Amarillo daily news. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 19??-current, 1912-12-17
THE DISTRICT JUDGES.

Some OF the changes suggested by the Dis
trct Judges at their recent convention in Austin
are calculated to reform the judicial procedure
Of the state while Others appear to be calculated
to either make improvement to render the
system more ineffective than it now is.
In the changes proposed in the criminal law
that which provides that cases shall not be re-
versed because Of instruction of the jury the
admission or rejection OF evidence or for error
in pleading or practice unless it shall appear that
the error complained Of was reasonably calcu-
lated to cause. and probably did cause the rem
dition of an improper judgment is in line with
the recommendation made by some of the judges
OF the higher courts Of the state and is entitled
to consideration.
The recommendation to permit felony cases
to be prosecuted information would, If car
ried out eliminate the grand jury system and
permit the county or district attorney to prose
cute person on a felony charge nioma-
ton filed by himself in which a grave in
justice might be done innocent men. 1t is not
infrequent that prosecuting attorneys inspired by
zeal or some other consideration, vigorously pros
eoute men who are entirely innocent is shown
by the great number OF acquittals, and II the pre-
caution OF an investigation by grand jury was
removed it is altogether probable that many more
innocent men would be prosecuted and the state
would be put to the expense OF trying greater
number OF defendants only to them acquitted
of charges which never should have been brought
against them. There appears to be no objection
to the proposition to allow the legislature to spec
ify in what cases defendant may have taken the
dispositions Of witnesses in his behalf but the trail
Judge would probably be in a better position to
decide when such a course necessary. In Ell
thcr case the defendant would be protected in his
rights unless there gross abuse OF authority or
duty.
As to civil proceedings the recommendation
that all pleadings shall be Photographed and sworn
to- is calculated to avoid a great deal of delay as
well as to eliminate many suits such now
brought by filing brief petition and taking ad
vantage of conditions to elaborate on the pet
ton or to let the suit go by default To prohibit
the filing Of amendments to pleadngs in civil
cases unless oath shall be made that at the time
the original pleading was filed the party was not
cognzant OF the facts set out in the proposed
amendment would prevent great deal OF IN
necessary litigation and make more room on court
dockets for meritorious cases. There many
civil suits filed which are only calculated to harass
the defendants and sometimes suits amount to lit
tie less than blackmail encumbering the court
dockets and working a hardship all the par
ties concerned except the party filing the suit and
if these can be prevented, great deal of MUS
ce will be obviaed and the courts will be cleared
of useless litigation.
The recommendations too numerous to
be considered in detail some being desirable,
others not calculated to improve the court proce-
dure However, the proceedings had by the dis
rict judges are worthy of consideration by the
Legislature and it is hoped that body will succeed
in finding some way of improving the judiciary
so that the system may be more efficient than it
is at present.-San Antonio Express
Helen Gould has decided to marry just in
time to escape being a suffragette.