The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-07-07

was made at the last session Of the Legisla-
ture for the establishment OF additional
courts. but this was refused.
At the rate OF 1000 cases q year one Judge
could dispose OF the land titles in twenty
years. And this is not taking into o n
sideration the large number OF contests
that are sure to develop. Should all twelve
Judges devote themselves to the task and
lay sside all other administration OF Justice
they could by unprecedented activity
restore the ownership records in q year
and q half.
Suits ave already been fled by thousands
and the ~clogging Of the courts 10 apparent.
The Judges are inclined to sulk because
their request for additional departments
was denied by tho Legislature and arc
more or less Indifferent to the urgency OF
title matters. The Grand Jury has re-
turned enough indictments in tho graft
and Doodle cases TO keep several courts
busy for a .
The only avenue OF relief appears 20 lie
in providing additional courts. There has
already been talk Of asking Gov. Gillstt to
call a special session of the Legislature for
the purpose. Otherwise only the urgent
cases can be acted on INC the others al
lowed to await such legislative assistance
as the session a year and q half hence may
provide.
The cost to the people Of San Francisco
Of regaining titles to their properties will be
49, 900, 900. The minimum fee exacied by
the lawyers is $50. which includes court and
publication costa and other expenses.
No complaint about this charge Is made
against the practitioners, considering tho
amount Of detail work involved and the
extreme care to. be observed In such q mat
ter as building a title ab initio to mako IL
endure for all time. The r~easonableness of
the charge has been brought about by tho
title companies that attorneys lave formed.
By collecting a large number Of cases they
are enabled to perform the servioe moro
cheaply, and to the credit of the profession
il should be stated that It is largely actuated
by public spirit to tighten tho burden on
the city's property owners.
From $50 the fees range as high as O, 200,
according to the value Of the realty. Tho
greater the holding the more work 10 en-
tailed, and lawyers also insist that their
compensation shall be fixed according to
the amount Of responsibility involved.
Though fortune making fees will not be
forthcoming, there will be no starving
lawyers in San Francisco for some time TO
come. The city has 1900 lawyers. and
there Is enough work for all to bring gem
eral prosperity to the profession.
Likewise. the stenographer will reap ad-
vantage from the Ill wind. The preparation
Of documents TO fulfil all the detailed re-
auirements OF land title litigation represents
an amount OF labor. Think of
tho complaints. the petitions. the notices
all the records that must be set forth by
nimble fingers In 10000 land title suits!
The work will all como with q rush from
now on. All will seek restoration OF title
at once.
80 long as the records Of title are not e.
tablished all transactions In reality will be
hampered. Witnesses who can testify to
ownership and possession may die or leave
the city. and IL is important 20 take no risk
of delay.
Furthermore. 90 long - property u q
protected by record The avenue . open Tor