Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1910-11-15

The convention induStriouSly spent
all of yesterday in wading into a
muddle up TO its ears and when ii
was finally immersed after . o'clock
there was a gurgling sound from that
part of the chamber where Mr.. Win
sor sits and he was heard TO in
quire Mr.. CHAIRMAN, what have we
done?" From the depths of the other
side of the chamber came the reply,
Echo answers, WHAT"
The convention in the committee of
the whole had under alleged consid-
Grafton the majority and minority
reports on proposition 80, providing
for complete judiciary system for
the new state. The majority report
recommended a substitute which did
not differ essentially from the Origi-
nal. 1t cOntemplates a superior court
system similar to that of the state
of Washington, on which has been
engrafted some features of the Cali
fornia system. 1t provides among
other things for the absorption Of the
duties of the probate court by the
superior court.
Under the substitute there would
be a supreme court of three MEM
bers. Each county would have a su-
perior court except Apache and Nav
ajo, which would have one Jointly.
The salaries of the judges in the
counties of Pima, Maricopa- and Co
chise would be $4,000. The salaries
are graduated down in the other
counties to s3,5O0, but the aggregate
salaries for the year would be $51,5O0
To this sum must be added $21,OOO
for salaries for the supreme court
justices.
The minority report sustains as far
as possible the present district and
probate court system. Five districts
are proposed with the boundaries as
they are at present. In addition there
would be a supreme court of three
members. each to receive $1,000 a
year.
The lack of progress made in the
consideration of the measures would
have still been greater but for the
capable and at times arbitrary man
ner of the chairman, DR.. Tuthill, who
frequently cut cross lots out of an
interminable discussion.
The committee was a long time
getting strung out, but the ball was
finally put in play by Mr. Cunniff,
who said that though the majority
substitute was a very broad and capa
BILE measure, he liked the district
court scheme better and he moved
the adoption of the minority report
He read a communication from the
Northern Bar association endorsing
the district court plan.
Chairman Cunningham of the judi
ciary committee moved the adoption
of the majority report. He said his
committee had devoted much time to
the preparation of the report had
gone over all points in discussion very
thoroughly and he raised an objection
to the minority report that it left
too much to the legislature.
Judge Wells spoke at length against
the proposition to wipe out the pro-
bate courts. 1t was not an economi-
cal plan and beside it would put the
business of the probate court into the
hands of the superior C urt, which
would necessarily neglect it.
Mr. Ellinwood. by the way of
amendment, moved that the majority
report be considered and subjected to
SuCh DC dSACtN
upon.
Mr. Cooper spoke from experience
as a probate judge against the minor
ity report.
Judge Doe said that he had not
been informed how the superior court
plan worked in Washington, but he
did not think that Arizona would
profit by taking anything from that
state As to California, he knew that
there was much dissatisfaction there
to it,
In the course of his remarks he
believed that i'm fixing the compensa-
tion of judges provision should be
made for their travelling expenses, as
the cost of living had been greatly
increased, whereupon Mr. Ellinwod
in a low tone was heard to utter
something about the Payne Aldrich
tariff law.
DR. Mouer favored the superior
court plan or any other which would
enable the democrats of Maricopa
county to get a republican probate
Judge out of office to which he had
been regularly elected for ten years
and would probably be in office for
the next ten years unless something
radical was done.
Mr. Wood pointed out the differ
ence in the cost of the two proposed
systems The superior court plan
would entail upon the taxpayers Of
the territory an expense of $51,5Oe.
The district court plan would require
an outlay of only $25,000 There could