The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1910-12-08

One great crying need in the United
States Is cheapening the cost Of litiga-
ton by simplifying judicial procedure
and expediting final judgment Under
present conditions the poor man is at
a woeful disadvantage in legal con-
test with a corporation or a rich op-
ponent. The necessity for the reform
exists both in United States courts
and in all state courts. In order to
bring 1t about, however, it naturally
falls to the general government by its
example to furnish a model to ali
states. A legislative commission ap-
pointed by joint resolution Of congress
to revise the procedure in the United
States courts has as yet made no re-
port.
l am strongly convinced that the
best method Of improving judicial pro-
cedure at law is to empower the su-
preme court to do it through the me-
dunn Of the rules Of the court, as In
equity. This is the way in which it
has been done in England.
Relief of Supreme Court From I'm.
necessary Appeals.
No man ought to have as a matter OF
right a review of his case by the SUI
preme court. He should be satisfied
by one hearing before a court of first
instance and one review by court Of
appeals. The proper and chief useful
ness Of the supreme court, and espe-
cially the supreme court of the United
States, is in the cases which come be-
fore it so to expound the law and espe-
cially the fundamental law-the con-
stitution-as to furnish precedents for
the inferior courts in future litigation
and for the executive officers in the
construction Of statutes and the per-
Torrance Of their legal duties. There
fore any provisions for review Of cases
by the supreme court that cast upon
that court the duty Of passing on ques-
tons Of evidence and the construction
Of particular forms Of instruments, like
indictments or wills or contracts, de-
cisions not Of general application or
Importance. merely clog and burden
the court and render more difficult it's
higher function, which makes it so i'm
portant a part Of the framework Of
our government. The supreme court is
now carrying an unnecessary burden
of appeals Of this kind, and earnestly
urge that it be removed.
Judicial Salaries,
I further recommend to congress the
passage of the bill now pending for
the increase in the salaries Of the fed
eral judges, by which the chief justice
Of the supreme court shall receive ST.
500 and the associate justices $4,000,
the circuit judges constituting the cir
cult court of appeals shall receive $1O,-
600 and the district judges $4,000. The
positions they occupy ought to be filed
by men who have shown the greatest
ability in their professional work at
the bar, and it is the poorest economy
possible for the government to pay
salaries so low for judicial service as
not to be able to command the best
talent of the legal profession in every
part of the country.
Wiping Out Of Postal Deficit.
For many years there has been a
deficit in the operations Of the post
Office department which has been met
by appropriation from the treasury.
The appropriation estimated for last
year from the treasury over and above
the receipts Of the department was
ST., 100000. am glad to record the
fact that of that SIT 100000 estimated
for 100000 were saved and return.
ed to the treasury. 1t is gratifying
to report that the reduction in the
deficit has been accomplished without
any curtailment Of postal facilities.
Upon the recommendation Of the
postmaster general l have included in
the classified service all assistant post
masters, and l believe that this giving
q secure tenure to those who are the
most important subordinates Of post
masters will add much to the efficiency
of their Offices and an economical ad
ministration.
The Franking Privilege.
The unrestricted manner in which
the ranking privilege is now being
used by the several federal services
and by congress has laid it open to Sc
rious abuses.
Parcels Post.
With respect to the parcels post,
respectfully recommend its adoption
on all rural delivery routes and that
eleven pounds, the international limit.
be made the limit Of carriage in such
post. The postofice department has
great plant and great organization.
reaching into the most remote hamlet
Of the United States, and with this
machinery it is able to do great
many things economically that If a
new organization were necessary 1t
would be impossible to do without ex-
travagant expenditure. That is the
reason why the postal savings bank
can be carried on at small additional
cost and why it is possible to incor-
porate at a very inconsiderable ex-
pense a parcels post in the rural de-
livery system.