New-York tribune., 1908-10-08

,o,,,,ar nrotest I,vnching In many parts OF
the country is directly tracea bic 10 fas me @ an, ~
Of our criminal laws This is defect ~Wnlcn ~
must be remedied, IL VIII ultlrna.eLy 1890,
the Republic do not howeVer' in the Ir,' admins.
wish to dwell upon the defects IN 'h0
tratien of our criminal laws
INEQUALITIES IN JUSTICE
What wish TO call your attention to to-nignt
are the DELAYS and consequent inequalities IN
the administration of justice in controNe.is con9.irs
are now being subjected to close scrutiny WI IN
a view to proving that some Of them snouId %
radically changed. The chief attack Is ." t1d -.
institution OF private property, ana IS pdeeS
IInon the INEQUALITIES in the distribution OF
wealth and of human happiness that are dp
parent In our system oeiieVe tnst - s, asopaI
ests Of private property next to that or perso.a
liberty have had most 10 do with the upiItlhs
and with the physical and moral improvement
of the whole human race put tnat IL Is -+,, ~ ~
consistent with the rights of private properly
to impose limitations upon its use for uniawtui ui
purposes. and that this is the REFORM neeusu y.
rather than the abolition OF the institution II
self An evil which is likely to grow IN irnpOr
tance is the inequality between the poor anu
the rich growing out OF the delays III IN tIe d1
n1inistration of Justice between individuals As
between wealthy litigants, where each party u
able to pay the expenses OF litlgation- anu ~
undergo for the time the loss OF interesS ~ ,nt
capitaI involved, present system, whle not
nerfect does not call for anxiety. The Judges OF
the country both state and national, are soou
men Venalty in our judges is rare ana i Wiine
tbe standard of judicial ability and learning
NAV not always be as high as should like
to see it. the provisions for review are such aS
generally to give just final judgments
a defect of our system is seen in the unequal
burden which the delays and expenses OF IItl-
cation impose on the poor Iitigants. Inc !elolLI I
must be reached through Improvement IN oul
judicial procedure. Our codes are generaIly 700
elaborate. It is possible to have one 1io, slnpLe
courts bZ, leaving the form of procedure to be
determined by rules Of court The EnSIsn sys
tenn which consists of few general principieS
ffCa nf
rules of court has worked with great oeneht 10
the litigant and has given much more expedltion.
I believe similar system could be adopted III
this country with great benefit
Another defect in our judicial system is Civ
ing to defeated itigants two appeals; so iar as
the litigant is concerned, one appeal IS all tidt
he should be entitled to-
Again. there has been manifested in our ap-
pellate courts too great disposition 70 reverse
cases for error in the trial below The com
r1aint that the courts are made for the rich and
not for the poor has no foundation in fact IN the
attitude Of the courts upon the merits or any
which may come before them, TOT
the judges OF this country are as free from
prejudice in this respect as II is possible TO oe
I think step in the direction of the dispatch
Of litigation might be taken in requiring higher
qualifications for those judges that sit in cases
involving a small pecuniary amount
Another method of getting rid OF great deal
OF litigation. litigation that consumes great
deal Of time and a large part OF the attention OF
the courts could be effected by the introduction
of a system for the settlement Of damage suits
by all employees against employers through ofh-
cial arbitration and without resort 10 jury IrlaIs
Again. I believe great reform might be ef-
fected. especially in the federal courts. ana De
Iieve too. in the state courts, by a mandatory
reduction of the court costs and fees.
Other speakers were a. c. Bartlett and David
R. Forgan.
When the last course of the dinner had been
served. Mr.. Taft and Mr.. Bryan were kept busy
signing menu cards. Meantime the hall re-
mained in good natured disorder. The orchestra
played necessarily. but the music was almost
drowned by the shouts and songs Through 1t
all the two candidates labored with smiling
forttude signing their names.