Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-03-01

corning appeals and writs of error
will soon find itself relieved OF much
of the labor with which it has hereto
fore been overburdened.
81 would not make of our supreme
judicial branch a moot court or a
question box, requiring 1t to answer
inquiries as to the validity of all sorts
of legislation that may be proposed or
contemplated or suggested; but where
the question Of validity is all stand
in the way of statutory enactment,
and it's full force and effect as a part
of the law of the land, to which all
must yield obedience, submit that
such question ought to be definitely
and authoritadvely determined before
the enactment is accorded the author
ity and force of law"
Nestor of Bar Heard.
Hon. William Jackson, introduced
by the POSTMASTER as the "Nestor Of
the Rock Island county bar" came
next. His subject was Examination
of Witnesses" He acknowledged the
fact that next August 1t will have been
80 years since he began the practice
of law In this county, and then pro-
ceeded to give his hearers the benefit
of some of the wisdom that has come
to him in his long experience. He
showed that there is a natural tenden-
cy Of lawyers to divide into two gen.
eral classes, those who appear in court
and those who do not The young
nc Ilxr hao 4~{o l.,
and the supreme test is his first case
in court. 1t is a great help to have a
sympathetic judge on the bench for
such an ordeal, he said. 1t is more
important still that the young lawyer
know his case. AS to rules for the
{ examination of witnesses where are
really none. Men differ so that what
would be an effective method in one
case would fail in another a lawyer
must be a judge of human nature,
particularly if he is examining a
woman. Circumstances must show
where to follow and what pitfalls to
avoid. The only rule to follow is that
which grows with the case.
Hon. James H. Andrews of Kewanee
was called upon to discuss Lawyers as
Lawmakers he having been a mem
Der of the legislature BEFORE taking
UP the practice of law. He discussed
the reasons why the public prefers
men who are not lawyers to make
their laws for them, and this notwith-
that knowledge of law is
absolutely necessary to give a legis- |
ator an insight into the true signifi- |
re - ooff
which he is called to vote. The rea-
son, Mr. Andrews said, that lawyers
are in i'll favor as lawmakers. is that |
hey too often in their private practice |
become attached to private interests |
and when they attempt to serve in law
making bodies they are inclined to |
heed the voice of the special interest |
instead of that of the public. Law
making. after all, the speaker con-
GUIDED, is a matter of conscience,
-ather than of ability.
Critics Not Always Informed.
Justice Cooke was called upon in
ormaIIy and began q reference to the
court by saying he realized
hat that body is often criticised and I
With more or less reason, but adding
hat often the critics do not fully un-
laIstand what they are talking about.
lie therefore proposed to make a
ew points clear so that in future his
learers could criticise more intelli-
GENTLY. The volume of business
lone by the supreme court Is big,
to about 600 cases an
lualIy. In spite of the charge often
rade that the court is slow, he said
le found when he took his seat at
he October term last year that opin-
ons had been written in all but 1 1
f the cases pending and these would
lave been prepared without doubt,
ad it not been for the death of JUS
ice Guy c.. Scott. Later, it is true,
ases accumulate, but the long sum-
ner vacation, as a rule, sees the
ocket cleared, at least to the extent
f preparing the opinions that must
re passed upon by the court as
yhole before accepted as final.
Methods Changed for Better.
curt have been changed and the
1embers think they have the best
ystem that can be devised under the Il
xisting order of things. The speak
r then took up the daily routine of
york while court is in session, show
ng how arguments are heard, ques-
ions raised, discussed and assign
1ents finally made to write opin-
1ns These assignments are given |
7 rotation so that there is no favor
ism. In passing upon opinions
yhen they ere presented it is the
ule for the junior member to vote
rst, thereby freeing him from the
lfiuence of older members.
A member is given the records,
eliefs and arguments in all cases
ssigned to him, while the other s