The San Francisco call., 1898-12-22
COURT FAVORITES.
patriotic lov,

I HI court favorte has always been a well-known character in history. He had the of the ruler, and generally used the position for his own advantage His influence sought by those who had private ends to gain We also have our modern favortes but they bask under the sunshine of the judicial instead of the ruling power. They carry their operations in the halls of justice in stead of the royal palace They take active part
 in the nomination and election of some Judges per haps loan them money when in need, and look to gather the nice plums which may be dispensed by the judicial hand. Sometimes this favorlte takes the
 form of official reporter, at others of receiver or favored attorney. It is notorious that in some cases the fees received by the reporter greater than those paid to the attorneys, The Judge may order arguments to be written up which gives the reporter increased harvest Lawyers are timid and reluctant to complain against these practices, as 1t might incur the dispeasure of the court The la vored attorney is often employed for his supposed in fuence with particular Judge, and is paid greater fees than his associates who do the labor.
 The receiver usually comes in for handsome al lcwance in return for services which are frequently only nominal A recent illustration of the easy way i'll which receiver and his attorney may money Is afforded by the Hale & Norcross case. A fund of $3oo,ooo to be distributed under the judgment of the court. receiver was appointed to dsburse this
 
 which, by the way, was given by banker in whose bank the money was deposited-when Judge Hebbard made an order allowing $5ooo to this receiver and $sooo more for his attorney, which sums promptly drawn When all the parties interested had agreed to the of distributing the residue of this fund the receiver and his attorney got another whack at 1t, through the action Of the Judge, to the extent of additional $5ooo Besides this, the bank in which the money deposited demanded and received compensation for keeping and dis bursting it.
 It Is a fact much to be regretted, that the general public has, to a considerable extent lost confidence in courts. Abuses in the administration of the law have crept into some of them, and this count their general influence and standing have been lowered People hesitate for this to invoke their aid In many of cities the business men have ar ranged upon a method for the settlement of their disputes out of court, by arbitration. This shows that there is something wrong in the operation of judicial system which should be speedily remedied. No government is safe when there is disrust of the courts The great bulwark of England is the conf dence of her people that every subject has equal rights before the law and that the courts will admin ster that law mpartially It IS the duty of the press Of this land to all abuses in the conduct of the courts. The Call will not hesitate to do this whenever the occasion arises It also takes pleasure in approving the in which Judge Coffey guards the interests of estates and prevents their spolation While some attorneys and legal repre- senatves may carp at the scrutiny exercised by this Judge in fixing their fees and regulating the general expenses of administration he IS justly entitled to the commendation of the community for the strict dis charge of his official duties