Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-01-20

Irojestv u ne p.tri-t
spse uulrui..-..--..--- z.1I5'T; 40
- ~. er4.o3o
Io.,- lraSru.. ....-....-...... go ISL SO
Which wouli show SIS llO. 26S Cor each of the
siI justices On the entire valuation and S25,-
557 - on the valuation Tor taxable purposes.
since l-6O the Or e~utiOns Of the general gov
ernn.-nt have amr.l.1ci to an smaZIng extent,
and tui- Increase Is FELT IA greater degree in
this jurisdiction than ia any other portion of
The couEtry. The popGlat'on Of the District Of
luubla J. larger than that Of either of siX state
OF the uior and the amount OF the assessed
values IN the District Is greater than that in
each Of ia % The states; aud the entire valus-
ton sVrcs.!- the a--es-ed vGide o. property in
each ~ sixteen % the states.
Such au EXPANSION Of wealth and population
wouid necessarily imply corresponding
growth in the amouH; Of litigation: and the
fa,tS ~hp~ even greater proportionate in
crease m the business Of the courts
Dun z the sINty wears from loG3 TO 1858 the
entire number 81 equity Suits brought was not
more than 2.5HC. From 1868 to February l.
Isgg the number brOugh. amount 10 1860
Within ;hc batter period more than 32,51l civil
eases have been brought before the special
term holding tine Circuit Court. nOtwlthstand-
ing tine extension Of the Jurisdiction of the jus
tiCes 81 the peace ia civil cases beyond $50.
which withdrew IRON that court large class
at cases formerly contributing considerable
part Of the business of the old Circuit Court.
since l-G.. Is SO cases have been before The
Criminal court. although the Police Court has
exclusive jurisdiction Of many minor ofsenses,
which during the past year numbered lS.069
cases. and FOR the last three years numbered
A. glS
For the twtrty-six years before 1863 the
number % administration cases before the Or
phans Court was .1i2.
From 1863 to February. 1892 the administrn-
ton cases IN that court numbered S.Gj1.
The guardianship cases during the first
rarf,I Isfg-a ISf.H urvnberpl az nd
since IS6S they amount 20 1899.
The increased values Of the estates involved
in the business III that court il very marked. as
might be expected from the greater prosper
itv % tine people.
BESIDES the great mass Of prosecutions in the
Police Court the number OF cases disposed of
In tbs Criminal Court Of The District Of Column
L. exceeds in amount more than one-fourIh Of
the entire criminal business in all the United
States courts Of the country.
Inc Jurisdiction OF the Supreme Court of this
Dissr Is more extensive and varied than that
OF any court in the country, except the Supreme
Court % the United States.
IL l. charged with all the powers and juris-
dictior Of the circuit and district courts Of the
United states ard with all criminal Jurisdiction
(eNcept IN petty cases trisble IN the Police
Court. many Of which may come 10 the Crini-
nal Court b. appeal IL Is the only court
authorized 10 hear appeals from tie commits
sloneT OF patents. IN certain cases. and II pos
re--cs al the extensive and varied common-Iaw
Jurisdiction belonging 70 the highes, courts in
Maryland n 1901. by virtue OF which j, has
cogHizanee % application for n,andamus against
officials 81 she government.
4 large part Of the litigation thus devOlved
uFou this court Is directly the consequence of
IT. location at he seat Of government and the
iuua-U-e business transactions connected with
it. operations
The civil business brought before the Equity
and Circuit Court FOR the greater part is such
appertaIu- 10 large cities aud presents con-
stant questions % difuculiy In commercial law.
frequently involving large arnoInts-
There many other duties coniided to the
court besides these mentioned
Since 1853 5. rs foreigner. have been natur-
slzed here. and i33 bankruptcy cases have
been adiudicatei.
"a matters % cEtraditiOn the chief Justice
ami IN case Of his absence or disability the
other justices. exercise the powers and perform
the duties - the chief executive OF the state
AMI the co1rt l. frequently engaged in con-
trOyers.es arising out OF the condemnation Of
real estate Tor pebble Uses.
The plan Il relief presented by this bill has
been met and j. cOmDatet in the main b. a
proposition 20 add three associate indgss 10 the
court a. now constituted. and from the mem
beF- % the Judicial body thns increased to ere
ate a ptrrnanen: general term shich shall have
the SAME appellate Jurisdiction tina; it now
erclss--
The proposed addition Of three associate
1ns.ices would make the Supreme Court Of the
District g. be composed OF a chief justice and
eight associate justices, each having the same
power and authority. without further legisla-
tjOn the composition Of the general term which
h IN reality court of appeal. would be left 10
b. determined by the members O. the court
thein-eiSe-. a. they might Themselves from
time 20 time agree.
Those Wko appeared before the committee in
opposition TO the court 81 appeals bill did not
urge that the designation OF the members Of
TIE court wEo should sit in general term should
thus be left to The determination Of the mem
bers OF the court thesn-eives.
hey advocate bill H. T. 6f25) which pro-
vides for tie appointment Of three additional
judges. and that the general term should then
b composed 81 the chief justice and the two or
three associate justices senior in service and
that vacancies occurred in the general term
their places should be filed by the selection or
promotion OF other members OF the court ac-
cordIng 20 the same system o: seniority of
eoraunission-
such 4 method Of creating a general te rm or
appellate court would take from the executive
oil power Of direct appointment to what is in
reality court % last resort in respect of the
greater part Of the Judicial business of the Dis
trict-
IL would make mere length Of service the sole
qualification for a seat on the bench in the
general term.
IL would efectually prevent the designation
Of junior Judge % sit IN general term. 10 mat
tar how Conspicuous Nigh, be bis especial ht-
ness Tor the duties Of that position
IL would rlaee and continuously keep in the
most important places in the Judicial system
those and those only who were nearest the
period for retirement. ant who. for that reason,
might naturally be supposed 10 bring To the
performance " their duties the least energy
and vig0r.
Is would cause more frequent changes in the
composition - the court because all Of its
nembers would At all times necessarily be of
advanced axe.
II 10 not believed that in the. history Of the
judicial system Of the United States any prece-
dsnt can be found TO Justify such an extra
ordinary plan Of organizing AN appellate tri-
bunal-
The increased salaries provided for by this
hill eaa DC betrayed without direct charge upon
the government from the Large sums paid into
the treasury by the cO1rts of the District of
Columbia. arising from fees and forfeitures, &c
These sums. derived Rom private snitors, are
spphsd primarily TO the payment of the ex-