The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-12-18
Mr.. PUTNAM's NEW POSITION.
1t is for Life and Many Friends Congrat-
late Him.

Hon. William l., Putnam was receiving
many congratulations yesterday on his APP
pointment to the United States circuit
judgeship. They came from all parts of
the country. and were about equally divid-
ed between Republicans and Democrats.
OF course there is no doubt that Mr.. Put
nam win be confirmed by the Senate. The
position is for life, and the salary is six
thousand dollars yeav. This, of course,
is not equal to what Mr.. Putnam makes In
the practice which he must give up to ac-
cept the iudgeship.
This position was created by the last
Congress. and oddly enough the bill Great
ing 1t was opposed In the House by the
most violent fiiibustering that Mr.. Put
MANS porty associates there could invent.
and was put through only by the use of
the rules which the present Democratic
House talk OF suspending.
The cause of the passing of the law was
the overcrowded docket of the United
States Supreme Court. A ltigant is often
forced to wait four or five years for his
~~So
The new law creates In each judicial cir
cult of the United States new circuit
judge. There are nine circuits In the
country, tbs First being composed of the
states of Maine, Massachusetts,, New
Hampshire and Rhode Island. Judge LIE
Baron B. Colt of Rhode Island, has been
the circuit judge, and will continue as Mr..
pIYf nrxnta - IT,
are five district judges, Judge Webb hav-
ing the district of Maine.
The judges OF the United States Supreme
Court 60 upon the circuits, Judge Horace
Gray coming 10 this districts
LII has bean the rule that cases appealed
: from the district courts should go to the
circuit court, and thence ii appealed to the
United States Supreme Court.
The new law constitutes In each circuit,
circuit court OF appeals. upon which are
to sit three judges, generally the Supreme
Court justice OF the circuit. and the two
circuit judges. But IL necessary, in the
absence OF either Of the three, district
Judge may be drafted into the court.
The appeal from the district to the
circuits conrt is abolished. and instead it is
arranged that certain class Of cases shall
20 directly from the district courts to the
supreme court, and certain other class
from the district conrts to the circuit court
Of appeals. there TO be decided finally.
The cases in which the judgment of the
court Of appeals sto be fiual are all cases
In which jurisdiction Is dependent entire
ly upon the opposite parties to the suit or
controversy, being aliens and citizens of
the United States or citizens of different
states; also In all cases arising under the
patent laws, under the revenue laws; and
under the criminal laws and in admiralty
cases."
The Supreme Court may. however, call
for any case of these kinds in the circuit
court Of appeal.
In other cases not enumerated above
there shall be appeal in cases where the
matter in controversy exceeds $1,000 be-
sides costs.
In other cases, such as prize cases, capt.
tai cases, cases involving construction of
United States laws and the Constitution,
cases appealed from the highest courts of
states, ETC., the United States Supreme
Court will still be the final resort.
Yesterday afternoon Err Putnam said
to PRESS reporter that he should accept
the appointment. He should be sorry to
leave his present Office since he had got it
fixed TO his mind, but it would be necessa-
ry as he would have to move TO the United
States Offices in the post Office building.