The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1915-09-25
Courts Breeding Trouble

Courts Breeding Trouble
Back in Hartford, Conn.,, the COM
mercial organization has formed sort
af administrative board to take charge
of business concerns, whose financial
affairs have become involved. The
reason assigned for this unusual action
l. that man or a cobmany that gets
in deep water financially aud thence
into the courts usually is swamped be-
fore the lawyers and the courts get
through with them In central Kans-
as county, two farmers got into dis
pute involving property. Instead of
going to court with their troubles
they selected arbitrators from among
their neigobors, agreeing in advance
to abide by the result of their findings.
They were afraid they would have
no property to dispute over if they
went into court to have their differen-
ces adjusted. Lawyers make jest of
the calf case, in which two farmers
were litigants and which was fought
back and forth in the courts until nei-
Their farmer had farm-the farms had
gone for court costs and lawyers fees.
A sorry jest indeedl
A few years ago milling concern
out in a small Kansas town, got into
a controversy with a Kansas railroad
over demurrage claims. The milling
company sued the railroad company to
sustain its rights; the case went
through all the state courts to the
United States supreme court and back
again and now on its way to the
United States supreme court again.
More than $40, 900 is involved now in
court costs and lawyers fees and rich
as each of the litigants is, neither
dares stop now because of the i'm
mense sums involved. since the loser
will have to pay. And at the end of
that time it is possible that the rule
in regard to the demurrage will be as
uncertain as ever, the original con-
tention having been all but lost sight
of in the effort to collect for lawyer S
services.
Yet the courts and the lawyers rail
because the press voices public dis
pleasure with such procedure. Why
should there be private arbitration
boards? The courts are presumed to
be places for the arbitration of pri-
yate differences as well as for the trial
of criminal charges. That is why the
| people consent to taxes to support
/ this branch of the government. II
/ they are now compelled to establish
extra-legal bodies to protect bankrupt
concerns from the legalized graft the
/ courts permit their officers the recei-
vers and lawyers as being done il
Hartford, and as was done recently in
ST. Louis, they will be paying for ar
Unnecessary luxury. Men don't dc
these things unless they are compelled
/ to do so; they want to use the courts
/ to adjust their differences; the people
are by nature conservative; they do not
/ denounce established institutions with
out cause; they change their institu-
tiens only after the greatest provoca-
/ ton, So it will be with the courts
If the lawyers and courts are Jealous
Of their rights and would preserve
them, Let them reform their practices.
let them cut out the graft, let them
choose different basis for the cost OF
legal procedure than all that the litiga.
ton will bear. Otherwise the present
impotence with the courts will swell
into 2 righteous anger that viii wreab
vengeance en- courts and lawyers whC
abuse their privileges.
Hereford Calves fer Sale.-58 heaC
high grade Hereford calves at my farm
8 miles south west of Hays. Phoni
607, Ed Kraus.
! s1et4.