Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-02-29

| A gathering in the House judiciary commit
tee room this morning looked something like
that seen on any opinion day in the Supreme
Court of the District. MANY of the leading
lawyers OF the District bar we're there The
occasion was an expected hearing on the pend
ing bill to establish a court of appeals for the
District
The hour named was 10 o'clock, but as only
hve members of the Judiciary committee ap-
peared, and some of those present expressed a
preference to address a fuller representation
| OF the committee, Judge Culberson. chairman
OF the committee. finally decided to postpone
the hearing and to give notice hereafter to
those interested as to when the hearing will be
held The committee expect to give one hour
| to each side of the question.
lhe opposition to- the bill crystaliZed this
/ morning when a committee of lawyers ap-
peared before the judiciary committee to for
mally announce their objection to the measure
| and to present to the committee their indorse-
ment of bill which they claim would more
practically effect the object of the court of ap-
| peals bill-tne relieving of the docket Of the
| supreme Court of the District.
Three bills are now pending before the ju-
dietary committee having this object in view.
One bill Is the one providing for a court OF ap-
| peals. to consist of one chief justice and two
associate justices. who shall try cases of appeal
from the District Supreme Court. Two bills
| provide for the appointment OF additional
| justices OF the District Supreme Court without
any change in the present organization OF the
court.
subcommittee Of the District Bar Associa-
| ton committee of twelve, consisting OF MI
| association: Nathaniel Wilson, Mr. A
| s. Warrington. Mr.. Henry T. DAVIS
| and Mr.. Il. Ross Perry. appeared before the
| Judiciary committee to advocate the court OF
| appeals bill. These attorneys were present 10
\ answer the objections of those who oppose the
| bill and to present the reasons of the Bar Asso-
cIaton for preferrIng this bill to the propos-
/ ton to increase the Supreme Court by the ap-
/ pointment OF three Justices Mr. Jere Wilson.
| Mr.. Chaplin Brown and others also appeared
/ with the subcommittee.
| The opponents of the court of appeals bill
| were represented by Gen. Eppa Hunton, Mr.
Henry Wise Garnett. Col. Enoch Totten, L. II.
NJ. McPhersor. MIR. Leigh Robinson, Franklin
II. Mackey. Randall Hagner, Robert Chrisby,
L. ID. Musssy and VIM. A Gordon.
There was no hearing, but little Informal
talk IN a conversational way, in which Mr..
Enoch Totten stated that those who offered the
court of appeals bill favored the one providing
for the appointment OF three additional asso-
ciate Justices The other bill pending, and
which Judge Culberson read, provides only for
two additional justices. and this, several Of the
lawyers said was not enough to give the relief
required.
All the lawyers at the bar. so FAR as the dele
cations present this morning represent them,
favor some legislation to increase the working
power of the District courts. their differences
OF opinion relate to tine method by which the
needed relief should be given.
LETTER FROM THE JUDGES.
The chief justice and associate justices Of the
Supreme Court of the District have ad-
dressed the following letter to the judiciary
committees of the House and Senate:
To the Committee Of the Judiciary of the Sem
ate and House of Representatives:
The undersigned, the chief justice and asso-
ciate justices of the Supreme Court Of the Dis
trlct of Columbia respectfully submit to your
committee some considerations with respect to
the proposition now before Congress to create
additional associate justices of this court
We are convinced that the speedy enactment
of such law has become an absolute neces-
slty.
Before the reorganization Of the judicial
establishment in 1863 the Judiciary of the
District of Columbia consisted of five judges,
three of whom were assigned to the Circuit
Court. one to the Criminal Court and one to
the Orphans Court. Criminal jurisdiction in
minor offenses was also exercised by the
mayors Of the cities of Washington and George
town and by number of magistrates. The
population OF the District at that time was
| $685. being 1906 inhabitants to each judge.
At the present time. with a population of
go. 1872. there are but six justices 1.-TWO judges
| of the Police Court having succeeded to the
powers of the magistrates in criminal cases,
with increased jGrisdiction). being 1898 in
| habitants to each justice of this court
The total assessed value of the property
within the District OF Columbia in 1860 is estl-
mated a: about SIS. 400 900. which was about
1860, coo for each OF the five judges at that
day.
The last published assessment of the private
property within the District for purposes of
| taxation shows an aggregate of S153. 307, Sal.
| Besides this there is a large amount of prop
| erty not taxable, estimated by the Commission
| ers as follows:
United States prop
erty. .............. S127, 1927 636
| Property of the Dis
trict government. 2612276
| Exempt property. 1884. I67
| s137.274,O79