The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1878-03-01
JUDICIAL RkfORM-A COON BILL
-uHE ISIEREsC0PT HE PEOPLE
DEMANDS IiB JMNEDlATE PAs-

SAGE.
We lublIsh IN another column the bill
OF Mr.. rowDshend Of this state, 'nirouuo
cd ~ congress and now ppnoing before
the hop.e Judiciary committee, for the re
peal OF all laws authorizing the transfer
OF cases from the state courts 10 the fed
rrsl courts. Ii Is not our purpose IN
this article 10 go into the history of the
laws authorizing suih transfer Of cases.
II Is better 10 learn the Effect thar the
origin Of law; the latter may afford
qualification; the former Is OF real
Interest 10 the people. The law now
sought to be repealed BY Mr.. Towns.
hend's bill is an old one passed IN los
and was held for many years by the
supreme court Of the Uult,d States no'
10 iDclnis corporations. II the early De,
ci,ions had been adhered 10 The cause,
oi complaint would probably hav, been
~ few as 10 he Of but little importance,
but the supreme court Of the United
States. after hay Ing enphatically declared
In errly and well considered cases. tina, a
corporation aggregate could In no sens,
be regarded n citizen within The meaning
oil HE constitution aud laws Of the Uuitr u
States upon thu subject Of the jnrisdic
lion Of its courts, saw tit 10 chaige IT,
rulings and IL Is now the fixed rule OF
the law that corporations aggregate ~.
citizens OF the states Grating them
and when sued in another statt
have the same rights Of removal that
belongs /" The natural citizen. This is
nothing more nor less than judicial
amendment 10 the statute of l70S, and
can only be accounted Tor upon the
grounds OF strong attachment, TO the
old maxim tha, "a good judge should
extend his jurisdiction" This is, we
have no doubt, u good rule, but subject to
one objection, that Is aud that the Judge
must first decide whe her or not he Is a
good Judge, and It is wonderful with
what great unanimlty this question is
decided In The affirmative by judges OF
Uui,ed States courts. The consequence
Is thu. they all extend their juris.
dlctiOD, and rarely ever change their
rulings upon an obtained jurisdic>
lion. The jurisdiction thus obtained
has given great importance to The Unit, d
States courts. but 1t is JUS, and oppres
sive to the people, and The rapid growth
In numbers and importance OF corpor,
a'ions vt this day has caused the wrongs
TO be felt in every DeighborhOod IN the
land. There II, therefore. q great de
mand Tor an immediate change. There
Is no hope Of u reversal by the courts OF
The present rule, and, therefore, the con,
grehs should repeal all laws authorizin.
a transfer OF causes from the state to the
The federal courts. The state
courts and the federal courts
ire courts of concurrent jurisdiction 81
.ivil matters, and the cour, that hrs. OBJ.
aims jurisdiction should retain IL. We
ire acquainted with Mr.. TownsheDd.
md do not think the bill could be IN
better hands. lie Is young man OF
ability aud energy, and will push bis bill
IS rapidly MS possible, but The people
'hould take hold OF the matter and help
him. The local papers should publish
his bill aud call attention to II IN their
columns, aud The people should
Seni petitions TO congress urging its
passage.