Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1880-02-06
OUR NATIONAL CAPITAL.
A BnI TO Increase the Number or
Judges in she Supreme Court of the
United Saatea

United Ssates.
From our Regular Correspondent.
There has long been necessity for an
increase Of the capacity of the highest iu-
dicial bench of the Government, and the
bill introduced by Mr.. Manning to in-
crease the g. S Supreme Court TO twenty
one judges has become a subject Of general
consideration with the legal profession of
the country, and has received the approval
Of many eminent lawyers It has become
indispensable to extensive business inter-
ests to expedite the work which has ac-
cumulated before the Supreme Court.
Prominent attorneys in Washington and
other cities, say they have cases before the
court that cannot, with the present or
ganizstion of that body and in the regular
order of business, be reached IN less than
five years. That of itself is sufficient to
induce Congress to provide some remedy.
How many persons are there IN condition
to wait Eve years for justice, after having
borne the expense and tedium Of fighting
their causes through the lower courts? 1t
is reasonable to suppose that many cases
are abandoned by those who have law and
equity on their side rather than wait for a
decision by the court Of final resort. The
Manning bill proposes to increase the
court TO twenty-one judges and to subdl-
vide it into three sections, or sub-ehamberS,
each consisting Of seven judges, including
the one presiding. There shall be Chief
Justice and two associates or assistant
Chief Justices, who are to preside oyer the
three sub-chambers. One of these sub
chambers shall have jurisdiction over equity
causes, and the other over admiralty and
causes in which the United States is q
party. The decisions Of sub-chambers
must be submitted to and passed upon by
the full court. This is to comply with the
provision Of the Constitution to the effect
that there shall be zone" Supreme Court.
The subdivisions are for the purpose of
facilitating business. Another idea of the
author of the bill is that it will increase
public confidence 10 the Supreme Court,
and add to the respect of its decisions, to
increase its numbers so that it can be ''na-
tionalized" by having all sections Of the
country represented upon the bench. The
twelve additional judges proposed in the
bill would be appointed as those now on
the bench-by the President, 'by and with
the advice and consent Of the Senate"
Parties who become involved in litigation
with corporations, frequently suffer be-
cause Of the inability Of the Supreme
Court to dispose of the business that comes
before it. Corporations employ attorneys
by the year, and therefore, they fight causes
to the last. An increase of litigation does
not cost them any increase Of expense; but
it is different with the individual who
must pay as he goes, and to whom it is a
great burden, perhaps, to follow an ap-
peal to the Supreme Court. Unless there
is large amount involved, the corporation
often escapes By simply carrying the cause
up to the highest court. The number of
United States circuit judges was increas-
ed some time ago, and their jurisdiction
enlarged with the view of relieving the
pressure of the Supreme Court, but the ef
feet was the very reverse of what was an
tieipated. The increase and enlargement
of lower courts only added to the cases
sent to the Supreme Court. Where the
stake is large enough to warrant the out
lay persons will insist upon having the de-
eision of the court Of final resort. Con-
gTess and the bar now realize this, and the
object is to give the highest court power
and facilities for dispOsing promptly of the
business that comes before it.
Washington, d. c., Jan. 81, 1880.