The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1909-08-24
TWO NOTED JURISTS
FAVOR AMENDMENTS
Why Pltney and Van SyckIe Are
For Judiciary Changes.

Gentlemen-In the New York Press
of the 18th inst appeared a brief
but pithy paragraph challenging the
motives Of '.some willy old jurists who
have friends in line for executive con-
sideration" advocating the adoption of
the proposed judiciary amendments.
l wish to present the other side OF
the proposition.
To characterize ex-Supreme Court
Justice Bennett Van SICKLE and ex-
Vice Chancellor Henry C. Pitney, the
father of the present chancellor OF
New Jersey, as willy old jurists'' is
not proper appreciation Of these men,
Van SICKLE and Pitney are two men
whose lives have been pure and noble
so long that there are few men alive
who can remember when they earn
ed their high reputation. No man
alive can remember single act or
deed Of either man which dulls the
luster Of his life. Van SICKLE Is a
Democrat, Pitney Republican. Both
are SO aged that their remaining days
among US can be but few. Van SICKLE
Ia ssventy-nine, Pitney eighty-two.
Both are men with unimpaired mental
activity. Pitney still continues his
bank work and enjoys travel. Van
Syckle delights every one who comes
In contact with him and is still occa-
sionaily in active practice as counsel
In large cases. Pitney was a judge OF
our equity court for eight years. Van
SICKLE was a justice of our supreme
court for thirty-ive years. Van SICKLE
resigned five years ago, Pitney resign
ed two years ago, both because they
wished to live long and in perfect
health. Their advanced years would
not permit of their giving the old num-
Der Of hours a day to their work and
they had too much spirit to continue to
hold their judgeships and not do their
full share Of the work.
Rich In experience and learning, pure
and noble in spirit and intent, they are
devoting their remaining energy to aid
in the adoption of these amendments
only because they wish to contribute
something more to their native state
which has so signally honored them.
They are not "wily old jurists." Pit
ney favors the change in the courts,
although its effect would be to deprive
his own son Of his present exalted po-
sition as the highest judge in the en-
tire state of New Jersey.
Just a word as to what these jul
dietary amendments will do. Their
purpose Is not to give -four lawyers
fat jobs" They actually reduce the
number Of judges and result in the
state paying out less money to its
judges. They do not change the law
or equity procedure or the basic law
of our state. They are intended in
the interest of the people of the state
Of New Jersey and suitors in her
courts to provide a more speedy trial
and determination Of issues. Suitors
want their cases finally decided quick
ly. The Independent court Of appeals
Is intended to bring this about, The
court sitting only as an appellate court
viii be able to dispose of all its bust
ness each term. The present appel
III LE COuIls ndf1AH OlAACA 4AIACS ~ 20
form, cannot even hear a cause until
six months after, in fairness to suitors,
It ought to be heard and viii be heard
by the new court. Most of the injus-
tice done by courts to suitors is caused
by delay.
The proposed amendments will again
make it possible for the supreme court
Judges to try cases in the counties,
giving litigants in counties the right
to try their cases before the county
Judge or the supreme court judge.
The supreme court judges by the pres
emit cumbrous system are hardly ever
able to go to their counties.
The courts as at present constituted
were established about sixty-five years
ago and were admirably well suited to
New Jerseys needs for many decades.
For the past fifteen years it has grown
more and more apparent that a new
system of courts was necessary to
avoid delay. Governor Voorhees,, Gov
ernor Murphy and Governor Stokes
have all recognized it. Governor Stokes
appointed the commission which pre-
pared the constitutional amendment
in order to get the relief necessary. A
number of legislatures have recognized
the need for the proposed amendments.
These amendments have been passed
by large majorities In the legislatures
of last year and the year before. They
have been approved by large MAORI
ties of the lawyers in the county
bar associations and in the State Bar
association. / can fairly say they
meet with the approval of the circuit
court judges. They favor the amend
ments, although their adoption by the
people puts their court out of bust
ness and at the end Of their terms
their judicial usefulness. The vice
chancellors seem to all approve the
uroposed amendments. The press of
New Jersey seems to be almost unani-
nously in favor of the amendments.
The present governor Of New Jersey,
who sat for many years in the SUI
prsme court and court Of appeals and
il thoroughly familiar with the court
needs Of the state, favors these amend
ments. The present chancellor ap-
proves the amendments, although they
do away with his pre-eminence.
The lawyers of the state will not be
affected one way or the other by the
change of the courts. The change will
slightly decrease the number Of judges
The lawyers will have to study anew
the system of courts, but that will be
about as far as the proposed changes
will affect the people at large. The
courts will go on and on just the same.
The suitors will be the only ones az
fected. They are the only ones inter
ested. They will find their causes de-
termined much more quickly, which is
what the sutton needs. 1t is one OF
the great duties of wise state gov
eminent to provide efficient courts.
State government is dependent on a
prompt and fair administration of JUS
tice by its courts. That is why Gov
ernor voorhees,, Governor Murphy,
Governor Stokes and Governor Fort
have successfully advocated and fav-
ored the proposed change in our courts.
The amendments have been well and
carefully considered by successive leg
islatures and governors. Now they
are before the people for adoption or
rejection. The State Bar association
has appointed a committee to give
such information as 1t can to the press
and the public. Practically without
funds it cannot do very much, but the
proposed amendments have been re-
peatedly printed in the papers. Care
full explanation has appeared in the
public press. The majority OF the
~, TorSav paxuSpo narS soarn t0 he in