Show vast sums wasted by the united states in administration of courts of justice by ELIHU ROOT former famer secretary of swa state there is great economic waste in the administration of the law in state and nation wo we spend vastl sums building courthouses paying judges clerks and others and the product in justice is disproportionate to the plant and working force there is no country in the world where the doing of justice is burdened by R such heavy overhead charges it all causes an enormous t waste of time on the part of witnesses jury panel f lind and parties the ease case with which admission to the baris secured in many jurisdictions and the attraction of a career which affords a living without manual labor has crowded the bar with more lawyers than are necessary of the lawyers in the united states a considerable part are not needed if that business were conducted like the business of any great industrial or transportation company which ivsich is striving for the highest efficiency at the least cost in order to compote compete I 1 successfully with its rivals a very considerable percentage of the would be discharged why do these defects exist in our administration of justice the american people are not quarrelsome or litigious they are good natured practical simple and direct in their methods re respecter specters of law and honest in their dealings our bar as a whole is courageous loyal and able I 1 think the underlying cause is that unconsciously we all treat the business of administering justice as something to be done for private benefit instead of for the public service |