The Topeka state journal., 1897-12-02
Justice Courts in Cities Are
Condemned by All,
Except the Few Who Derive 3
Profit From Them.
Shawnee County Legislators are Al
Pledged to WORK for Their
Abolition IN Topeka


three justice courts IN Topeka has
amounted to a fee grabbing contest. to
see who could bleed the county for the
most fees No attention was paid 70
the seriousness Of the crime but the
constable would hunt hIgh and low for
eases Petty family qUarreIs are
dragged into court and under the
charge Of disturbance Of the peace the
costs have been assessed against the
county in many instances
The GaniZens OF Smoky Row have
each other arrested time and again
for no more serious offence than that
of calling names Many QuarrHIS
that would have been dropped by the
principal parties have been worked up
and brought into court by the couSta-
bIes- The cOustabIes make It a bust
ness when they hear Of q quarrel TO
80 70 the injured party and get hiu TO
swear cut a warrant for assault and
battery Most OF these quarreIs have
been three black crow stories
During the session of the last IegIs-
Iature bIu was passed ESTABLISHING
two city courts in Kansas City, Kan
saS. Each court consisted OF Z Judge.
known as Judge Of the city court.
and one clerk II such a court were es-
EAbIHshe1 in Topeka there would be no
need Of two divisions One judge and
clerk would be sufficient
The law relative to the Kansas City
court reads as follows.
Section Z9 Session Laws Of 1897.
he courts hereby established shah
have the same jurisdiction civil and
criminal as justices Of the peace now
have in this state and Tor Lde purposes
OF the jurisdiction hereby conferred
and OF its proper and necessary exer-
Csc all the laws OF this state relating
TO Chs powers. duties and Jurisdiction
practice pleadfugs and proceedings IN
justice courts, which are not in conflict
with the provisions Of this act shah
apply 70 the said city courts and the
judges thereof. and TO the mode of pro
Cs=dlre therein and u the process there
Of original uesue ard final. 50 far as
that after this act shall take effect. a
justice OF the peace in said Kansas
City tsw1ship shah have no jurisdic-
tIou n any case. civil or criminal eX-
money only where the amount CLAIMED,
exclusive Of costs. does not exceed the
sum Of one dollar but this act shah
not apply TO any suits Or proceedings
pending before said justice OF the peace
Al the time rhis act takes effect. nor To
The enforcement OF judgments there
tofors rendered oy them
The following regulates the salaries
Of the judge and clerk
Section "a reads- The judges Of said
courts shall receive pay for his services
year and each Of the clerks Of said
courts snail receive for his services a
salary Of nine hundred dollars per year.
1uch salaries shall be raid BY the CoUu-
T. in which said courts are eSta bI-shed
n the same manner as the salaries Of
the county Ofdcers are paid"
Senator W E Suarue said 7 drew
up bill aboIishiue- the Justice courts
and presented II at the session Of the
legislature three years ago Duus-
more and DLlard made q bitter fight
against It and 1t was lost am in Ia
Vor OF doing away with justice courts
N al cities OF the first class I viii
work 10 that end if there IS special
session Of the legislature, If there is
not a special session I may have no
chance to do anything
Representative Harry Lariruer said
Il shall not run for reelection but If
there Is a special session I shall work
up q bill TO abolish the justice courts
IN Topeka When the Kansas City bill
was passed I offered an amendment 10
it to include Topeka but il was feared
that the Kansas City OH would be de-
Teated IL the amendment was to be
voted 9n and as a half q Ioas was better
CEa0 none the amendment was dr8pDeI-
The way that the justice courts IN this
city are managed IS wrong from be
ginning 20 end By paying a good sal
ary to one judge the once would go to
some one with experience and who was
vel qualified TO III the place The
title Of Judge Of the city court would
be n title worth something
Rzpresentattve (. =. AIcKeever said:
I am heartily in favor OF aboIishiug
the justice courts in the city Of Topeka
and of having a city court the same as
the ones IN Kansas City but think one
would be sufficient Tor Topeka It
would do away with these petty cases
that should never be brought into
court There should be no one con
necled With the court WlO Is dependent
On fees for his salary. 7 also think
UHat this city court would be a relief
To the district court IS many cases
could be brought there and tried which
now so to the district court but which
No lawyer wishes to take before z JUS
I1ce- 1 think that all the officers Of the
court should be elected the same as the
s.
should be brought in the city court
where the amount involved was less
Ehan $500 AT present the cases brought
IN the justice courts are below $500
This would be q decided relief to the
district court II tnere is Il special ses-
sion or if L am reelected I shall do
what I can TO bring about this desired
reform"
Justice Guy. strange 70 say. has
ideas On the subject that are much the
same as the lawyers
4 am in favor of abCllshing at least
ore justice court and putting the other
two judges and cOnsCabIaS on a salary
Ny reasons are these justice who
complies with the law cannot well com
Iete with a fae grabber- It X the duty
Of a justice TO adjust the difficulties
Of the people without a law suit If pos
sIble ard under the Zee system his fin
aEciaI interests and duty conflict A
justice might be tempted TO make a
ruling that would insure him his fees
instead OF making a ruling that Is Just
A justice should not be compelled to
be dictated 10 by bill collecting artor-
Eeys especially when the debtor has
his wages tied up BY a punishment
The first OF the year q bIII becomes
law that reduces the justice fees fully
~ Per cent The justice VII get but
little for his work but the coustables
VIII get the sama as they have hereto
fore and they are the ones that rustic
the trade. "
Mss Allie Hughes Norfolk Va
was frfghtfulIy burned on the face ard
neck Pain was instantly relieved by