The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1901-02-07
HON. FRED IKELER's sPE6OH.
He Makes Powerful Argument Against the
Bill Providing for Another Court In
Philadelphia.

Representative Fred Ikeler made
his first speech in the Legislature on
Tuesday morning, in opposition to the
bill to create fifth court in Ph:ladel.
phia. The Harrisburg papers call it
"a splendid speech" He SAID:
"Before a final vote is taken upon this
bill | ask the house to indulge me for few
! moments. AS we are now about to deter.
/ mine finally upon this measure, | take it for
glanted that but one question presents itself.
| Is there an honest public necessity for the
/ creation of the additional court contempla-
! ted by this bill II If there is, the members
I from all sections and of all parties ought to
( speedily establish it. II there is NOT if
this bill does not I'LL a substantial public
want; if it is drafted in the interest of po-
! litlcal faction il its aim and purpose rises
no higher than to place in Office and power
, the political servants of political masters,
/ then no man will have the bodness 10 say
upon the floor of this house that it ought TO
| become a law
81 have now personal knowledge that such
is its purpose, and | wish to make no
I charge that | cannot verify in my own mind,
but do know, Mr.. Speaker, that this bill
comes before us in most unfortunate light.
'lt is claimed that this will benefit the
! business interests Of great city, and y,t
many Of the influential business men Of that
| city protest against it, 1t is said that it will
assist the bar of Philadelphia county, and
yet many OF the leaders of that bar openly
denounce it, The very judges for whose
! benefit it is urged, descr be it as useless, ex-
| travagant and dangerous; while the entire
! press OF the city, with but two exceptions,
,,,,tt. Il
I act.
'In the face of such opposition, am not
! justined in saying to the gentlemen who
I have thus bill in charge, before you ask us to
entail upon our people outside of the city of
| Philadelphia an annual burden Of many
! thousands of dollars; before you ask us to
agree TO a law opposed alike by your judi
ciary and your press, yoi must convince us
/ by positive and substantial proofs that there
| exists some hidden necessity for our action
which neither your newspapers nor your
judges have discovered.
"Can that necessity be shown? 1t is said
tha. the trial lists of Philadelphia are crowd
ed with unfinished cases. So they are, and
so they will be, under the present rules Of
! procedure in that city, if you establish fifty
| courts. The lists OF my own county are
crowded, Insignificant though our legal bus.
mess is. There is not a county in the state
but can furnish statistics of this character.
If were to rausacbe our equity and common
pleas and oyer and termner and quarter ses-
sions docEets, could bring you an appalling
list of unfinished cases, which might even
lead the unsuspecting to believe that we need
an additional judge in Columbia county.
And yet the honorable gentleman who pre-
sides in that district is not busy half his time.
"Why does this condition exist, not only
in Philadelphia, but in almost every county
OF our state Because we need more courts
and judges You might as well say that it is
for lack of lawyers. These cases are un.
tried, these lists are crowded, not because
we need more courts, but because the law
yers are not ready with their cases, or the
clients are not willing, or the judges are not
persistent, or there exists some defect in the
rules of practice which makes such a condi-
tion possible.
"lh.rsfore l hope that this house will not
be deceived by statistics and figures that are
convincing at first blush, but mean next to
nothing when rightly understood. 1t is an
easy thing 10 say, ''I, 900 cases remain un-
tried in our courts" but when--when, Mr..
Speaker, was there single case untried for
lack of courts and judges ?
| | realize that it may be urged that as
tons Of which have no personal knowledge
! But don't ask this house 10 take my poor
statements of this matter. | want to put in
evidence the language of more powerful wit
nesses. | want 10 remind on of wha these
very Judges, these Identical, overworked,
public servants, have said upon thus question.
''On April 4, 1899, Judge Biddle, in quar-
ter Sessions court No. I, addressed the jury
in these terms: Gentlemen: 1t has been
stated in the papers that there are over two
thousand cases awaiting trial. Now, here |
am compelled to djourn this court, there
being no cases ready for trial. There are
net enough cases TO go on with the business
of the court.
Judge Finlei,er in discharging a jury
panel III court No. 3, on one occasion, said: :
i say to you that on to-day's list there are
seven important cases that were commenced
III December last. And yet none of these
cases rs ready, and here we have TO adjourn,
having no business. 1t is so, probably in
the other room, and in all the other courts
Judges McMichae, Pennypacker and
Better have all concurred in the sentiments
contained IN these remarks, but if anything
else is necessary 10 convince the house, | call
your aueoton TO the language OF Judge
Bregy. On April =, 1899, having flushed
the cases, he discharged the jury with the
following remarks: Gentlemen of the jury:
In dischargiug you at this time wish o
call your attention to the fact that out of iif-
teen cases on to-day's trial list, only two
have Leen disposed of, because counsel were
not prepared TO try them. If you will at
tentively observe the course of events during
your term, You will see repetition of to-
days proceedings. AS taxpayers. who will
have to bear the expense. you should know
i whether there is any need for a fifth COM
mon pleas court, with the salaries of three
additional judges 10 be paid and a number OF
court clerks and several stenographers to be
provided for, when this court has 10 adjourn
at noon, becans- counsel are not ready
"Thls, then, is the evidence of the men
whom this Lill is intended to benefit, and it
seems TO me that II ought TO be conclusive
on the sui iect.
i 1T is easy TO play the demagogue. 1t is
poor and cheap notoriety which some
men attain hy opposing all legislation, =
gardless Of i S merits. But to every man