business tosoccupy
the time of one judge: and that un-
meritorious litigation delays meritor-
ious causes, bringing hardship and in
justice upon innocent parties, unjust
ly breeding discomfort and dissatis-
faction among the people. Believing
that the expense of maintaining two
districts will not exceed that of one.
the following resolution is attached:
RESOLVED, By the bar association of
Blue Earth county that we earnestly
urge the legislature now in session to
grant to the people of the sixth
judicial district relief and recon-
mend the following method: First,
Faribault and Martin counties to be
detached from the remaining counties
of the sixth judicial district and to-
gether with Jackson county to be
formed into a new district, thus giving
three counties containing substantial
ly a population of As, 900 people in the
same line of railroad; and, second,
Blue Earth and Watonwan counties,
containing population Of over $4,000
and upon the same line of railroad, to
constitute the sixth district: and we
would suggest that the thirteenth
district, always geographically large,
has increased in population to such
an extent that the legal business
therein is over-taXing the powers of
one judge, and that by detaching
jackson county from this district, the
necessity of division of this district
will at least be thereby a long time
postponed; that Faribault, Martin
and Jackson counties, always contain
ing large volume of legal business,
are rapidly developing and increasing
in population and will furnish ample
business to occupy the time of one
Judge.
The report was adopted and copies
ordered sent to the delegation from
this and the other counties of the dis
trict and to the lawyers of the other
counties.
Mr.. Plymat advocated legislation to
have an increased number of terms of
court held in Mankato, IN case the
division is made. He advocated four
terms, and urged prompt action, be-
fore the time expired for introducing
bills.
Judge Shissler favored three terms,
as the expense of four would be too
much, and three would allow the
court more time.
Mr.. Flittie spoke in favor of three
terms, and said that there are prac-
tically three or four terms now, in
the adjourned terms held.
The terms would be longer, as they
are now cut short by the terms in
Martin and Faribault counties.
Mr.. Benedict favored three terms,
which would avoid the hot. weather.
The lawyers would all like four terms,
but the taxpayers would object to
more than three.
Mr.. Pau thought that the expense
of four terms would not be greater
than three, as they would be shorter.
One or two terms year could be held
without grand jury.
Mr.. Daley favored four terms.
Mr.. Plymat presented plan to
have four terms, commencing on the
third Tuesday in September and the
first Tuesdays in December, March
and June. The farmers could get
away easiest at those times. The peo-
pie could not afford to economize so
as to hamper the efficiency of the
court. This is an important place
and needs four terms.
Mr.. Benedict said that the tax
payers would have to be consulted,
and that three terms were enough.
He would have one in May, September
and January.
Judge Shissler favored Mr.. Bene-
diets plan, and thought that it
would meet the appreciation of the
people at large.
Mr.. DALEY said that there are