The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1907-01-15

nomical reasons, can we'll afford to in.
yite the leading alienists of the common
wealth to perform this important work
The inadequate salaries now provided
are, however, a serious handicap in ex.
! tending the efficiency of our insti-
buttons to improve the condition of the
insane.
The unparalleled growth and devel-
opment of the state has, with the
heavy increase of population incident
thereto, brought upon us increased
burdens. These burdens we must take
able and in keeping with the history
of the nation. The time has arrived
contact with the aged, the infirm, the
manned and the helpless who from
injuries sustained or from the wear OF
years are incapable of maintaining
themselves, and who are without rel
atiyes and friends who should assume
the responsibility Of their care. a
state infirmary or some similar insti-
tuition should be provided for such pur-
pose, and with the present prices OF
material and labor it might be we'll to
consider the purchase. if possible, OF
some one of the unoccupied build
|ings which, are known to exist at diff
ferent points in the state and which
doubtless could be acquired at far less
than their original cost, thereby saw
ing to the state not only a large per-
centage of their Original cost, but the
entire additional amount which ii
would cost to reproduce similar build
ings at this time. Such a step would
also go far to guarantee that the daily
walks of our citizens will never be in
terfered with by the hand of want be-
ing held before them in a land OF
plenty.
The time and labor devoted to, and
the expense incurred in, the trial of
criminal causes may be reduced with
out doing injustice to the accused
Trials under our present procedure
NAV decline into an ordeal to test
the physical endurance of courts and
juries rather than to determine the
criminal responsibility of the defend
ant. In a trial unnecessarily pro-
longed Jurors may become weary from
restraint and impatient with delay.
and, therefore, incompetent to dis
charge their full duty to the state and
the accused, allowing, in few In
stances, criminals to go unwhipped
of justice.
The great length of time required
to secure juries in criminal trials. and
the unnecessary expense, incurred.
suggests the ACCESSIBILITY, without
abridging the administration of jus
tice. of amending the law relating to
peremptory challenges and challenges
for cause The number Of peremp-
tory challenges should be reduced and
the grounds relating to challenges for
cause confined to reasonable limits.
The Judiciary.
All doubts should be set at rest by
a proper amendment of the law defin-
ing the judgment to be entered where
a person charged with grave Offense
is acquitted under the plea of insanity.
In such cases the person charged
should be committed to an insane de-
partment' of the state penitentiary, and
should remain there during mis- natural
life, or until such time as a compe-
tent tribunal Or board Of alienists,
with the approval of the executive,
shall direct his discharge.
The present salaries OF THE justices
of the supreme court and of the ju, lg-
es of the superior courts are entirely
inadequate to the demands Of he po-
sitions. 1t is matter of common
knowledge that members of the bar
possessing high legal attachments,
ability and character must make finan-
cial sacrifices for the honor Of serving
OIL the De0cn, anu CLldC 100, Win
tenure of office shorter in this state
than in many others. The tendency in
the commonwealth of the union is
steadily toward higher paid juriciary
l recommend an increase in the SAL
aries Of supreme court and superior
coure judges
l recommend the passage of a law
providing for sittings of the state
supreme court at stated times in the
city of Spokane for the purpose of
hearing cases arising in all Or a por-
ton of the counties of eastern Wash
ington.
Enforcement of Law.
AS people devoted to the suprem-
acy of the law, we may justly pride
ourselves that we rank among the
highest. No grave public disturbance,
riot or lynching has occurred within
the limits of this state within the time
1 have had the honor to act as it's
chief executive. The military arm of
the state has not been invoked to per-
form any duty other than to promote