The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-09-30
SUPERIOR COURT GIVEN
UNANIMOUS ENDORSEMENT
ty. "A man whose name l need not
mention said he would get the call
into one paper II would go to the
other"
W. J. Roberts Gives Figures.


w. ]. Roberts then was recognized
again. He said he understood that j.
A. Roberts. was responsible and was
anxious to hear the reasons for call
ing the meeting. "He confesses he
knows nothing about it and I'm not
surprised. I have heard that the rea-
son assigned for abolishing the court
is that 1t is costing $4,000 per year.
II you'll put up proposition to cut
expenses I'm in. favor OF it. But II
you go to abolishing the superior
court you've got to have another tri-
bunal to take care OF the offenses
agfnst the city. The expenses of the
superior court include the rent for
the court room and judges salary.
There was once a time when there
was q clerk and bailiff to pay. Then
the expenses OF the clerk and bailiff
were unnecessary and burdensome.
These now are eliminated. The Judge
does the work OF clerk and the mar
shall acts as bailiff. The judge re-
ceived $4,000, one-half paid by the
city and half by the county. In the
last four years and three quarters
the city has paid $4,75O and the coun-
ty the same amount. There have
been collected in fines and fees, $5.-
407.3s. The city marshal acting as
constable has. received from the coun-
ty $3,290.11, all paid to the city. The
city then has received from the SUI
perior court nearly 5000. "a
How can you reduce the expense?
You have only. the city recorder, court
and the justice Of the peace courts.
Now, then, all of the benefits Of this
court are not to the city. The county
is sharing. For example there have
since April. 1910. been fifty inebriate
cases and thirty-six informations
against incorrigibles taken care OF.
"In my; opinion you cannot abolish
the superior court and substitute an
other without Increasing your ex-
penses. As lawyer have no in
terest; I'll get my share in whatever
court 1t is. But as a tax payer I'm
against abolishing the superior. court"
{
Judge Hughes Wants Court.
Judge Felix T. Hughes met a gen
erous response from. ibis Eaudience
when he said that some day Keokuk
was going to be . big, city, he was
sure of that. Now just year after
we got our dam, comes proposition
to abolish the superior court. Don't
for Lords sake do it, and let Burling-
ton or Quincy or some other town
say that Keokuk can't even support q
superior court. 3 Keokuk is Just 1as
moral and as well policed as any
town of its size In the country. We
have court here to supply the city
with power, let's don't drop down to
the justice of the peace system like
any little town. We have good
court and it must exist because good
government depends on a good city
court and good police force. We
must do this city work some place
and the superior court Is the cheapest
in the county. 1t is g. quick action
court Louie is always on hand and
we can find him when we need him.
Don't think we are talking for our
selves now, lawyers would starve to
death II it wasn't for the people. II
the people are good we have nothing
to do. If they violate laws they must
be punished and know no better
place than here.
1.-THE question has been UP many
times. We got this court thirty-five
years ago, kind Of made 1t ourselves,
like local option, you know. It is not
a lawyers court or an Office seekers
court. but it is peoples court"
Laymen Likes Court.
Dr. G. Walter Barr said as layman
he had studied courts, and that he
was satisfied that in some, ways the
courts could be improved. He said he
felt, however, that the superior court
could fill place which city record
er's court, justice Of the peace court
could not do. He was speaking from
daily visits to the courts.