The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1906-11-29

CRITICAL
Continued from Page Onel

Beyond discussing the matter short.
~ no action was taken, the wri Fer
notices to the members notifying then
OF the proposed constitutional amend.
ment not having been sel1t OUT.
w O. Smith proposed that the asso-
citation recommend an amendment OF
the Organic Act. rails ng the number OF
Supreme Court judges from three to
five. The proposal was made in view
OF the great number Of cases coming
before the Supreme Court By lessen
ing the work on the members by add
ing two more judges to the bench there
| would be fewer cases go to the United
states supreme Court on appeal. said
Mr.. Smith.
Before this matter could be acted
upon. D. L. Wilmington called attention
to some unfinished business. a resolu-
ton having been introduced at the
previous meeting by T. NJ. Harrison.
which awaited action. This resolution
| asked the L. s. Supreme Court to set
the Hawaiian cases coming before it
at the present session somewhere to-
sether and at some definite time. so
that the attorneys from Hawaii could
attend to their Washington business
without unnecessary waste of time and
| III the one visit.
The adoption of the resolution was
| moved by r. w. Breckons, seconded by
Judge Perry, and passed.
Judge Perry then moved that the as
ISOLATION adopt a resolution express
ing appreciation of the decisions and
judgments of Judge De Bolt during his
term as First Judge of the First Cir
cult Court, now coming to a close. and
4 L.
resolution was seconded bv Mr.
Breckons
This resolution was also carried, only
one dissenting vote being heard.
The question of increasing the num-
Der of Supreme Court judges was then
taken up again, the debate on the
resolution growing warm at times
Mr.. Breckons said that he had inter
viewed most of the members of the bar
and bench in the matter and with one
exception all had agreed that five
judges were necessary for the expedi-
tiCus despatch of business.
E. A. Knudsen, of Kauai, said that
in connection with this proposal to ask
for an amendment of the Organic Act |
it might be interesting to know that |
the members of the Legislature also |
intended to ask for an amendment to |
the Act. In view of the fact that they
were deprived of the privilege of hold
ing government office they wanted |
to secure a raise of their seasonal in
demnity to $1,000. A resolution to this
effect would be passed in the House
and doubtless in the Senate and Mr.
Knudsen thought that the suggested
amendment to the Organic Act re-
speeding the Supreme Court judges
might be added. 1t would be easier
to get what amendments were desired
if they were Jumped
The other lawyers thought not, it be-
ing the generally expressed opinion
that they did not want to have any,
thing to do with the legislatures reso-
luton.
Mr.. Smith expressed his opinion that
the presence of five judges would give
greater weight to their decisions and 4
that there would consequently be less
appealing from them to the L. S. Su-
preme Court.
Mr.. Wilmington said that he was not
opposed to the resolution.
Even If we will be exposed to the
ideas of the Governor in
his selection of candidates to recon-
mend as judicial timber, 1 do not think
hat we could be hurt any by the addi-
ion of two more members to the Su-
oreme Court BENCH he said.
Judge Perry opposed the resolution
He could not see that the addition of
more judges would expedite business
my. Messrs. Smith. Breckons and
others tried to show him. III
t. M. Harrison said that the judg-
nents of the Supreme Court showed
signs of haste in their preparation.
With more heads to help prepare the
judgments there would be less likeli-
hood of the work being rushed and
ever writs of error to go to Wash
ngton.
Mr.. Wilmington agreed very heartily
With this iii
With more judges necessary to an
agreement we will have fewer judg-
nents handed down with the head
notes saying one thing and the matter :
ollowing saying another" he remark
ID emphatical1y.
This closed the discussion the reso-l
utfon passing with Judge Perry the
'nly dissentient. The resolution pro-
tides for the president and secretary
If the association to take up the mat :
er with the Delegate to Congress and
With F. M. Hatch at Washington
-s.%-e--