Editorial Bepartment The editor of the Justices' Law Reporter invites contributions from members of the Justices' Law Association and also from its subscribers. In carrying out the various objects sought to be accomplished, the co-operation of friends is requested. Those who may not be in sympathy with what may be advocated are at liberty to express their views through our columns, although inimical to what we would desire, We would feel surprised if everybody should tickle our vanity by an unequivocal endorsement of our views. While in certain cases, in matters judicial, the pathway is marked by fingerboards that point unerringly as the magnetic needle, in other instances the way has simply been blazed. Our earnest endeavor in the past has been, not to inject mere personal opinion or conjecture, but to present to our readers the opinion of the judiciary, who are called upon to interpret our statutory law when called into question, and to differentiate or distinguish one case from another, based upon facts essentially different. We are indebted to John P. Pollock, Esq., of Wilkes Barre, Pa., for a form of plaintiff's affidavit of claim under the Act of July 7, 1879, P. L. 194, a copy of which is hereinafter set forth. We presume, however, that our learned friend, under the wording of that Act, would require the same to be certified. I am frank in admitting that there is considerable merit in the brevity of the form and it seems to embody the essential requirements of the Act. Our many subscribers will be pleased with the photograph of Hon. Simon Snyder, appearing as a frontispiece in this issue. It is through the kindness of W. R. Bierly, Esq., author of several valuable legal works, that we are enabled to present a sketch of the life of Governor Snyder, who at one time held the office of justice of the peace in the State of Pennsylvania. Simon Snyder. One of the wisest and best governors of Pennsylvania was Simon Snyder, who filled the chair from December 20, 1808, to December 16, 1817. His parents belonged to the large and staid element known as "Pennsylvania Dutch," who left their beautiful homes in the Palatinate, ruined by war and desolated by religious persecution, and came to Penn's colony to enjoy liberty and carve out a new destiny. Simon Snyder was born at Lancaster, Pa., November 5, 1759, his father being a mechanic by trade. The lad acquired his education at a night school, while he worked during the day, serving four years without indenture to learn. the tanning business. His teacher was a Friend, John Jones, and Snyder virtually owed his education to consumption of "the midnight oil," and an indomitable perseverance. July, 1784, he removed from York to Selinsgrove, ascending the Susquehanna on a boat. There he opened a general store and acquired a grist mill. The freeholders of that new and rich settlement, (near the old Indian town of Shamokin, the regal seat of old King Shikalimy, friend of the White Settlers, and Conrad Weiser and Count Zinzendorf), soon recognized the great qualities of honesty, truth and justice in this stranger and elected him Justice of the Peace, an office he held for twelve years, during which so universally just were his decisions that no appeal was ever taken and but one writ of certiorari was sued out against him. In all that time, turbulent as it must have been, on the frontier, he returned but two recognizances to the Quarter Sessions, says Armor. Mr. Snyder was a delegate in the Constitutional Convention of 1789, and exhibited qualities that brought him to notice as a coming statesman. In 1797 he was sent to the State Legislature and in 1802 was elected Speaker of the House. It was during this time he urged the reform in jurisdiction of Justices of the Peace. He originated and advocated the measure known as "the hundred dollar law," in which was also embodied the principle of arbitration. It was strenuously opposed by Governor McKean, a 'conservative" Republican, and it caused a split in the party, McKean joining the Federalists, and Snyder himself succeeding to the Governorship over Senator James Ross, who was supported by all the "conservatives" of that day. John Binns, the editor and author, who was a friend and mentor of Governor Snyder, says, in his autobiography, that the Federalists sneered at Snyder's candidacy. "The idea of a country storekeeper, who had learned to read and write at a country night school and could only speak English and German, running against a gentleman who had a collegiate education and could speak Greek and Latin, was a theme for Federal orators, inexhaustible at their town meetings." He says betting on elections was then a fad, but it received a severe check when Snyder was elected by more than 30,000 majority over Ross and Spayd (who ran in Berks County as the Muhlenberg and Heister stalking entry). He mentions that one, Thomas Passmore, challenged the Federals by offering $100 to any one who would pay him "an eleven penny bit for every vote majority Mr. Snyder would have over Mr. Ross," and the Federalist who took the bait had to pay him $3,550. Governor Snyder's period was one of the most momentous of our history. It was formative in State Legislation and preservative in national affairs. Gov. Snyder labored to remove what Jeremy Bentham has been pleased to term "the incognoscibility of the law" by simplifying the practice before Justices of the Peace, and how well he succeeded is attested by the fact that his name is attached to the code which, with a few alterations, has stood for a century. He supported wisely and vigorously the national government in its struggle to maintain independence on land and sea, through the war of 1812-15. When he retired from office, he returned to Selinsgrove and laid down his armor in a mansion he had built there, now occupied and owned by Mrs. Horace Alleman. A monument in the village cemetery there gives an epitome of his eventful life. W. R. BIERLY. COMMUNICATION FROM A SUBSCRIBER A. R. Place, Esq., Dear Sir: Wilkes Barre, Pa., Aug. 20, 1912. In the current issue of Justices' Law Reporter you give the usual form of affidavit" in suits brought under the Act of July 7, 1879. While this is the usual form of affidavit, it does not exactly meet the requirements of the act, at least, it does not follow the words of the Act, nearly as well as the enclosed form. This form is not as voluminous as the one you give, and it does meet with the requirements. I would respectfully suggest that, if you agree with me, it would be well to give this form to your readers instead of that given on page 47 of No. 12, Vol. X. Very truly yours, John P. Pollock. James Smith V. Plaintiff's Affidavit of Claim, Charles Jones. State of New York, County of Queens, ss: James Smith, being duly sworn according to law, says that he is the Plaintiff in this suit, and cognizant of the facts constituting the cause of action. That the amount he verily believes to be due from Charles Jones, the Defendant, to him, the said Plaintiff herein, is Fifty Dollars, together with interest from April 1st, 1912. That attached hereto is a copy of the book account or instrument of writing upon which this action is brought. James Smith. Sworn and subscribed before me this First day of July, A. D. 1912. Sixty days after date, I promise to pay to the order of Fifty... James Smith... 00-100 Dollars, At the......First National Bank of Lansdale, Pa., |