Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1900-11-03
N0N-PARTIsAN APPEAL.
Chairman of Each of tho Three Political
Parties In KansAs Urges Support of tho
Supreme Court Amendment.

Topeka, Kan, Oct. 31.-It Is deemed
wise to direct the attention Of the
voters Of the state to the proposition
to be voted upon at the coming
election for the amendment of the
constitution of the state increas-
ing the number Of judges of the
supreme court from three to seven.
Among the reasons which IRE given
by the friends of this amendment for
its adoption, are the following:
"When the constitution of the state
was adopted In 1850 the number Of the
judges OF the supreme court was fixed
ut three. On account of the increase
in population, in wealth, in business
and trade, litigation in the state grad
ually increased until II became mat
ter of utter impossibility for the court
to transact its business, and in the
year 1887 II was several years behind
in its work. To relieve this situation
the legislature, in 1887, created SUI
preme court commission Of three
judges, which aided the supreme court
for the following six years without
materially assisting in the disposal Of
the business, because OF the imperfec-
tions in the plan adopted. Notwith-
standing the MD which this commits
sion extended the court, in the year
1895 the supreme court, doing all the
work which was possible for the three
judges to do, was behind with its
work about 2,100 cases, or nearly six
years. Relief to the court being an
imperative necessity, the Legislature
of 1895 created the present court Of
appeals, composed Of six judges, hold
ing court in as many different places
in the state and having jurisdiction
In civil cases where the amount in
controversy does not exceed $4,000, and
in cases of misdemeanor. To this court
Of appeals the supreme court certified
about 1900 cases. When the court Of
appeals expires by limitation Of law,
in January next, there will he returned
to the supreme court about 500 cases,
which, together with the work now on
hand, will again place the supreme
court about 2H years behind with its
work. The court of appeals system
has, rs shown by the records in the
Office of the auditor of state, cost the
tax payers of the state about 1868
per annum. Should the proposed
amendment prevail, IL is believed that
the supreme court will be able to
promptly dispose of all work coming
before II. and will cost the state not
to exceed $4,000 per annum, thus eff
fecting nm annual saving to the tax
payers of the state of at least $4,000.
Hence, as question of economy to
the tax payers of the state, as COM
pared with the present court of APP
peals system, the measure is one Of
vast Importance.
The amendment will furnish the
state with n judicial system which
provides for the hearing and determi-
nation by the highest judicial tribunal
of the state of all causes where the
amount involved exceeds given sum,
and affords speedy, equal and exact
justice, under the law, TO all litigants
alike, and gives permanent relief to
an overcrowded court that must Of
necessity have relief in some way"
We, the undersigned chairmen Of the
respective central committees of the
state, approaching the foregoing
reasons for the adoption of the amend
ment, commend these to the favor
able consideration of the voters Of
the state. and this we do regardless
Of party politics.
Morton Albaugh, chairman of the
republican state central committee.
L. II. Ridgely, chairman of the peo-
pies party state central committee.
j. Mack Love, chairman of the DEM
ocratic state central committee.