Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-11-23
committee of three to confer with the court
regarding its modification.

committee OF three to confer with the court
regarding It's modification.
What Ought to he Done.
In my Judgment. this association should
present a memorial to the next legisla-
ture asking It to confer with the legislative
committee of the association upon all pro-
posals to change our statutes so as to
prevent needless and hasty legislation. II
is not important that every member Oh sne
of some bill bearing his name; the less
OF legislative ignorance and tneXperience
that is crystalized into statutes the bet
ter.
The interests Of the general public will
be served well and crying need OF our
profession. met by the creation OF a COM
mission to codify our laws: to put what we
have that Is worth keeping in proper form;
to weed out what is useless and obsolete:
to check up the numerous Inconsistencies
and incoherencies familiar to most of us;
and which shall give us body of statute
law as simple and compact as Il was forty
years ago, having regard to the changes
In industrial, commercial and social eondl-
tions. \ recommend that this association
take imrtiediat% steps looking to The accom-
plishment of that result
Tlse administration of law In this state
ouSht to be; and can be, improved. But
Judges and lawyers and peope must Join
in a movement to secure it, The conditions
which once prevailed in the western part
OF this commonwealth when II became
necessary FOR well known Judge to open
court with two cooked revolvers in front
or him have passed into romance. BY our
almost intoieraDle system the honors and
rewards of professional success are limited
to dollars and cents.
Under our system. candidates for lu5iCial
Office who control their wards and counties
win their nomination as candidates for
constable and mayor win theirs,-bv trades
and combinations known OF all politicians
and seats on our supreme bench are gen.
orally sought bv lawyers who. having ac-
quired competency. are willing tn MAKE
a personal sacrifice to hold a public office
which ought to be much more venerated
than II Is; but even that high position has
been occasionally sought as the reward
OF .nolitical service. It is fortunate that
under a system which makes iudgeships
political prizes Of the second class, we
have and have ALWAYS had. so many first
class JUDGES. They have been overworked
and undernaid. but with few exceptions
they have been in the mast, and are now
! men OF high personal character and good
aHnitv: however. TO make possible the
efficient administration of law I'm Nebra ska
our constitution must no amended and our
supreme court unshackled.
Relief for supreme Court.
The number of justices of our supreme
with sufficient members to do the business
OF the court, and they should be kept in
Office long enough to secure them complete
independence. II Is matter for grave con-
slueration whether our present method OF
| selecting judges, at least of he supreme
court, should not be changed so as to take
! the judiciary out OF party politics entirely
/ by giving the executive the power to APP
point them, and fixing the term of their
The integrity and ability of the federal
| judiciary are sources OF qualification to the
whole American people and In states where
| the executive appoints, the courts take the
| highest rank. Judges appointed to serve
during good behavior are generally better
I judges. more independent and fearless. than
( any can be who are chosen by the people
/ for short terms; and the people have made
more mistakes In electing judges than
: either presidents or governors have made
! ia appointing them. But whatever views
! may be held with respect TO the judicial
/ tenure, our supreme court should be en-
| largcd and the terms of our judges should
! be increased so as to take the judiciary
I pensation should be increased so that a
J man competent to go on the bench. and I'm
whom the people have repOsed such con-
| hdence as to put him there VIII receive a
! salary large enough to support his family
! comfortably and educate his children prop
4 erly without recourse to his private accu-
/ mutations
The salaries OF our state officers were
! fixed at a time when an annual eXpendi-
! ture of $500 was looked upon as a great
! sum. That time has passed. The condi-
lions which bred such parsimony have also
! disappeared. The hills and valleys OF this
! our granaries are full to overlooking; our
I country banks are bursting with the ac-
| cumulated wealth OF the farmers OF Ne
/ bTaska; everywhere prosperity and plenty
abound; and yet the salaries of our judges
remain what they were In grasshOpper
/ days,
! There should he more vigorous and re-
B lentless pursuit OF criminals; not so much
! that the law may be indicated as that
society may be more adequately protected;
almost always escaped detection and pun
/ ishment are those who commit the crime of
I arson. While fire In harness is the friend
and servant Of man, hostile FIRE is ms