Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-02-05
TRAVELLING EXPENSES FOR JUDGES.

TRAVELLING EXPENSES FOR JUDGES.
Senator Robinson, chairman Of the
committee on congressional and judi
cial districts recently sent out letters
to the district Judges asking them Of
conditions in their districts. Among
the replies one from a district judge
suggested the payment Of travelling
expenses for judges away from home.
The writer argued that the state would
be gamer thereby as it would have
q tendency to keep Judges in court
until the dockets were cleaned up
whether at home or abroad. Senator
Robinson - quoted by the Des Moines
Register and Leader as inclined to
consider this suggestion reflection on
judges.
1T may be true that the judges are
underpaid." Senator Robinson said
commenting on the letter. But it
seems to me the reason set up for
travelling expenses only casts a reflec-
ton on the district Judges Of Iowa.
When they seek an office they know
what work lays before them. They
should not object to spending all the
time that is necessary to transact the
business in other than their home cit
les in the districts"
It is true as Mr.. Robinson says that
the Judge who seeks a place on the
bench knows what is before him He
very naturally expects to follow the
custom OF previous judges in the ma
ter of assignments and division Of
labor.
The Judge holds his average term
in the outside county and goes home
to hold court until the business OF the
home county Is cleared up. II the law
and the custom called for the continu-
Gus operation OF court until the dock
cts were entirely cleared. would good
men take judicial positions at $4,000
a year with a prospect Of one-half the
time away from home on expense? 1t
Is scarcely to be considered as re-
fecting upon Judges when they offer
to break the custom and stay until the
docket is cleared If travelling expenses
are paid. On the contrary 1t is cred
table to offer more days work cor
the same pay.
There is not such crying need for
many more judges as for longer sessions
Of court. The state has not been dis
tricted for many years. Some Iowa
cities have grown from mere towns to
q population almost as large as that
Of the district when this districtin
was done. These districts need more
Judges to take care Of their business
Cedar Rapids and Waterloo are not
able examples Of this situation. But il
the ordinary district the present num-
Der OF Judges can take care Of ths
business assuming that they are phys
icauy competent and that court holds
until the business is cleared away.
There is another reason for cour
delays for which the attorneys are re.
sponsible with the judges. 1t is no.
an uncommon thing for the Judge t;
rearrange his assignments of cases il
order that attorneys employed in thes'
courts in other districts. The HON,
case thus goes over to anothe
term. Tho delayed cases accun
ulate and crowd the docket. To b.
sure the Judge might force the cas-,
to trial but Judges incline to be cour
teous to the bar and to other courts.
The solution OF the matter seems t.
be more days Of court, more ter7n
or longer terms. 1t would cost thu
taxpayers perhaps SO day for the ex
penses Of the judge who would hoi!
an extra term away from home IL
the interests Of the taxpayers and tn
facilitation of legal business or per
hays in the stead Of colleague phys
ically incapacitated. The judge OF
1880 a year scarcely feels under OBJ
Hyatt to take on extra term
at what he may naturally con
slider his own expense. Thu
the lawyer who has an income o
5000 a year from his practice, ha
saved a little money and feels that h
can afford the honor of the woolsack a
"a 600 q year seems to be entirely jus
tined in the feeling that an extra tern
over the prevailing custom ought nc
B to subtract 500 to $50 from the ju