Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1908-08-07

for the purpose of counteracting the
influence of the Cleveland horseshoe.
AS the president may not care to
part with that lucky rabbits foot,
one of part of rabbit shot on the
seventh hour of the seventh day OF
the seventh month of the year at full
moon in a country churchyard by a
colored clergyman. desiring it, maybe,
to carry it with him to the jungles
of Africa, l herewith present you
with a foot from the same rabbit
mounted with the luckiest gold from
Alaska"
In his address to the Bar associa-
ton, Judge Taft presented his sub
ject by stating that the end sought in.
the administration of justice was to
promote tranquility and contentment
among the people. He expressed a
doubt that our present administration
of justice insured general popular
lar satisfaction with its results.
There are" he said, 'aboundant
evidences that the prosecutions Of
criminals have not been certain and
thorough to the point of preventing
popular protest. The existence Of
lynching in all parts of the country
is directly traceable to this lack Of
uniformity and thoroughness in the
enforcement of our criminal laws.
THE inequality that exists in our
present administration Of justice and
that sooner or later is certain to rise
and trouble us, and to call for popu-
lar condemnation and reform, is in
the unequal burden which the delays
and expense of litigation under our
system imposes on the poor litigant.'
One remedy. Mr. Taft said, must be
reform in our judicial procedure,
which is now too cumbersome An
other would be more expedition on
the part of judges in rendering their
opinion. Delay, he said, always work.
ed to the detriment of the poor and
the benefit of the wealthy litigant. AS
to appeals, Mr. Taft believes the
court of first instance and the inter-
mediate appellate courts should be for
the purpose of finally disposing in a
| just and prompt way of contentious
between litigants. The appellant ju-
risdiction Of the court of last resorts
should be limited to those cases which
are typical and which give to it in
its judgment an opportunity to cover
the whole field of the law.
II believe that great reform might
be effected, certainly in the federal
courts. and l think, too 'in. the state
courts, by a mandatory reduction OF
the court costs and fees. The salaries
Of the court officers should be fixed
and should be paid out of the treas
ury of the country, state or national
! government, as the case may be, and
fees should be reduced to as low a
figure as possible.
Il think another step in the direc-
ton of the despatch of litigation
would be the requirement of higher
qualifications for these judges who si
on the cases involving a small pecu
MARY amount.
Another method by which their In
ritation at the inequality in our ad
lministration may be reduced is by thu
Introduction of system for the set
cling OF damage suits brought by EN-
ployes against public service corpora
tions through official arbitration ant
without resort to jury trials. Such I
system is working in England, so
am informed, and was successfully In
augurated in Massachusetts,. No on
can have sat on the federal bench TO
a eight or nine years and not realiz
how defective the administration o
justice in these cases must have seem
ed to the defeated plaintiff. whethe
he was the legless or armless employ
himself or his personal representa-
tive"
AS to the jury system Mr. Taft said
"We cannot of course dispense will
the jury system. 1t is that whicl
makes the people a part of the ad
minlstration of justice, but ever
means by which In civil cases litigant
may be induced voluntarily to .avol
the expense, delay and burden of jur
trials, ought to be encouraged, for d
this way the general administrator
of justice can be greatly facilitate
and the expense incident to delay Il
, litigation can be greatly reduced"
Mr. Taft closed with tribute [
the legal profession and cautione
that conservatism ought not to be al
: lowed to prevent reforms which ar
in the interest OF equalizing the ad
, minlstration of justice as far as pos
/ sible between the poor and the ricf
At the Bar association banquet, /
responding to the toast, "rhe Pres
/ dent of the United States" Mr. Tat
said it might be appropriate for hir
. to respond to the toast.
mot because of any relation ] bea
: to that office. but because | was sum
: moned to the White House when tn
e invitation was extended and directe
I Oaughter) to come here. do what
4 could II need be use the big stick
e uphold the administration" CLaugf
r ter)
Joking aside. Mr.. Taft called after
d tion TO the difficulty of discussir
Z even the office of the president with
t out trespassing on some issue in II
: political campaign. He pictured Il
great expansion of Interstate con
merce to show that its proportion
. commerce within the states had bet