New-York tribune., 1912-01-05
WOULD PROBE THE JUDGES
Effort to Start Inquiry Into
County Judiciary Sidetracked.
BENCH AND BAR CRITICISED
LAWYERS Association Would
Work with Judges to Relieve
Court Congestion.

A resolution introduced by Abraham s.
Gilbert at IL meeting OF the New York
County Lawyers Association in the Hotel
Astor last night, calling for an investiga-
ton Of the judiciary Of this country, was
sidetracked by Alton r. Parker on the
ground that It was not In order.
Mr. Gilbert told OF his experience in
Part " Of the City Court, where the
Judge came in half hour late in the
morning and was again a half hour late in
the afternoon. AS there were 100 persons
waiting for the Judge" he said, 100 val
liable hours were wasted. want to say
that there are in the city Court some
judges who arc on time and arc capable
and conscientious but judge does not
earn his salary II he comes late
Mr Gilbert then introduced a resolution
calling for an investigation OF the judi
ciary OF this county because 1t had been
for some time the subject of much public
criticism. He asked for the appointment
Of non-partisan committee TO inquire
into "the qualifications. ability and work
OF the Judges of all courts in this county
TO the end that the public be definitely In
formed of the circumstances under which
they were nominated. appointed and elect
cd: whether any Of the Judges arc incom-
petcnt unfit or neglectful of their duties"
There was an objection TO this motion
on the ground that II was not i'm order,
and Mr.. Parker referred 1t to the judiciary
committee OF the association. The discus
sion was then cut short by Abram l. Elkus.
who proposed a resolution calling upon
the justices OF the Supreme Court 10 ap-
pOint a commit Of inoticcc VOL bo
cooperate with "A committee OF the county
association to he appointed by Mr. Parker
in order TO improve the present calendar
practice. II was adopted
4 resolution requesting tho Board Of Esti-
mate to select Immediately a site for the
new courthouse was passed by acclama-
ton
The laws delay and the congestion Of the
trial calendar IN the state courts were the
chief topics OF discussion. The blame was
put mostly on the system. though the mem-
bers Of the bar had 10 hear some plain
talk as TO their share I'm tho delay. and the
judges did not escape criticism
Nearly five hundred lawyers were pros
ent. among them some OF the best ..nown
members OF the New York bar. Alton b.
Parker. as president Of tho association,
started the discussion by calling upon
George Gordon Battle to lay hIs suggestions
before the audience. Mr. Battle said that
the fault was entirely with the system, and
ne proposed to amend the present practice
from the point where it reached the call
calendar.
The call calendar. he said, should he
read on Friday afternoon or Saturday
morning, and instead OF sending cases to
one-day calendar separate them into three
parts, so that each judge would receive
limited number Of cases and he able TO find
out which cases were really ready for trial.
John 4. Levitt disagreed with Mr.. Battle
lie said that, in his opinion, the main cause
for the congestion Of the calendar was cl-
tirely due to the members Of the bar. The
call calendar had been established To find
out whether the lawyers were ready or not
he said. and II they had aided the court the
present condition would have never come to
exist
We went TO that call calendar to say
ready whether We were or not, or sent
clerks or even office boys. until it became