Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-12-19
FROM WASHINGTON.
Steadily Accommodating Business-Prob-
able Postponament Of the Guiteau Trial
on Account Of the Illness Of Jurors
Wifa

able POstpOnGment Of the Guiteau Trial
on Account Of the Illness of a Jurors
Wife.
SUPREME COURT
WASHINGTON, Dec. 18.-The committee OF
the American bar association in session here
some days ago had two plans for relieving the
supreme court of the pressure of business
upon it. Under the consideration one plan
contemplated the creation of a coordinate
court to consist of fifteen judges, and to take
jurisdiction oil all private cases, law and equity
and admiralty cases, and in fact all cases ex-
cept those involving fundamental questions,
such as call for the construction of the consti-
tuition. This is The plan which the supreme
court judges favored and recommended. The
bar association committee and members of the
senate Judiciary committee were inclined to
favor the other plan, which proposed dividing
the supreme court into three sub-chambers
and authorizing the president to designate
three assistant chief justices from
among the present justices Of the
supreme nourt.. Then the Chief justice would
preside over one of his sub-chambers atti
each of the two assistant chief Justices would
preside over one of the other ublchahibets.
The plan proposed is to define what classes
of cases should go before each sub chamber
and require that all judgments should be de-
termined by the court in banc. The court
would be required to meet in banc at least
twice each month to deliver judgments and
consider constitutional matters. This plan
was really based on the Manning bill, now
pending in the house of representatives. The
bar association committee between now and
the time fixed for their next meeting in New
York in February, will consult with promi-
nent lawyers and jurists with regard to both
plans, with view of getting the most COM
10 oh 10
mittee is disposed to defer to a con-
siderable extent to the opinion of the su-
preme judges and all but one of
them, (Judge Field). urge the establish
ment of an additional court. Those
members of congress who have been consulted
don't take kindly to this plan. They urge
against it the expense of maintaining an ad-
d1tional court of fifteen judges, and, besides,
they say it would tend to make the judicial
machinery bulky and unwieldy. By subdivid-
ing The present supreme court into three
branches, the bench could perform just three
times as much labor as at present, but it
would entail more work upon the justices.
Representative Manning said to a reporter
OF the Western Associated Press to-day, that
he felt quite confident his bill would pass
congress, no matter what recommendation the
bar association committee may make. Hesaid
the idea embodied in his bill is not new, that
IL Ldu Uteu trleu IN England ana france
and works admirably. That courts of last re-
sort in England and France are subdivided
for the purpose of facilitating business, and
the system has given emminent satisfaction
in both countries. The constitution requires
there shall be but one supreme court, and
Manning claims his bill keeps entirely within
this provision as it does not make three courts
but simply divides one court into
three branches. His bill defines the class of
cases to 60 before each chamber and pro.
vides that constitutional questions, treaty
stipulations and all cases coming up from
state supreme courts on writs of error, shall
be considered by the United States supreme
court in general session. Manning says he
has received thousands of letters from lawyers
and jurists of the country approving bis
bill.
GUITEAT's TRIAL.
The proceedings in the Gulteau trial will
very probably come to standstill for several
days in consequence of the serious illness OF
the wife of Juror Hobbs. At late hour to.
night the lady was reported to be very low
and not expected to live through the night.
plaster-cast was made to-day of Guiteau's
head. by Clark Wells, assisted by his son.
After some hesitation the assassin consented
to have his beard removed and then allowed
the cast to be made. After the operation
Guiteauexpressed himself highly pleased with