The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-10-14
STRENGTHEN
THE JUDICIARY.

A few days ago the Tribune COM
mented editorially on the severai
amendments to the state constitution
TO he voted on at the general election
in November 1t was stated that
these amendments are In danger OF
defeat at the polls, due TO the dlsln-
clination of the people to further
tinker with he organic law. Never
theIess it is to be hoped that thie
dfsinclination will not mitigate
against the ratification OF at least
three of the amendments-two at
fecting the judiciary and one proVld-
ing for the. support of Floridas pr1n-
cipal institutions OF learning.
In regard to the two amendments
first mentioned, it is difficult to con-
ceive possible grounds for antagon-
ism. One of these vests in the legis-
lature the power of fixing the Sala-
ries of judges, the other gives the
Legislature the privilege of creating
additional judicial circuits whenever
| they may be deemed necessary.
There can be no question as to the
desirability of Incorporating these
provisions in the letter of the law.
The legislature prescribes the sal
airy to be paid to the governor and to
members of his cabinet-in fact, the
Legislature is permitted to name the
remuneration of every salaried Off
Ger of the state except those con-
nected with the Judiciary Why
should not the legislature be empow-
cred to prescribe the pay of judges?
In the various circuits of the state
there should be some distinction be-
tween the pay of the judges who are,
required to devote their whole time
to the cases arising in their districts
and those who are occupied only a
portion of then time Some of the
judges in this state have much more
to do than others and their say
should be increased or graded accord.
ingly.
The second amendment is of even
more Importance. The Tampa cir
cult is an example. Any member of
the Tampa bar. who has practiced
mere Tor a sufficient length of time,
viii bear out the assertion that the
able judge of this circuit does more
chambers work (Which is the real
work a circuit judge is called upon
to perform) in any average week OF
the year in Hillsborough county
alone, than the judge of the circuit,
fifteen or twenty years ago, had TO
perform in the entire circuit in a
month. Why should the Judge be ex-
pected to await the tedious and un,
certain process of amending the con-
stitution in order to obtain relief?
Why should not the legislature have
the power, in its wisdom, to create
additional circuits whenever the
growth of the state demands. Du-
val and Hillsborough counties have
enough litigation, at present, to keep
busy circuit court organization for
each of them alone.
1t may seen incredible, but it is
nevertheless the fact, that Judge
Joseph B. Wall of this circuit is COM
PEELED to work at least half the day
every Sunday and until or 10 O'Clock
every night half of every week, to
keep his chambers work from falling
behind And, what is Of vastly more
Importance to litigants, he has not
the time. to give the different ques-
tons arising before him half the in
Vest1gation and consideration they
ought to have, in order to prevent
guessing what the appellate court
will do in any given case.
1t is clearly the duty of the voters
of the state to further facilitate the
judiciary by permitting the legisIa-