The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-12-05
why ruIUD JUDGE3


heard "a great deal about the necessity
uf a third Judge Co help in getting the
Cungested business of the courts
through There were and are at pres
Cnt two circuit courts of the first Cir-
cult. as there were in the days of the
independent Republic but the gentle
men who followed our old circuit courts
informed ms that our legal business had
been mismanaged that cases had been
kept back, and that i'm fact our whole
minor court system was rotten. The
community listened to the honeyed
words. and wondered at the wisdom of
the new appointecs. The two judges
started out. they were Humphreys and
suliman. Everything was going TO be
cleared off. and Ina "a short time We We're
going To- haye.a sort of millennium In our
circuit courts. Alas! the millennium has
not come.
After very short period on the bench
siuiman calculated that circuit
iudge's salary was not commensurate
with his earning abilities and very
summary walked out of his court,
leaving it to take care Of itself 1t did
take care Of itself for some months and
Humphreys boldly held the judicial fort
single handed. The appointment in
place of Siliman hung fire for some
time. and during that time Humphreys
labored to bring his calendar down and
delivered orations to- juries, and made
bench speeches TO the general public,
and licensed incompetent lawyers ana
attacked the wicked missionaries" the
Attorney Generals department, and
anything else that was in sight. In fact
IL was a period of prolonged enjoyment
one cannot hope for too much of this
in ones life, it is wen to believe in the
doctrine of metempsychosis and hope
that it may return again in perhaps
some other form.
Then came the advent Of Judge Gear,
and everything looked remarkably
smooth, and the lawyers saw some
chance of trying their cases, ana col
Iecting direct and contingent fees, when
alas, Judge Gear had to leave his court
and proceed to the mainland, leaving
Ais unfortunate colleague with the con-
.yested calendar. once more the noble
struggle began. In order to get rid OF
the congestion of the calendar there
were more means employed to inVesu-
gate for political purposes, through
grand Jury. The work took weeks, was
costly. and the calendar congested sun
more. But the patient public stood still
and admired the noble process of con-
aesting the calendar. 1t was a sight
worthy of contemplation. Some day
some one will make an epic poem out
of that magnificent struggle against
fearful odds, with the full intention
that the odds should Not be overcome
If is q fine subject, and the bard can
run If in various meters from the SOM
Der hexameter of Longfellow's Evange-
line, to the tilt Of Bret HART
Heather Chinee.'
And then Gear returned, and both
clients, defendants and lawyers began
to see lights, as one sees at pantomlhe
when the Giant Dumpano's mechani-
tions are going to be beaten, and the
Fairy Justicia is going to bring every
thing into light in the grand transform
alton scene, and everything would be
happy. But it was not to be. There was
no Transformation scene and Gear did
not become doddering and amusing
Pantaloon in the Hareequnade, nor did
Humphreys appear as clown, with the
jolly shout of Here we are again" Oh
no. The lights We're turned down the
scenery run back into tha grooves. the
spirits and the ballet girls were sent
whimpering home, and shortly after
Gear got seated on his bench, away
went Humphreys to the mainland, T.
where he stayed more than four months,
lobbying, interviewing, inspiring, Civ
ing forth half truths and whole mis-
statements for his own cause, and the
government paying his salary for The
process. 1t is a very long suffering Ter
ritory, and if properly taught by men
of this class will become more So Per-
haps!
Meantime to continue this history,
Humphreys returns, and once more
clients, defendants and lawyers see
chance for that congested calendar to
be uncongested. But as soon as Hum
phreys returns Judge Gear finds 1t
necessary TO go to Hawaii for vaca-
ton. More congestion. And to cap the
climax Judge Gear left yesterday for a
flying trip" to the East, what for, only
those interested in certain water
schemes, and certain political schemes,
know, and those outside who keep
their eyes wide open.
Poor Judge Humphreys! it is hard to
be left with this terribly cOngested
calendar, which he had worked so hard
TO relieve. 1t must make his tender
heart ache to think of the wrong done
TO litigants and the injury done to his
brethren of the bar, SO one does not
wonder that both he and Judge Gear
should feel that there is vital neces-
sity for third circuit judge who will
a ttand tp tho laga1