The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-01-14
LEGAL CIRCLES STIRRED
By Senator Anderson's Effort to Es-
tablish Two New Courts.

There is a stir among local politicians
and lawyers occasioned by the Dill IN
troduced by Major Anderson in the
state senate providing for two city
courts in Topeka to take the place or
the justice courts.
The Interest in the measure is height
ened by the fact that the justice courts
have long been regarded as expensive
institutions and the people want them
abolished. The two city courts VIII
take the places of the three justice
courts and it is also expected that they
viii do the work of the police court but
the bill which has been introduced does
not include that feature.
The fact that these two courts VIII
furnish two good places is having some
thing to do with the interest when the
lawyers are taking in the bill 1t is
Judge shall be 81, 0O0 This will make
the two places such as to be sought by
ambitious young lawyers.
It has been proposed that the Dill De
changed so as to raise the jurisdiction
TO $4,000. This would relieve the work
of the district court and would be
boon to Judge HaZen who is overWork-
ed. There has been some obJectlon TO
the salary named in the bill and unless
the jurisdiction is raised as has been
suggested it is probable that the salary
will be reduced. The advocates of the
measure claim that in any event the
courts will pay their way in fees SO
that they will not be a burden to the
tax payers.
There are two justices of the peace
who are already in the field as candi-
dates for the judgeships. They are A.
F. Chesney and w. S. McClintOck- Both
men are doing some hard work for they
regard the abolition of their courts by
the passage of the measure as practical
~ assured. About all they can do now
is to enlist the sympathy Of men who
have influence with Governor Stanley
for the bill provides that the Judges
shall receive their appointment from the
governor for the first two years and
hot ln Hoo oh he o1n
Justice John L. Guy has not yet SHE'D
his caster but as he will suffer with the
other two if the measure becomes a law
IL is supposed that he will be in the
race.
Friends of A. w. Dana are also urging
him to make a fight for one of the
places. Mr.. Dana has not fully decided
but If the salary is not reduced 1T is
believed that he will be an aspirant-
1t is a fact well known to Mr.. Dana's
friends that his ambition is in the line
OF the judiciary. Another good law
yer who is being mentioned in connec-
ton with one of the positions is w. E.
Pagan but like Mr.. Dana he has made
no expression concerning the matter
and he might not accept
Police Judge Ferry, it has been sup
posed, would be an applicant but he
says that he would refuse any position
which would take him out of the gen
eral practice. Among others who have
been mentioned are A F. Williams and
i. s. Greenwood.
There VIII be two other positions be-
sides that of judge in each court-a
clerk and a marshal-and these places
will be appointive for the first two
years. The salaries are not large as
provided in the bill and nothing has
been said about the positions.
Representative E. d. McKeever says
that he has noticed that the bill intro
duced by Senator Anderson has been re-
ceived with appreciation. He thinks
that there is little doubt of the meas
ure's being enacted into a law. Repre-
sentative McKeever, however thinks
that it should be amended in some
small particulars. If the salary limit is
allowed to remain at $1,000 he thinks
that the Jurisdiction should be enlarged