The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1915-03-06
TANGLED RECOMMENDATIONS.
(Lake Charles American.Press.)

(Lake Charles American.Pre
The investigations of the probe com.
mission into the courts, while they are
amusing and to some extent, illuminate
ing to the laymen, promise, SO far, lit
tie in the way of coherent and definite
results. Every lawyer who has been
summoned, or who has written to the
probe commission giving his views, be-
lieves that something is wrong, but no
two of them seem to agree upon the
same remedy.
Those who apparently started the
inquisition were certain that judges
should not sit in cases in which rela-
tives were attorneys and that "one-
man" decisions should be abolished;
others regard the invitation to judges
to recuse themselves as an insult to
the courts and state that there are no
"one-man" decisions.
Some insist that the country judges
allow too much to go in the record,
and that the bulk of the evidence sub
mitted makes it impossible for more
than one judge to read a case fully.
Others aver that unless the country
Judge let's everything go in the record,
the cases are sent back by the supreme
court for re-hearing.
Some ascribe the excessive cost and
tediousness of litigation to the profess
sional courtesy of judges and members
of the bar to each other; others assert
that there "ain't no such person" as
professional courtesy; still others claim
that it is necessary.
Most of them believe that judges
should be appointed, not elected. Judge
Martin of st. MartinsYille, proposes
that unless all are appointed, the dis
trict judges only be elected and then
be assigned to preside in districts other
than those from which they are elected.
One recommendation. which Is ap-
proved by two lawyers, is that the
supreme court pass upon the law only
in civil cases, leaving determination of
the facts to the jury.
Proposals are made that supreme
Judges in minor cases refrain from
giving long, written opinions; that the
supreme court be enlarged; that the
preference docket be wiped out; that
the pay of judges be increased; that
the system of practice in Federal courts
be adopted. In fact, there are almost
as many recommendations as there are
witnesses, only it is rarely that any
two of the latter agree.
The compliant about the slowness,
the cost and the ineQuity of the courts
is probably as old as the courts them
selves, and perfect satisfaction seems
to be unattainable. 1t seems to the
ordinary citizen, however, that after so
many generations of practice in Louis
lana, it's attorneys could agree upon q
few general reforms that would SIM
Iplify and cheaper the work Of the courts
without impairing their efficiency.
. The probe commission was original
ly designed to find ways of reducing
the expense of government. 1t would
be hard to discover in its work so far
a single investigation that would save
a dollar. 1t seems proper to remind
the members that although every re-
duction Of expense to the taxpayers
will mean diminution of somebody's
income and consequent howl of an
guish, the taxpayers do not expect them
to step softly to avoid treading on
: somebody's toes. The chief items Of
, unnecessary court and other official
expense have not, SO far, been touched
upon by them.