New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-22
REMEDIES FOR DELAY.
Suggestions of Bar Members to Law
Commission Heard.

A meeting OF the Laws Delay Commission
held yesterday IN the rooms OF the Hoard OF Trade
and Transportation to hear suggestions from MEM
bers OF the bar 10 remedies for delays In the
law.
PercivaI s Menken suggested that the congestion
in the Supreme Court might bs relieved by dividing
the work into divisions somewhat after the MODEL
OF the English courts shortening or time IN no
tees OF trial from eight TO ave days In common
law cases and shortening of the time within
which the Sheriff must return his executions to
twenty days.
J. AspinwalI Hodge recommended that trial
day DO divided into two sessions of four hours
each. from $50 n. m. TO $50 D. m. and from
p. m. 70 p. m, the Judge and jury panel sitting
in the morning to adjourn from morning 10 morn
ing. and similarly in the afternoon.
Justice Roesch. OF the Municipal Court. said the
justices agreed that there should be no cleo
ton on general ticket. but not on the rotation.
Restoring the costs on appeal would reduce the
number OF appeals He favored the opening OF
court at o'clock. instead OF TO- Against the as
sertion that extension of jurisdiction or the
municipal courts would cause delay In the class of
litigation known the poor mems litigation. he
said such cases always received the preference
He believed they would not suffer. He thought
that the justices ought to be paid higher salaries
Jusuce-elect Seaman urged that the congestion
In the courts OF record could be relieved by an en-
largement OF the Municipal Court system and by
increasing their jurisdiction
John Freeman Baker, In long paper. asked why
a for personal injury brought by the guardian
OF an infant, who is supported by its parents
should be preferred, while case brought by the
head of family for personal injury-incapacta
him, perhaps from earning Hvelihood-must
wait for two or three years. Why should attor-
neys be allowed TO postpone the trial OF cases for
instance. because counsel were engaged elsewhere!
Why could not justices in the First Department sit
hours in the trial of cases? were other ques-
lions he asked. He thought three courts should
be open all summer and the courts generally open
the first Monday OF September instead of on the
first Monday of October.
He believed the trial of cases could be expedited
II each trial Justice had control OF his own par
tieular calendar. BY providing that cases in
volving less Jnan $500 should be brought in the
City Court that its Jurisdiction should be extended
to S 900, the work of the Supreme Court would be
greatly relieved. in his opinion.
IL was evident to every member of the bar he said,
that there should be two more City Court judges
Willis B. Dowd declared that If somebody cut off
the arm of poor man he had only right that
he could not enforce for three or four years, and
that the delay IN cases OF that class conduced to
a condition OF anarchy. For the relief of the
Supreme Court he recommended that commission
referees for trial be elected appointed to
act under the direction OF the justices of the SUI
preme Court. SO that each Justice might have two
three trials going at the same time, con-
Quoted by his commissioners.