The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-04-15
Judge johnson Tells of the Ooun-
try's Needed Extensions,
LONG TRAVEL PREVENTS TRIAL.
wrouged Persons Prefer to sacri-
fee Thousands of Dollars Rather
Than Go to the Expense of TAX
ing Witnesses Many Miles-Pris-
oners Held for Months Because
There Are No Judges TO Deciue.

Judicial Alaska was most interestingly
discussed before the Alaska Geographic
cal Society in the parlors of the Rainier
Grand hotel by Judge Charles s. Johnson
last night. He has just come from the
north, where he served a term as district
judge, and prior TO that United States
district attorney. He is familiar with the
conditions and needs of that territory.
From the time of the purchase of
Alaska from Russia until 1884, he said,
there was practically no law for Alaska.
outside of the Jurisdiction over crime. and
not the slightest sign of civil law. Debts
could not be recovered, no matter how
reprehensble might be their evasion, and
there was not a court on earth that had
authority to adjudicate civil action"
said the judge.
This condition was somewhat remedied
in 1884, when a bill was passed providing
for judge, district court and three
court commissioners the latter of whom
were stationed at Wrangel, Juneau and
Unalaska, but who, however, had au-
thority TO try actions in which not more
than $3.50 were involved. This condition
remains to the present time, and will
continue until the passage of a law by
congress extending the service. Since
1884 there have, however, been seven
more commissioners appointed who are
located at Skagway. Kadiak, Unga, Cir
Gle, ST. Michael Forty Mile and Sitka.
The Alaskan judge may appoint commits
sioners, but they have no authority in
civil actions.
Judge Johnson went into the difficulty
the people of the remote parts of Alaska
have in reaching the only court there.
In the case of a crime committed at
Forty Mile he said. prisoners, witnesses
and all others concernedsin the case had
to be taken down the Yukon to St Mich
ael, thence TO Seattle or San Francisco,
and back to Southeastern Alaska for
trial The expense for this was so great
that In countless instances cases involv-
ing thousands of dollars had been per-
mitted to go without adjudication as
they could not be tried and settled with
loss. The prisoners could not be taken
across Canadian territory without the
permission of the Canadian government,
and so had to be moved by the long route.
He said 1t was impossible for one Judge
to visit the remote places, as too much
time would be required to make the jour
ney. He said that 10000 miles of travel
to points that should be visited, and that
even then satisfactory results could not
be obtained. as the litigants and witnesses
were almost certain to not all be present.
when a further delay of weeks and
months resulted.
Owing to the delay caused by all these
deprivations men were frequently held
for months and years before they could
be tried. He cited the case of persons
trial by the district court. who were kept
in jail for two years, when they escaped.
The judge said he hoped for the good
of the country that the civil code now
before congress would become law
1t provides for three Judges. to be To-