Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1908-12-08

ouence of the custom Of courts issu-
ing temporary injunctions without ~
tice to them and Furnishing them for
contempt of court In instances where,
as q matter Of fact, they have no
knowledge Of any proceedings. Pro-
vision should be made that no injunc-
ton or temporary restraining order
issue otherwise than on notice. except
where irreparable injury would other
wise result, and In such case hear
ing on the merits Of the order should
be had within short fixed period,
and If not then continued after hear
ing It should forthwith lapse. Deci-
sions should be rendered Immediately
and the chance of delay minimized In
every way.
The courts are to be highly COM
mended and stanchly upheld when
they set their faces against wrong
doing or tyranny by a majority, but
they are to be blamed when they
fail to recognize under government
like ours the deliberate judgment Of
the majority as to a matter o. legiti-
mate policy when duly expressed by
the legislature. The people should
not be permitted 10 pardon evil and
sllpshod legislation on the theory that
the court will set It right. They should
be taught that the right way to get rid
of a bad law is to have the legislature
repeal 1t and not to have the courts by
ingenious hair splitting nullify It.
People Themselves to Blame.
For many Of the shortcomings OF
justice IN our country our people as a
whole are themselves to blame. and the
Judges and juries merely bear their
share together with the public as a
whole 1t Is discreditable to us as a
people that there should be difficulty
In convictlng murderers or In bringing
to justice men who as public servants
have been guilty Of corruption or who
have profted by the corruption Of pub
lie servants.
The huge wealth that has been ac'
cumulated by O few individuals OF re-
cent years, in what has amounted TO
q social and industrial revolution, has
been as regards some Of these individ-
uals made possible only by the improp-
er use Of the modern corporation. Cor
porations are necessary instruments OF
modern business. They have been per-
mitted to become q menace largely be-
cause the governmental representatives
of the people have worked slowly In
providing for adequate control over
them.
Real damage has been done by the
manifold and conflicting interpreta-
lions Of the interstate commerce law.
Control over the great corporations do
ing interstate business can be effective
only If It is vested with full power In
an administrative department, a branch
Of the federal executive, carrying out
federal law. 1t can never be eff
fective II a divided responsibility Is
left In both the states and the nation.
1t can never be effective II left in the
hands Of the courts to be decided by
lawsuits.
The courts hold a place Of peculiar
and deserved sanctity under our form
Of government. Respect for the law is
essential to the permanence Of our In
stitutions, and respect for the law Is
largely conditioned upon respect fol
the courts. But we must face the fact
that there are wise and unwise Judges
lust as there are wise and unwise ex'
ecutives and legislators. When q
president or governor behaves improp,
erly or unwisely the remedy is easy
for his term IS short. The same IL
true with the legislator, although not
10 the same degree. With Judge
who, being human, is also likely t.
err, but whose tenure is FOR life, there
IS no similar way Of holding him tC
responsibility. Under ordinary condi
tons the only forms Of pressure t.
which he is in any way amenable are
public opinion and the action Of bis
fellow judges. 1t Is the last which Is
most Immediately effective and to
which we should look for the reform
Of abuses.
Forests.
If there Is any one duty which more
than another we owe 1t to our children
and our chlldren's children to perform
at once 1t is to save the forests OF
this country, for they constitute the
first and most important element In
the conservation Of the natural re
sources Of the country.
Shortslghted persons, or persons
blinded to the future by desire to
make money In every WY out Of the
present, sometimes speak as If nc
great damage would be done by the
reckless destruction Of our forests. II
IS difficult to have patience with the
arguments Of these persons. Thanks
TO our own recklessness in the use OF
our splendid forests, we have already
crossed the verge Of a timber famine
in this country, and no measures that
we now take can, at least for many
years, undo the mischief that has al
ready been done. But we can prevent
further mischief being dvle, and II
would be in the highest degree repre-
henslble to let any consideration OF
temporary convenience or temporary
cost interfere with such action, espe'
clally as regards the national forests
which the nation can now at This very
: moment control.
1.-The president here cites in support
Of his contentious the great destruc'
ton wrought In China by the denuda'
ton Of the forest areas.l
! What has Tins happened IN northern