Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-02-11
A COURT OF APPEALS.
A Bill Reported to the House Judiciary
Committee OF Great Local Interest.

A Bill Reported to the House Judiciary
Committee OF Great Local Interest.
Mr.. Culberson from the House committee on
Judiciary today reported to the full COMMITTEES
bill to establish wcourt of appeals for the Dis
trict In submitting the bill MIR. Culberson ex.
planned its object and stated that he deemed il
just to state that the judges Of the District Su.
preme Court do not approve the bill which the
committee will report favorably to the House
They insist that the Supreme bench of the Dis.
trict be increased to nine members.
Full consideration was given by the commit
tee to the statement made by the judges, but
the commttee saw proper to sustain the action
of its subcommittee and directed Mr.. Culber.
son to report the bill to the House with sundry
amendments.
The bill provides for the establishment in the
District OF a court Of appeals consisting OF one
ries at $4,000 each. clerk at $1,000, with ar
assistant at $4,000, is also provided
Fees shall be paid into the United
States Treasury. The court is required tc
hold three terms each year. Appeals are
to be made direct from this court to the United
States Supreme Court where matters in contro.
versy exceed $1,000. The bill abolishes the ap
pellate power and jurisdiction of the presen,
District Supreme Court, and If it becomes Law
the Supreme Court justices will be trial Judges
only. 1here shall DC SIX supreme Court JUS
tees. as ut present.
The bill provides that causes now pending
before the District Supreme Court in Genera
Term shall be Immediately transmitted to the
Court Of Appeals authorized to hear and de-
termine the same. This court will also deter.
mine appeals from the decisions Of the commits
sioner of patents. The committee strikes out
that portion Of the act relating to the retire
ment Of judges after ten years Of service.
Mr.. Culberson thinks this bill or some SINH
lar measure is absolutely necessary for the
disposition Of litigation which has accumulated
| in the Distric. for the past ten years.
He believes that the court docket Of this Dis
trict as it now stands amounts almost to a de
NAL of justice The plan proposed will enable tn,
present judges Of the District Supreme Court Il
employ all their time in trial cases and it is be
lieved that three judges in the court Of
appeals will transact more bushes
s ha1v "U embossed a'' udsfs n as ORIG zig
leved by tine committee that the judges Of tn,
District Supreme Court can object to this bill
upon the ground that it 10 q reduction of ranl
for them. On the contrary, the committee be
lieves their salary should be increased snt
| recommends that they shall receive 81, 900 pc
year.
Mr.. Culberson was asked his opinion upoI
the probable passage Of the bill at this session
| He said: 1T seems to be the opinion OF tn
committee that this bill should not be presse,
for consideration during this session Of Con
| gress. or at least until the committee on tn
District Of Columbia secures the passage Of tn
bill making the Offices Of recorder Of deed
and register Of wills salsried Offices"
| Mr.. Culberson thinks IL this should be done
it could be easily demonstrated TO the Hous
that enough money would be saved In thi
direction to meet additional outlay caused b,
| the establishment of court OF appeals