Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1922-09-07
Court Reforms Must Not Be in
Interest of Rich.

In any reform of court procedure
bated at the recent meeting OF the
American Bar Association there must
be no interference with the rights OF
the poor man to get equal justice
with the rich, according to editors
who are studying the matter. Early
approval of the various suggestions
made has been followed by serious
discussion whether they do not. after
all. make for the application OF
sort of lynch law" to court proceed
inEs. Editors argue that extreme
care must be taken to see that speed
that does not mean injustice ana
that whatever changes are made shall
be to remedy only conditions that
properly are complained of.
THE common sense of the matter"
the Newark News believes. "is that
the more we can do to set the Judge
and the jury. each in his own sphere.
free to do with the case, according
to the common sense of It, the
quicker and cheaper we are gong
to get justice, the more justice we
are going to get. and the less chance
there is Of winning the case by the
ability Of money to wear OUT COM
parative poverty"
Any suggestion that will interfere
with reasonable appeals also should
be frowned upon by most people. the
Brooklyn Eagle is certain. because
"the privilege of having case passed
on by the tribunal OF m rast sesors an ID
to make that privilege doubtful. un-
certain, subject to refusal. is ques.
tionable policy" There is little DOUBT
that "the morals of this country
are better than in any other large
country" the Worcester Gazette says,
m by the courts and more drastic
sentences, vigorously applied, wouio
be effective as a preventative OK
crime" ..
LAWYERS and courts themselves have
much to answer for. the Cleveland News
generally fostered by the, corrective
means considered. How could confidence
in the courts be created by any amount
Of glittering generalities II tne ron
mage continued to record concrete iacts
such as the Ohio supreme court deci
sion in the case Of Big Jim Morton!
while there seem to be plenty OF laws
now to cope with all existing SITUATIONS,
the Allentown Call is willing to admit
that another law designed to protect
human life would not unduly cutter up
the statute books and might bring ABOUT
better conditions" Not only Is That So,
Int inasmuch as ''our crime record IL
the worst in the world" the ithaca
Journal-News argues that we sno"ia
have nowhere near as mucn crime ~
Justice was administered as speediy
and efficiently as in the British courts.
But in improving the legal machinery
there is absolute necessity. IN the opIn.
lon of the Minneapolis Journal, tnat
"there should be no ground to feel tnat
the little. criminal does not nave .ha he ds
Criminal. This applies to matters OF
naroie and reprieve as well as to near
inRs and defense" The Philadeipnia
Bulletin believes that with commas
sion Ito prepare UNIFORM coas e ~,
procedure, and with the creation OF an
authority to see that these simplined
rules are observed, there is chance At
least that the judiciary may be infuseo
with new courage and the MEMBER o.
the bar with q higher and more consist
emit and practical reai.zation o. ice tbev
have subscribed" There already has
heen too much discussion, the Wasnlng-
ton Post thinks. and now something
tangible is at hand the American Bar
Association should spare no EFFORT 70
speed its work to a finality OF practlcai
Great care must be taken in plan.
ming any changes. the .. Hartfo orc
nroblems enough in our courts to
make a complete revision OF pro
niation by those qualified to. contem.
niate." In addition the New York Post
points out that legal reform would
Be- appreciably fastened by the more
general exercise Of comn1sn sense
profession" Behind the movement
Tor legal reform. however. is realiza.
ton Of q danger in the movement
"for acknowledgment of the right
Of the masses to overthrow at Will
The decisions Of the courts" the
Boston Christian Science Monitor Is
convinced, and "it would be imprud-
ert and unwise to regard these at
tacks as the mere expression OF dis
content. They. represent the efforts OF
an organized army Of propagandists
to teach defiance and to bring about
the final overthrow of law"
Because this is acknowledged the
COMMITTEES should also have prompt
instruction from the country at large
"a, 1upport'. Of the plan ito sngGest
s0h8nfss 81 the 6t4tute1s the New