The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-06-11

June 8, 1918. An editor writing me
desires to know the charge for mailing
his paper copies Of my weekly letter.
The letter is&given free as sunshine.
1t was sent to all the big dailies as
long as. they cared to use 1t. Now
think It is published; only by two pro.
gressive newspapers, The bismarck
Tribune and jamestown Daily Alert.
The main purpose of the letter Is 80
advocate and advance the cause OF
judicial reform. 1t has always re.
form to advocate and It is never neu.
trial ON questions Of right and wrong.
The prompt and due administration OF
justice without denial or delay is OF
interest to every citizen tho he may
never have Q law suit, and 1t is OF
special interest to those who appeal
to the courts for a legal redress Of
their wrongs, Hence, 1t is that every
Judge is we'll paid and is sworn to
observe the constitution and to do his
duty faithfully. Indeed, he is sworn
to administer justice without delay.
And yet, as the judges work without
any supervision or control and with:
out any publicity, they have fallen in
to the habit Of disregarding their
sworn duty and utilization to admin
lister justice without delay. No Judge
would think of putting his hand into
the pocket of another and stealing
800, and yet, most judges see no
wrong in stealing from the state sew
eral hundreds of dollars for the doing
of work which is purposely left un-
done. They lay vff hours and days
and weeks, making no attempt to give
all their time to the duties of their of.
flee. No man can lay off in that way
and hold a place in any business
house. The system would end quickly
in the wreck and ruin Of any business
enterprise. 1t Is radically dishonest
and 1t is a betrayal 81 trust and con.
fidence >.
1t is to remedy such gross and
chronis evils by pointing to them the
finger of publicity that these letters
are given to the press. In truth no
Judge cares to have it known that
he goes off and leaves his work un-
done while receiving good pay for do,
ing it. One Judge has said to me:
You are bringing the Court into dis.
grace by publishing that we are so
far behind with our work. My answer
was. No, Judge, am trying to remove
the cause of disgrace. know that VIC
judges are competent. to do the work
and to decide every case, within thirty
days after it has been submitted.
My letter of June l, contains this
report: Our Supreme Court has now
on it's calendar ninety.five cases not
yet argued or submitted and 81 of the
W cases submitted prior to the first
of May. Several Of these are old
chronic appeals that should have been
decided six or 10 months ago.
At present there remains only 81 OF
the old chronic cases. We hope to dis
pose Of them before Jdne GOTH Then
we commence the hearing Of argu-
do ourselves the honor and credit of
deciding every case within thirty days
after the argument.
l may say of our judges that each
one is in good health and Is ready to
resent as an insult any charge that
he skulks off and leaves his work un.
done. The custom has SO long pre-
vailed that the judges and the people
seem to give it no thought. Yet, facts
are facts, and, as our court records do
conclusively show, for years there
must have been some judicial skulk'
ing or incompetence. This we. must
all confess and in the future hope to
show our faith by our works. We
must come to realize that the skulk'
ing Of Judge is radically dishonest.
1t were better ii the pay Of q Judge
and Of every state officer were limit
ed to the time actually given to his
work. Last winter at the extra SEES
sion Of the legislative assembly, I had
the honor to address the senate In ia
vor OF bill providing that the state
auditor should give to no Judge q
voucher for his monthly salary until
he filed an affidavit showing the
number OF hours given to work on
each day of the month. And, would
you believe it,Hone senator a lawyer,
gravely and inn0centlv asked the
question: Why don't you get all the
other Judges to endorse the bill?