The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1914-10-16
RELATE TO SUPREME
COURT Of THE STATE
From Tuesdays Daily.

city. president OF the Minnesota State
Bar association. today gave The Free
Press the following interview:
The state Bar association has en-
dorsed and recommended for adop-
tion the proposed constitutional
amendment providing for two add
tional justices for the supreme court
and requiring the concurrence OF
at least five members of the court
in decisions declaring state statutes
unconstitutional.
4 few years ago IL was found that
the five members of the supreme
court were unable to dispose OF the
rapidly increasing business of that
court as promptly as desirable, and
that the court was being very much
Overworked.
For the purpose OF relieving the
court and permitting II TO continue
TO determine causes submitted to II
for decision promptly, the legislature
passed an act providing for the ap-
pOintment of two commissioners of
the supreme court. These commits
SiOners draw the same salary as
justices OF the court. but have no
vote at the final determination of
causes submitted TO it. With the aid
~ these commissioners. the court has
been able TO dispose OF every appeal
brought before Il each term; in
fact so efficient and prompt has the
court been that appeals have. as n
rule. been disposed of within three
weeks after submission TO the court.
The business OF the court is con-
stantly increasing in volume and
Importance. and there is danger of
the court becoming swamped. That.
Of course. would mean delay in cases
submitted to 1t for determination.
We all know that justice delayed
is justice denied" and that ii is
highly desirable that our supreme
court be kept in a position to decide
cases as promptly rs it has done
heretofore.
Appreciating this, the legislature
in 1913. provided for submitting TO
the voters at the coming general
election for their approval. a consti-
tutional amendment. increasing the
membership of the supreme court
from five to seven, and requiring
the concurrence of at least five
members of the court. instead OF
three as now. in all decisions declar-
ing state statute unconstitutional.
II this amendment carries, the two
commissioners now serving, will be
succeeded by two justices. We will
then have a court consisting OF seven
justices. all having equal powers,
instead OF court of five justices
and two commissioners. at the same
the adoption of this amendment will
net Increase the salaries to be paid.
The provision requiring the con-
CurrenCe OF at least five members of
the court. instead OF only three.
bare majority. as now. before
state statute can be declared unCon.
stitutional. is wholesome one. and,
in my opinion, as important as the
provision providing for two addition
al justices.
This proposed amendment will ap-
pear no the official ballot as amend
ment No. ,. Under the law. this
amendment must receive a majority
of all the votes cast at the coming
election. If it is to be adopted. A
voter voting at this election. who
fails TO vote upon this amendment.
will be counted as voting against IL.
| am convinced that this amend
ment will be of great benefit to the
state. and that it should be adopted,
and sincerely urge every voter in
terested in the enforcement Of the
law. TO vote yes" on Amendment
No. 2.
Mrs. Charles Wagon is in receipt
of a letter from Charles Koke of
San Diego. Cal, announcing the
death OF Jurgen p. Christensen, form
erly well known resident and
dh Olu Vi MdnkdtO. Mr.
Christensen died at San Diego on
October and his funeral took
place last Saturday He was a
brother Of II. T.. Christensen. also
former resident of Mankato. where
he was engaged in the real estate
business, but now living in Califor-
mia al or near Los Angeles.
Jurgen =. Christensen was born
in Schleswig. Denmark, September
"A. lS41. He came TO Mankato in
1850 He was clerk in stores here
until 1864. when he became a
member OF the firm Of Christensen
Brothers, I'm the general merchan.
disc business in Mankato. He fol-
lowed this business with success
until 1887. when the firm sold out.
He then visited California, and fin
ally in 1890 he removed to San Diego
In that state. There he spent
the rest of his days, operating n
fruit farm and also dealing in real