Imperial Valley press., 1922-06-10

In all argument presented relative to
Imperial cOunty's need Of courthouse
no voice has been raised, not one word
uttered in behalf of the hundreds of
witnesses called in the course of each
year to testify in cases in our superior
courts.
One of the most disgraceful features
in connection with present inadequate
accommodations for every kind of pub
lie business is the utter disregard for
the comfort of the many persons who
are commanded by legal process to at
tend court as witnesses.
In many cases all witnesses, except
ing the one who is actually giving testi.
mony are ordered to leave the room.
They are there through no choice of
their own; they must obey legal sub
poena or suffer the consequences, and
they have no choice in the matter of re-
naming in court during trial.
When all witnesses, excepting the
one on the witness stand, are debarred
from the courtroom, where do those wit
nesses find Accommodations? 1t may sur
prise the majority of voters to learn that
not even chair in a hallway is provid-
ed for them. They must stand in the
corridors of the county building, sit on
the stairways, or go outside and stand
on the street until they are exhausted,
and then sit on the curb, if they do
not have a car in the immediate neigh
borhoOd in which to rest.
The must remain within call Of the
bailiff. If they go beyond the range
of his voice they Obstruct the work of
the courts are likely to bring trouble
upon themselves.
Weary Women and Babies.
The writer has seen women with
babies in their arms, standing in the
Railways of the courthouse, sitting on
the stairways, or Standing in the street
waiting to testify in some cause in
which they have little or no personal in
terest. They are there at the behest
and command of the state, and there
they must remain regardless of pain
and inconvenience.
think disgraceful' is a mild term
for designating such treatment Of per-
sons legally summoned and compelled to
attend upon public business.
The county, by constructing a new
and adequate courthouse, can remedy
this unfortunate condition. 1t is just
one more added to the many reasons
why the people of Imperial county
should go to the polls next Monday and
vote to do their duty to themselves col
lectively and individually.
There have been many other rea'
sons, all good and sufficient, given for
the people Of the county voting solidly
for the bonds 20 provide funds with
which to build courthouse. There are
many more that are just as convincing;
in fact, there are so many that it would
be impossible, in campaign of the du-
ration Of the one just closing, to even
suggest all of them.
What Earthquake Might Do.
While 1 am on the subject of crowd
ed courtrooms and county building halls
and stairways, might speculate on the
result of even a slight earthquake com
ing at time Of congestion in the court
house. Even if there were no material
damage to the building, slight tremor
might be the cause of a panic that
would result in the loss of many lives.
Does anyone believe the county would
be fortunate enough in a case of that
kind to escape money liability which
would cover the cost of several very fine
courthouses!
From the standpoints of humanity,
civic pride, and good business economy,
these suggestions should have direct
appeal to every citizen of Imperial
county.
We should carefully consider the pro-
posed bond issue. The question has
been ably discussed in the public press
and at meetings of the various civic
bodies throughout the county. There is
little doubt that the voters have been
impressed with the weight of the argu-
ments, and that they understand the
proposition as thoroughly as is possible
in short campaign.
That being true, / believe all that is
necessary now is to get the vote out in