Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-12-24

Offices, and places OF business and IS read every
day by more people, than all the other daily papers
IN Washington added together.
Cases have accumulated to such an extent upon
Che Supreme court docket that IT would be impos-
stble for the court In the of nature to
get through with the business before 1t, ct its
average rate OF progress. Lawyers and litigants
recognize the necessity OF some measure that viii
not only lessen the business OF the court in FUTURE
but also relieve 1t of much OF that now before it
10 was TO devise plan Of relief that the committee
az the American bar association recently met in
THIS city. The committee, after several days de-
Hberation, adjourned without reaching any defn-
ne conclusion as To what is best to be done In the
premises Two plans were under discussion. One
looked to the creation OF another court, co-or-
d1nate with the supreme court to consist
Of fifteen judges and to have jurisdiction OF all
cascs, except those involving constitutional ques-
tons, treaty stipulatiOns and several
other classes of the most important
which would be reserved for the Supreme
court The committee consulted freely with
The justices of the court and found that they, with
one exception, favored this plan OF another trbu-
nal The bar association committee, however,
were rather inclined to the other plan under con-
nderation which contemplated the subdivision OF
the present Supreme court into three branches,
each branch or sub-chamber having jurisdiction
over certain classes of cases All three branches
could be at work at the same time, and thus ac-
eomplish three times as much as the bench In Its
present shape This latter plan viii probably
commend itself to Congress, because 1t is much
tss expensive than the other Meantime the bar
assoeiltiOn committee are consulting with the
Iwyers and judges of the country with regard to
both plans, and will meet In New York in Feb
ruary To compare notes. IL Is thought probable
that the committee may submit both plans to
Congress and leave 1t to the judgment OF that
bo1y to select the one it considers bcSt AS the
court now stands there is but little chance for a
ntigant who gets his case before it in these days
to reach hearing during his lifetime.
The controversy raised by the statement of a
halter to the effect that the size of mems heads is
diminishing, brings out the odd objection to the
work OF sanitary science in preserving human life
that the result is deterioration In physical
stamina Mr. Hyde Clarke puts the case in this
way: "Infant mortality from birth to two years,
and again from two TO seven years, can be shown
ta have decreased of late. This being so, the re-
suit Is inevitable that many OF the weaker infants
who in a by-gone day did not survive are now
saved; and their survival means the survival of 50
many weaklings. 1t appears TO me that this is
going on in the United States and in many parts
OF Europe The question OF degeneracy under
sanitary influence is well worthy Of attention and
Investigation"
On the other hand IL may be urged that sanitary
science, by teaching the true laws of health and
physical culture, is improving the human race as
whole. Women, especially American women,
are becoming better fitted to be the mothers of
healthy children. Un1er the teachings OF sanitary
science, also, the number OF drunken or otherwise
vicious fathers is reduced, and the propagation OF
children with the faint of scrofua or incompetence
In their blood IS thereby lessened 1t cert ny seems
to be an absurd proposition that the knowledge how
70 live Is calculated to deterlorate the quality Of
the human race