New-York tribune., 1902-02-08
BAR PLAN TO EASE COURTS
COMMITTEE REPORTS AGAINST GOV.
ERNOR'S RECOMMENDATIONS. AND
SUGGESTS MEASURES FOR RELIEF.

The report of the judiciary and law commit
tees OF the Bar Association appointed recently
10 suggest a remedy for the crowded condition
VI the supreme Court calendars, last night made
an exhaustive report TO the members OF the as
0o0iaUon' at special meeting held at the home
OF the organization, in West Forty-fourth-st.
Inc report calls for increase of the num-
Der OF judges of the City Court by three and
the increase of the power and scope of the cases
to he tried in that court Eight recommenda-
tlons are made in the report as follows:
tlrst-That the jurisdiction of the City Court he
extended to causes of action for injuries person
or property caused by negligence or TO recover
damages for injuries resulting in death, without
limitation on account of the amount involved.
menced in the Supreme Court costs be fixed as
pISftIeu Sf IN actions in the City Court and that no
"9T5iiohdI TIi9 II, allowances be granted.
or hlr@dmIhat @ the number of the justices of the
CltY Court be increased by three.
Fourth-That the General Term of the City Court
tt M aG6Olsned and appeals be provided for direct to
FItth-That the Supreme Court be empowered TO
%5noye % & &neSnsence suits from the Supreme Court to
Supreme Court, in Its discretion
SlXth-That the matter of the assignment Of the
supreme Court from other districts be committed
20 the justices of all the appellate divisions of the
state meeting in convention
assigned to the several parts Of the conTt and that
suitable provision be made for the transfer of
rom ron, one part TO another as convenience may re-
qulre.
Eighth-That the constitution be amended
to enable the legislature under proper restrictions
70 increase or diminish the number of justices OF
the Supreme Court in any district.
There was discussion of the report, but before
final action was taken it decided to bring
it up for argument at the regular meeting of the
association, to be held next Tuesday evening.
Regarding the suggestion of the Governor that
the judges do more work the report takes issue.
The committee believes that the several judges
have enough to do as it is and in support Of
ic cd hat an
average each judge in the First Judicial District
hears 23S trials and over LOO motions year.
To increase the work of our judges" says the
report, would impair their health. and affect
the character Of their work" 1t says that there
are enough judges in this State to do all the
work, if the work is properly apportioned. In
view of this fact they oppose any increase in the
number of justices in the First Judicial District.
BY increasing the jurisdiction, il Is argued, the
work of the Supreme Court justices would be
greatly reduced. Such an increase of power II
is further argued, would have the tendency Of
raising the standard of the judges of the City
Court, ana raise the Dignity ...at court.
The proposition to give the Governor power
TO assign county judges to sit in the Supreme
Court is opposed 1t urges that the conditions
which allow county judges to practise and sit
referees, in their tenure in office. would debar
them Supreme Court justices.
AS to the proposed bin, which stipulates that
only on appointment by the Governor may a
Judge receive extra compensation while sitting
in Manhattan or Brooklyn, the committee be-
state Judges refusing TO SIT mere Ine commit
tee believes that this would he putting a dan
gerOus power in the hands of the Governor,
in that IL would extend the power of the Gov
ernor to interfere with the administration Of
the affairs of the judiciary and would tend to
subvert the wisest principles of a governmental
system. The state, says the report. is COM
nlitted to the principle OF elective Judiciary.
The YestinE in the Governor Of the power
to distribute patronage among this large num-
her Of influential members Of the judiciary
would have a tendency to affect the indepen-
denCe and usefulness OF the bench. Governor
who chose to the power for political ad-
vantage would find in his hands most potent
instrument. The mere existence Of the power
disturbs the equilibrium which should exist be-
the government"
The report condemns the scheme permitting
an increase OF judges according to the popula-
tion in a certain stated ratio