The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1913-01-16

Ceuufe. G4OSr tue pfcsGBt system
cases can be kept in the courts for
years without any determination as to
the merits thereof. The poor iiligant
Is often exhausted and compelled to
while the wealthy litigant can carry
on his numerous appeals to the courts
without financial embarrassment
Therefore. the first important reform
necessary is the adjustment OF all
appeals except on final judgment.
The question of unnecessary ex-
pense to the state and to the litigant
is also important. If this legislature
will grant the proposed reform of judi
cfal procedure, enact workmen's
compensation law, and also provide
that the supreme court may not be
required to write elaborate opinions
in all cases. the fwork of that i'm
portant tribunal would be reduced to
such an extent as.to make the addi-
ton of two more judges at this time
unnecessary, thus. saving to tle state
the expense of additional judges and
greatly reducing the cost of printing
tho supreme court. reports.
For the purpose of presenting the
entire problem with the sanction of
the bench and bar of the state ] have
submitted it to a commission of emil
nent judges and lawyers, whose find
ings and conclusions shall later
transmit In special message.
Uniform Legislation.
Closely related to the question of
legal procedure is that of uniformity.
Owing to modern methods of trans
portation and ntercommunication the
various states and cities OF the nation
are becoming more:and more depend
ent upon each other. These inter
dependent relations. require the adop
ton of more uniform legislation. The
Minnesota commissioners on uni
formity Of legislation have recommend
ed that this session adopt the uniform
negotiable. instruments act and the
uniform law relating to divorce and
family desertion. In this recommends
ton heartily concur.
Minnesota at the special session
ratified the federal income tax amend.
ment and it is only question of time
when state income tax will be adopt
ed. :. When that time comes it is es.
sentiaf that the tax should be uniform
throughout the various states.
Legislative Reference Bureau.
Another important agency that will
aid in the reformation of judicial
procedure and the enactment of whole
some legislation is legislative ref
erence bureau. There is very little diff
ference of opinion as to the value OF
such bureau. The serious obstacles
to be overcome are usually with ref
erence to it's organization. 1t II
fundamentally necessary that it should
be closely connected with the state
university IAN earnest effort should
therefore, be-. made to agree on the
best plan of organization SO tina
Minnesota iaay have legislative ref
erence buseau which. will be per
manent. .instrpmentality for research
investigation. and. Information avail
able to every citizen Of the state.
initiative and Referendum.
There lis today genuine demand
on TIE ,part of the people for direc
legislation. No one questions the ca
pacity of the American people for self
government. We have adopted a sys
tenn of direct nominations and ex
tended the initiative and referendum
to the government of our cities under
the commission form. The refer
endum of constitutional amendments
has always been regarded as sound
public policy. There is no valid rea
son why the people should not be
permitted to initiate and refer legis
lation directly. Much wholesome
progressive legislation, such as the
extension Of the franchise to women
Is pending before the people and they
should have the right-to submit the
same for a majority decision direct
ly-either by the initiative, or refer
endum. The legal machinery for in.
stituting these reforms should be as
simple and inexpensive as is consist.
ent with the effective determination
of the viii of the people.
Prevention Of Crime.
It has been stated by an eminent
authority on penelogy that the aim
and nature Of all prison discipline IS,
first. the protection Of society, and,
second, the reformation OF the offender.
While this is true as to prison dis.
cipline, it represents only one obliga.
ton of the state to society. 1t is
recognized today by all authorities
on penology, that one of the most i'm
portant duties OF the state to society
is that of removing the causes which
contribute to the commission Of crime.
Minnesota has taken a leading part
In the care and treatment Of the un-
fortunates in penal and charitable in
stitutions. We are now building one
Of the most sanitary and modern pris-
ons in the world and the management
OF that Institution is admittedly one
OF the best in the country.
/, The one great. principle involved in
the prevention Of crime is the main
tenanee OF the home through which
the children can be provided for, kept