American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1915-02-25
VETO OF NEW JUDGE BILL.
Governor Alexander Returns Measure
Without Approval, With Reasons
Therefor.

The veto OF Governor Alexander Of
the bill granting an additional Judge
to this district is as follows:
TO the Speaker and Members of the
house OF representatives:
II find myself unwilling to give my
approval to house bill No. 107 which |
return herewith with my objections
thereto.
This bill provides for the creation of
an additional judge for the Fifth ju-
dicial district. The Legislature is cor
rect in its belief that relief is de-
manded for this district. The condi-
ton OF the calendar is deplorable. Fig
ures and statements furnished me show
that In Bannock county alone there
We're, on the first day of February, OF
this year 157 civil cases and SO Grim
inal cases undisposed of, while i'm Pow
err county, on the first day of January
there were so civil and ~ criminal
cases to be heard, making a total of
more than 300 cases pending before the
court for disposition. The number Of
cases pending In the other counties Of
the district was not shown, but II is ad-
mitted that this number Is
lively small, and that although the me-
cessity for holding at least two terms
Of court In each county. requires much
of the time of the judge Of the district,
the number OF cases does not seriously
add to the difficulties.
Were there no other method by
which relief could be granted under
such conditions, ! would regard II ~
duty to approve this measure, notwith-
standing such approval would add con-
siderably to the cost of the administra-
ton of the state government.
Relief, however. can be afforded
without material increase In the ex-
penditures required and without i'm
posing any hardships upon any one,
court officials oil ~litigants. Adjoining
the Fifth district is the Sixth judicial
district In which there are but three
counties, neither furnishing much bust
ness for the court I am reliably in
formed that there is not more work In
the Sixth judicial district than suf-
ficient TO require more than four
months OF each year, of the time of a
competent and active judge. No in
convenience whatever would be
brought upon anyone by seggregating
Power county from the Fifth district
and annexing 1t to the Sixth district.
This would at once relieve the judge
of the Fifth district of approximately
one-third of the number OF cases now
pending In the two counties which
furnish the greater portion of the bust
ness of his court. while II still would
not add sufficient business to the
Sixth district to burden the Judge of
that district.
Moreover such a change would give
to each district a more equal distribu-
ton of the population. According to
the best censu figures, the Fifth dis
trict contained n population OF 1 2,l4l.
The Sixth district has a population
OF only 31,093. The population of the
Ninth district. adjoining the Sixth dis
trict on the north was 81 ,606 and the
population OF the Fourth district, ad-
Joining the Fifth district on the west,
was 3S,201.
Many Bootlegging Cases.
"The population OF Power county Is
estimated at about 5000. II this
county were taken from the Fifth dis
trict, It would leave a population of
$4,000 while II 1t were added to the
Sixth district that district would have
n population OF 81. 900, thus giving to
these four districts a very even dis
tribution in population.
1t is true that population Toes not
fully indicate the amount Of court bus
mess to be transacted. still Il may be
accepted as a reasonable basis for d.
vision In the absence of any other
showing. Unfortunately no one has
taken the pains to inform me of the
number OF cases filed I'm each of the
counties OF these districts.
This division OF the districts would.
In my opinion. give the required relief
at an insignificant increase In the cost,
as against an increase Of no less than
$4,000 for the biennium, should this
bill become a law.
Moreover out OF the So criminal
cases reported pending In Bannock
county. ! find that AZ Of them were
what are commonly known as boot
Logging" cases. while s out Of the IL
-.M|H. H&LHL