The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-09-05
REPRESENTATION.

ito the Star.
Cuero. Texas. July GA representative
government like ours to be the most sue
cessfullv administered and Its long dura-
ton to be reasonably assured requires that
all classes be represented In its councils
entrusted with providing for the interests
and welfare Of its citizens. The more
nearly the ratio corresponds to the num-
bers COMPOSING these different Glasses the
better will their different interests be
served We seem to have lost sight Of this
cardinal principle and chosen our repre-
sentatives mostly from one class-the law
yers. The peculiar training incident to
their profession places them easily In
front. and from them ranks are chosen
very largely our presidents, governors, con-
gressmen. State legislators and men TO III
the different posts that seem 20 require
brilliancv. But 1t Is possible that We are
sacrificing too much for brilliancy.
For instance. the cost Of the Judiciary
in this State (which Is their particular
province) that Is met by general tax Is
81 800 900 per year. Add to that sum what
the people nav otherwise than from the
revenues of the State and 1t will swell
the amount to over 900 yearly do
we get quid pro quo for this vast eXDendi-
ture OF money? II We do not, then some
thing is wrong and needs Fighting.
The lawyers have built up such an elab'
crate structure of law that they do not
understand 1t fully themselves. Their
law books contain decisions, rulings and
points made in noted cases, way back
to antiquity, II not to prehistoric times,
which added to more modern laws, de-
cisions and rulings. makes the whole so
voluminous that man don't live long
enough TO know 1t all. This very redund-
ancy gives opportunities for the intro
duction of technioalities, the springtng OF
| motions and rulings ad libitum; and the
weaker the case, the more they are re-
sorted to; not to facilitate and help to
throw light on the case, but are used as
Instructions and TO bewilder the jury. Is
| even handed Justice SO hard to dis
| Germ that it is necessary to go back to
| the dark ages to throw light on it?
Then the laws are made that the
judge of a lower court is often stopped
| from using his best judgment for fear Of
| a reversal Of his rulings in higher court.
and he grants continuances the blne CT
| present jurisprudence) that. from his
| knowledge Of the parties and the home
| facts in the case. he otherwise would not,
| from the fear OF the judges OF a higher
! court, who are ignorant of these facts,
will not be likely to sustain him. AS
consequence our jails are kept full OF men
who should have either been set free or
sent to their places of punishment. the
| dockets of our courts are loaded with old
cases In addition to the new ones, to the
detriment OF justice and adding greatly to
the costs of the people.
| Civil eases. IL Of any Importance, are
| bombarded with like tcchnicalities and
| continuances. obtained to the detriment OF
| the PRINCIPALS in the case and also of the
| long suffering taxpayers; an illustration OF
| which was had in the recent court house
case in this county.
| The LAWYERS rambled around in the
| labyrinths of the law. argued motions and
| rulings before the court on number OF
different points. which consumed Two or
more DAYS. before examining a witness.
| The case altogether lasted eleven days. and
cost the county 5000 in jury fees alone;
and when they came to make their pleas.
both sides said there was but one point
and that was whether Watson had or had
| not so managed the business that the COM
missioners court was 1ustifiable in onsilns
him. II they had confined themselves TO
this enc point. which they all sail was
the only real issue. two days would nave
been ample time instead OF eleven days.
Technicalities. instead OF being in tie
interest OF Justice, are used 10 defeat it.
All of the above legal lore is osto1sIily TO
enlighten Jury composed of twelve cidi-
nary mortals. who know neither law nor
the principles Of evidence as laid down
in the law books. and to help them to ar
rive at lust decision. Whlcn trey "ouiu
| be much better prepared to do II the con-
trolling facts in the case had been s.Iaply
| stated. So from the very nature CT the
case they are apt to disagree and cause
mistrial and continuance OF the case OF
an Illegal verdict which will cause a re-
versal bv higher court. either o., which
will keep the mills grinding.
Under the political leadership OF such
bright and resourceful mon The common
people lose sight In a great measure OF tns
common interests. and the safety OF tns
government in their blind devotion to par
ty In their great anxiety to see their
. | candidates successful they first wink at
then tolerate. then openly sanction the cor
rnpt use of money In elections. from pres
; ident down to constable, which II long
, continued. will in my judgment wreck this
renphlic. II defeats and destroys repre-
| aentation. which Is the foundation ard
chief corner stone OF government by The
| neople. II the business men, and farmers
and laborers had their fair share Of mum.
hers in shaping the laws they would IND
, way 10 reduce the present vast expendh-
ure OF money both State and NATIONAL
They could reduce the expense OF the judi
: ciary al least one-half by doing away witt
fhe whole Jury system. and substituting
0 three good Judges of law and evidences
, | n every county who should have charge
, ~ All Of the legal business, both civil
and criminal. Then overhaul the laws
: do away with all OF II that 10 now uset
10 mislead (and is q positive injury re-
7 | duce them to q simple code that the com
I | mon mind can understand. and then see
: with court always In session. that tne'