The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1910-10-19


Charleston, ". Special Their
Interest conferred in the biennial con-
test between the dominant parties for
supremacy at the polls. the voters
generally do not realize there are two
very important amendments to the
Constitution of this State now pen
ding and win be voted on by the peo-
PIE at the November election.
The hrst proposed amendment pro-
vides for the appointment Of women
as notaries public, and upon certain
state boards. and to minor Offices.
This viii be a great convenience to
various persons employing lady stem
ographers, and viii be merited rec
ognition to citizens Of the gentler sex.
The second proposed amendment
provides for the election Of two adj
ditlonal Judges Of the Supreme Court
Of Appeals. increasing the total num-
Der from nve to seven. for the annual
election OF one Of such Judges as Chief
Justice. for the division of the whole
court into two parts ana for each
part or division to have full power to
hear cases. The effect OF this would
be to practically divide the work in
two. OF courge. very important cases
or casas on rehearing may be heard
ana decided by the full court of sew
en- The necessity of this relief is APP
parent when It Is considered that
there are now s1s submitted cases yet
remaining to bs decided, some Of
which were submitted over two years
ago. II il great hardship for law
yers and litigants to wait SO long for
the determination of their rights, and
1t is impossible for the Judges under
the present system to expedite the
worl, to such an extent as to keep up
with the ever-increasing business OF
the states highest tribunal.
In the year 1908 only 14s appeals
were docketed, while in the year end
ing September 80. 1910, 246 appeals
were docketed; while in the former
year only Il appeals were refused and
in the latter 10s were refused, making
a total OF 1ss applications in 1903 and
1854 in 1910. TIE increase has been
gradual throughout the intervening
years and will no doubt continue in
the future, so that the cougested con-
dition Of the work of the court can
not be remedted under the present
system.
The proposed amendment is not
new or untrIed one, but has been for
years adopted and teated with COM
pIete success in a number OF the most
conservative states. where similar
congestion Of business presented
similar necessity for relief as that
presented In West Virginia. Among
such states may be mentioned Mis-
souri,, California and Kentucky; while
IN many more the same result has
been sought to be obtained by the ere
alton Of intermediary Appellate
Courts between the Circuit Courts and
the anal Appellate Court, as. for in
stance. in Ohio In New York the
Appellate Division OF the Supreme
Court consists Of 25 Judges. and Is d..
yided into no less than four parts or
divisions, for exactly the same rea-
son, and to accomplish the same pur-
pose. sought by this proposed amend
ment but with much larger expense
than would result from the adoption
81 the amendment now pending.
The West Virginia Bar Assoc'sttion.
4 non.partisan body, and one familiar
with the situation, earnestly uFges the
careful consideration by the voters OF
this state of the necessity OF some re-
lief for the congested docket q the
sTpfenae Court of Appeals. tho on-
Sa;n!nG quicker final decision OF cases
pondtng while a. the d same fin'e t,m az,
Sor tile examination of records, con
sideration Of briefs !, and tSa,r a agi19o1s:
3 ~ appoInted committee which mas
reported that no better or more 9,,sb PFa 4
49, 81 4 minimum additional state
esToendfture has been either suggest
"a Nv iItigSnts and lawyers OF the
s,fate OF Is aEforded by the legal MS
f@Ty ana example Of other States. than
- ia ADOPTION OF the proposed
,5f5ieflf II would appear. there
fore. that the amendment should pc
\ 4 5fSIfs M ~ 4 large majority,
1riiio S3f4Ea of West Yirglnla
" hotr party aSnllatl2p a
AZ. lfflVst.