The Penn's Grove record., 1909-08-13

0St4r4tys thSJ oSA
bank work and enjoys travel. Van
SICKLE delights every me who comes
In contact with him and Is still occa
sionally in active practice as counsel
in large cases. Pitney was a Judge Of
u equity court for eight years. Van
SICKLE was a Justice Of u supreme
court for thirty-1ve 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. "a
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 willy old jurists." Pit
ney favors the change in the courts,
although its effect would be to deprive
his W 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 ju-
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 put less money to its
judges. They do not change the law
or equity procedure or the basic law
of our state. They r 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
will be able to dispose Of all its bust
ness each term. The present appel
late court, having other duties to per-
form, cannot even hear a cause until
SIX months after, in fairness to suitors,
1t ought to be heard and will 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
snt cumbrous system are hardly ever
able to 60 to their counties.
The courts as at present constituted
were established about sixty-fve 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 q new
system of courts was necessary to
avoid delay. Governor Voorhees,, Gov
ernor Murphy and Governor Stokes
have all recognized 1t. 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 - 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. l 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
proposed amendments. The press of
New Jersey seems to be almost unani-
mously in favor Of the amendments.
The present governor Of New Jersey,
who sat for many years in the su-
preme court and court Of appeals and
is 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 n 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 mango
Will affect the people at large. The
courts will go on and on just the same.
The suitors will be the only ones af-
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 a wise state gov
eminent to provide efficient courts.
State government is dependent on a
prompt ard 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 it can to the press
n the public. Practically without
funds 1t cannot do very much, but the
proposed amendments dave been re-
peatedly printed in the papers. Care
full explanation has appeared In the,
public press. The majority Qfrfbs