The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1920-12-29
Barometer of Public Opinion


our Courts
In your issue OF December 23rd 1890, you
have an article on the New judiciary Law '
the object OF which is to place our courts In
a position to do more work. ! also see by that
article that there are two objections to the
law, and also that those who for II. claim
that 1t will result in quicker administration
Of justice. believe that the objection that a
radical revision ot the law will be ruinous to
the legal profession and to It's procedure Is
good change in the law would be dangerous
and at this time would work no good either To
the lawyer or the layman. do not believe tha'
the work OF our courts s so great that 1t takes
all the time of the Judges and do not believe
that In this age OF Advancement. with the num-
crous decisions not only of our courts but the
courts of the entire government IL takes such
lengthy decisions and burdensome decisions to
decide the different points at issue. For In
stance take the question of inheritance. The
statute sets that out. Why should it take ten
to twenty pages to again repeat to us the law
in the case, when matter OF fact. there has
already been "A decisiora In regard to the matter?
Why not simply refer to the former decision.
giving its syllabus. and say, this is the ruling
OF the court. The courts greatly to be
blamed for the slowness in the operation OF the
law. II ~ mans disposition to grand stand
play that creates great deal OF this slowness
In the law. let me Illustrate We had court
once. that had n habit ~ letting the lawyers
when arguing n demurrer make at least a half
a dozen arsumen,s ON the question, taxing up
the taxpayers time to decide a question that
could have been decided in thirty minutes, and
the only way that kind OF procedure was ever
corrected was when Bill Crump came, and when
a couple OF distinguished lawyers under
took to pull Oft that display stunt, he called
them down. and very politely informed them
that their next forum FOR airing that knowledge
at the expense OF the taxpayers was In the
Supreme court There is nothing the matter
with our law or its procedure. its like the tick
law, IL needs a little more common sense in the
enforcement Of it, and not much grandstand
ing for the benefit of the general public. An
other thing i'm the enforcement is that there
l.. pl,A,. Al to. tnnt If
judges Greenlcaf ON Evidence. Let me again
illustrate: man is charged with murder.
The question and the issue is. Did he Kill the
man? | have seen some OF our Judges in a
Of that kind, adult the execution of a
mortgage in the case that was entirely for
egn to the affair, and then say let it all go in
for what II is worth. That takes up great
deal OF the time of the lower court and works
IA burden in the higher court l believe that II
our courts would get down to business and not
play so much politics, cut out grandstand
plays. that there would be no reason for chang
ing the law or increasing the number OF judges
in the state. either supreme or district.
Now let me make suggestion that believe
that will do away with all the ovil. Let us give
to every court more jurisdiction. Give to the
Justice of the peace a jurisdiction OF Five Hun
dred Dollars, with no appeal In all cases under
Twenty Five Dollars, and an appeal from the
@ Of GS Of fSGt Sa county sSSp aSS
the other courts all small cases. Then increase
the jurisdiction Of the county court to Five
Thousand Dollars, with no appeal to the dis
trict court in any case under Five Hundred
Dollars, You can see by that that the business
OF the district court viii be decreased asd will
enable the district court to transact more bust
ness especially II We hnNe a Judge that knows
Grecneaf ON Evidence, hnd really understands
the law that there viii be less cases carried
to the supreme court Then increase the Juris-
diction OF the district court, and fix the law
so that no can Toe appealed to the supreme
court under five Thousand Dollars Then re-
enact the writ of the Certlorari, and make II
applicable 60 the county and district courts as
well to the supreme court And last but
not among the least cut out all tcChniGalities in
all courts Then let the legislature pass "A law
recurring that all decisions in all courts bc
rendered in six months after the filing of the
same. and let the supreme court be men. enough
To hold the law is good aud in short time
they viii tind that It is not tho law that calls
for all this delay but the courts In other
words require the courts to work and when
say work | mean To work like any other
labor. They are the servants OF the public and
they are paid for their service so why not give
it, The idea OF a court waiting until nine or
ten TO convene for business, is absurd and ridiC-
uIuls Another thing. like Senator owen,
do not believe in their interference with the
legislative or executive department of our gov
ernment Mr.. owen has been severely Criti-
ciscd. hut believe him to be right,