The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-03-01
TAFT AND COURT REFORM.

| Former President Taft is beginning
to loom largo on the horizon of every
day affairs in the United States. Be-
sides HIS work at Yalo as professor of
law, he has found time to give the
public the benefit Of his experience
from the platform and in the maga"
zines, and, needless to say, his words
carry weight. The chief magistrate Of
any country who has come through the
fiery ordeal unscathed as to character
and reputation is always an interest
ing Individual None moro so than
Mr.. Taft.
While large numbers Of the good
citizens Of the United States have long
held the opinion that something was
wrong in the administration of justice
in this country, nothing has been ac-
complished in the way Of remedying
the evils. SO complaints have multi
piled and there has been moro or less
talk Of tho advisability Of recalling
the judges or the judicial decisions
at the very least. Many Of the fore
most citizens Of the country, and
among them Mr.. Taft, believe the
courts the bulwark of American lib
erty and have lifted up their voices
in protest against tearing down sys
tenn that has stood the test of time.
For some years the American
Bar association has been endeavoring
to reform procedure in the courts by
simplifying the rules under which hti
CATION is conducted. Men who are
recognized as the possessors Of the
brightest legal minds in the country
have always contended that the evils
complained of did not lie in the courts,
but in the cumbersome methods en-
ployed, relics Of the early days of the
republic,
So the great lawyers set about the
work Of reform in a systematic man
ner TO cure the defects and still the
clamor of the demagogues who are only
too often willing to lead an assault up.
on the very foundations Of good gov
ernment in order TO gain some political
advantage. The Clayton bill, now be-
fore the house, is the result OF the en-
deavors Of level-headed men TO restore
the courts TO their former high stand
ing without committing irreparable in.
jury to the whole judicial system while
so doing.
AS president of the bar association,
Mr.. Taft appeared before the house
committee in company with Alton B.
Parker and other jurists Of note to ad-
yocate the pending measure. 1t was
a labor of love SO far as the former
chief executive was concerned, for there
is no man now living who has greater
respect for American institutions, or
who is better qualified to Judge of the
means TO be employed in making litiea-
tion less expensive, shortening the time
between the beginning Of actions and
the rendering of decisions, and, in fact,
| restoring the confidence of the people in
the courts.
In passing it might be we'll to remark
that with forty-eight state legislatures
and the congress Of the United States
constantly grinding out laws, the mat
ter Of facilitating the administration of
justice is no easy task even when men
of such large mental caliber as Mr., Taft
and Judge Clayton set about the work,
1t can be done, however, if the law.
makers at the national capital can be
induced to listen to reason and leave
politics alone long enough to do some.
thing practical for the benefit of The
country.
Mr.. Taft was greatly hampcred dur.
ing his occupancy of the White house
and was unjustly made the target in
every political battle fought during the
four years Of his administration. Con.
sequently be is Il much more command
ing figure in private life than ho was
IN the presidential chair. II is his mis-.
fortune and not his fault that this is
so. He doubtless finds consolation in
the fact that his advice is now being
asked on all questions If public policy
! and that lns counlrymen delight in do