Iditarod pioneer., 1916-06-10
GoVLNEvUsIHI ECONOMY


 Our citizens will hear with regret that the author ties contemplate curlang still further the meagcr provisions for the administration of justice in the great mining country of which Idtarod IS the center IL is minated that the deputy clerk of the district court at this point is be dispensed with, and that the matter o holding future court terms here will 10 larger extent than ever depend upon inc amount of business before the court in and around Tar banks, and the new ceners of population which "1ll be created by the commencement of work on the eovernment railroad project between the Nenana coal fields and the metropolis of the lanana valley
 It will be pointed out that the number of cases before the court for determination at the ldltarod term is out of all proportion to the expense incurred by the government in bringing the court officials on the long journey from Iai.banGs and that the tune consumed by the court in it's annual trips away from Fairbanks causes inconvenience to tgantS n other sections of the division.
 If the matter of economical administration of the machinery of justice is to be factor in determining the frequency of court terms here or the coAyen- ences to be furnished those who have business With the courts it is respectfully suggested that there are other ways in which economy can be Practccd which, far from cripphng the work of the depaI- ment of justice or preventing the speedy disposition of litigation which is the right of eery citizen, Wll. tend only to more efficiency.
 A serious phase of even present conditions IS tne abrdgement of constltutonaI rights oI cItlzen5 ac- .used of crimes The constitution of the United States guarantees to such a speedy and pubic trial by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed. There is in the Iditarod jail at the present time man who has been charged with a criminal oGense and who has lain 1T that institution awaiting the ac- ton of a grand jury for seven months. From the present outlook it will be some time yet before he is brought to trial; and when he finally faces jury ii will be Ii distant community, far removed iron the scene of his alleged fracture of the lav.. While the place of trial will be n the district it sAi WliI be a violation of the spirit of the constitution As to the clause in regard to speedy trial, thls ap- pears to have been lost sight of. This IS not sol. tar ycase. Under the conditions prevailing here 1t has not been possible to bring alleged cu]prts to a speedy tria"; it will be much harder to do so jn the future if the reputed orders of the department De put into effect.
 If there to be uncertainty the future to the holding of court terms here, the interests ot mners and business men will De jeopardjzed to an extent which cannot be vieeWd without the graVest con- cern What business man or mining operator WlIl desire to enter upon contracts which later may have to be interpreted in court of equity if 1t be known that litigation will involve a trip to Fairbanks or Ruby, with the attendant expense ot transporting principals and witnesses to such distant aces? j. stands to reason that loss will rather be sustained than to enter upon an enterprise which the ruinous cost of litigation might make unprohtabe.
 Courts are established for the benefit of the peo- plc not for the convenience of the government ere atde by them; and there IS general belief among the residents of this community that they should be afforded every facility for the exercise of their right 10 have their legal actions decided as promptly as the conditions will allow It may be costly for the federal government. But so are criminal prosecu- lions in large centers of population where courts are Tn session the year around.
 The matter of economy should not be deterlnn- ing factor in making provision for the adm;nistra ton of justice.