Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-09-23
NATIONS CAPITAL.
HoV Shall Jurisdiction Of U. S.
Courts be Defined?
Democrats Pofsake The Hoa:e. PrsTeat
aQuorum and Impede Business.
Rule Proposed Punishipg by Fiae Be
ing Absent to Prevent a Quorum.

WAsaIseros, Sept. 22.-In the Senate,
after the transaction of routine and unim
roIiant business, the bills on the calendar
were taken up for an hour and a number OF
them passed.
The joint re ssolasion proposing an smenf-
meni TO the constitution of the Uaite,i
States in relation 10 the msnufaeiafes, iul-
portation, expor' alton, transportation and
sale Of alcoholic liquors baving beea
reached on the calendar. Blair. who mad
reported IL from the committee on eduea-
lion AMI labor. called for vote apon il.
Cockreii aske3 that the report be read.
The readirg Of the report occupied Ia,
Was left OF the hour assigned TO the calsn-
dar and no vote was taken on the joint res
oiution.
The Senate resumed consideration. of
bill ta define AMI regulate the jurisdiction
of the courts OF the United States, the
pending question being on Daniels amend
ment extending the jurisdiction Of the
Of felony, and sll cases where the matter
in dispute is the right to personal liberty or
thn right to the custody of child.
Vest offered substitute for tue bill. 1t
proposes that there shall be three divisions
Of the supreme court, composed of three
justices each; the chief justice shall make
assignments TO these divisions; all final de-
eisiens in either of these divisions shall be
considered by the court in bare and
shall require the concurrence of five jasti-
ces the chief justice shall apportion the
business to these divisions.
Vest said his object in Offering the
amendmen n. was to formulate and put on
record the opinions of the minority of the
judiciary committee on the question rather
than the view obtaining legislation ex-
pressed in tie amendment The vacant
seats in the Senate chamber evidenced he
said. how little interest is felt generally in
the question, although 1t is one of the most
important questions to the people that could
be contemplated by any lawyer or citizen.
He declars d his belief that it was bad pol
icy to go into the business of Increasing e
number of judges The principle of life
Offices of judges was abhorrcnt TO the
people OF the United States. Ia most Of
the Western States the appointment Of
judges has been taken from the governor
Al d vested in the people, and he believed
that was the trend of public opii ion in the
country. 1t was the duty of Congress to|
Try the system as ii existed, changing osy
the form Of proceedings, iaslead of iucreas-
ing the number Of judges.
Evarts said the necessity for a remedy
for the congestion of the supreme court
WAS admitted on all sides but ihere were
but two modes providing for the difficulty.
One is to proceed with the judicial estsb-
hshment as it row stood with such rear
rsngsments MS might be provided for, and
the other 10 provide intermediate court of
appeals, which distributed through the diff
erent districts might be able TO to dispose
of certain heads Of Jurisprudence and juris-
dietion. Tie latter plan was recommeBiei
by the judiciary committee of the Senate.
Vest suggested that the matter should
go over till next session when it could be
more deliberately considered q
After further discussion the Daniels
amnndme Mt was rejected.
Vest did not insist on vote being taken
on his amendment to the bill reported from
the committee of whole To the Senate.
Dolpb Offered an amendment proyiiing
for the tenth judicial circuit and the ap-
pointmeut of tao judg for il.
Ingail, offered sn amendment dividing
the judicial districts Of the United States
into eleven circuits. The Vice President
ruled tha, the amendment took the prec >.
dInce of the one proposed BY Dolph. From
this iuling Dolpb appealed, Hale moved
To lay the appeal On the table, The latter
motion was agreed TO. ingalls, amendmen;
being thus before the Senate he modified t
at the suggestion of Wilson of Iowa, by
emitting losa from the eight circuit and
adding it to the niath. Amcndment re-
jected.
Dolfh's amendment was rejected.
Vest ffered an amendment, for the d.
vision of the supreme court into three
parts. Rejected.
German novel to designate Baltimore
instead of 4 chmond as the place for hold
ing court-in the fourth district. A vote
disclosed no quorum and the motion weat
over till ton orrow.
kfler a short executive session the Sen
ate at ) 80 adjourned