The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1910-10-27
THE DISTRICT JUDGEsAIP.

PfOOaDly no Oltlclal To De voted Tor
in November Is OF such Importance to
the people as the judgeship 1t Is
here that the criminal laws must be
enforced, and il is to the district
court the people must so for the set
= cment of difficulties, according to
legal ana equitable rllles, and 1t is
here that the guiding hand OF the
dist rict judge must be relied upon to
dispatch the business so as to cause
the taxpayer the least possible ex-
pense, and, at the same time, proper
ly dispose of the business.
Possibly no official in this section
has the confidence and esteem of
the public to greater extent than
has District Judge Steele, the presid-
ing judge of this district. He is now
serving his 18th year. The crimes of
stealing of livestock and homicide,
which We're the most prevalent when
Judge Steele came upon the bench
have, by the encouragement of vigor-
GUS prosecutions and infliction OF
heavy penalties, aided by intelligent
aw-enforcing juries. been practically
suppressed. At present but one
charge of cattle stealing is on the
/ calendar in the district, and no charg
es of homicide The second judicial
sides has twice as much business as
/ the average district of the state. AT
the last Legislature a movement was
set on foot to have an additional
judge appointed in this district
Judge Steele conferred VITA the mem
bers of the Legislative body, represen
ing Latah, Nez Perce and Idaho coun
ties. and informed them that he was
UP with the work, and that he could
keep the calendar clear fer the mex
two years. The members Of the leg
stature from this district having con
iidence in Judge Steele, killed the
bin. The result has fully justified
tha confidence reposed The calen
dars are entirely cleared, and ther'
; the business is in better condition
than in the second district By thii
alone, a saving of $4,000 wal
made to the state
The decisions of Judge Steele have
; been more uniformly affirmed by tn
Supreme Court reports shows out
ui,t Judge. An examination of tn
side of the second district the aver
age percentage of affirmances am
reversals is about 80 percent of each
while the affirmances in ,ris dist -'ic
is about 70 per cent.
: The expenses of holding court hay
, been kept at the lowest possible
: amount. In Latah county, where
statement has been kept of the rec
ord. showing The expenses each year
, the record shows that tha last fou
, years under Judge Piper cost tn
, county approximately $4,000 tn
, record also shows that Judge Steel
D has held court for II ye rs in tina
! county. at an expense of less thai
$4,000; and had the courts in Lata
county been held at the same e1
pense under Judge Steele as undo
Judge Piper, the expenses Tor the |
statement has been kept f the rex
years would have been about $40 ,0O
a difference OF over S45, 900 in fave
lGl.s 81. ele In Idaho county th
expenses Tor the last four Years e.
elusive OF fines and TO FIXTURES
about $1,000, while the expense
one year when Judge steele fiji.
er Ie upon the bench was betwee
$4,000 and $4,000
In Nez perce county the additio
of new territory, the op ming Of I'll
NJ Peree Reservation, and the Lars
influx OF immigration, makes it il
possible to make comparisons. II
expenses, however. have been kept
the lowest amount
Both the bar and the public hay
confidence in the integrily of Il
court, and in the ability of the pr
siding judge to properly Transact II
business. lncompetency mas no pla'
upon the district bench. fhe citize
ship should most carefully consid'
the selection OF a district Judge
The Globe believes that Judt
S'ecle's majority should aud will |
equal to the combined thinking, re
soning vote of both the lepublica
and democratic parties
CHASE-BROWN