Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-09-22
ny,cnAM OF THE SUPREME

DIAGRAM OF Ilir SOi hi@-"A>
tba Second Auditors office and the nan
running TO the west thereon, anu tne
Clerks office is over the oincs OK ING
State Treasurer. 49,,
quarters. which have been elegantly lur,
n,shed and fitted up for the court anu
Its officers. or how the divergence between
the views OF the court and the Library
Board Will be overcome. cannot now NC
told. II is possible that the matter my
he settled TO the satisfaction OF all pu.
a Is more likely that the Legislature VIII
have 10 decide what shall be done.
WHAT WAS INTENDED.
II seems unfortunate that there should
have been any hitch In this matter, anu
that the intention Of the General Assem-
bis TO transfer the Appellate Court OF
the State from the Sycamore chu,ch
building to more modern and asreeapie
quarters has not been realized. In direct
ing the erection OF the Library building
the Legislature intended to provide ac-
commodations for the State Library ana
the Supreme Court and for such OF the
State officers as could not be comfortably
housed in the old Capitol but
naming the Library and the
sourt first. Early in the course
H the erection of the house the old Court
Of Appeals. over which Judge l.. i. Lewis
presided, was consulted as TO the apart
ments 10 be set aside for that tribunal
The plans were examined, ana what APP
peared to be satisfactory assignment OF
The rooms was made by the Library
Board, and no more attention was given
The matter until some time after the
new court was constituted. Soon after
The new courts Inauguration the mem
bers thereof were called into consulta-
ton with the Library Board, and az
far as possible the house, then beihs
under roof. the views OF the members
Of the court were carried out In the COM
pletion OF the part OF the Duiidlhe III
which they were interested.
GIVEN ANOTHER ROOM.
When Il was ascertaned that made
quate quarters had been provided for the
Law library OF the court, the board
changed its plans as TO the assignment
of the large square room on the north
side of the structure as an art gallery
and transferred this room, which Is I'M
mediately above the court-chamber ana
the consultation-room. TO the supreme
Court to be used 10 accommodate the
law library. This apartment being on
the third floor, or one story above the
other quarters of the court. was source
of objection on the part or the Judges,
~
speaking-tupes put In. 50 that none OF
the court officials would have to leave
their rooms To get books desired from the
library 1t Is understood TO be the wish
Of the. court to have the library on the
same floor with the courtroom. The
Judges conference-room, which was COM
planned of at the time as being too small.
was enlarged by removing the toilet ar
rangements. and now that apartment Is
h. 10 m T0O N
ut the old court, on Eleventh street.
. INSUFFICIENT ACCOMMODATIONS
The whole question as to the courts
accepting Its new quarters seems to hinge
upon what are sufficient and convenient
accommodations. The Library Board
thinks those provided are ample and as
convenient as those OF most any State.
and the court. on the other hand, seems
10 be OF contrary opinion, and to feel
that II would have Jared better II It
had been represented on tho Board OF
building Commissioners.
When the court adjourned its session
here April 18TH last II caused the follow
ing order to be entered:
1T Is ordered that when the present
term OF this court ends Ii will adjourn
TO reconvene at the place OF session now
used and occupied by II in the city OF
Richmond. the court being OF opinion
that the accommodations provided for II
IN ths building erected by authority OF
chapter ca. Acts Of Assembly 1915
page $780, are not convenient and suitable
for the transaction OF Its business.
1T Is further ordered that the offices
Of this court and the library thereof.
shall remain as at the day Of Its adj
Journment Of It's present term. and shall
% continue until tho further order Of
this court. or until further action shall
have been taken by the General Assem-
bly, Of Virginia"
LETTER FROM JUDGE KEITH.
When thu members OF the court last
Inspected the rooms set apart for the
tribunal. which was late In the spring.
they had not been either finished or fur
nished. Now they.are Ia complete order.
and ready for occupancy.
When the furnishing Of the apartments
had been completed the secretary OF the
Library Board 30 advised the officers Of
the court. In reply TO this notice that the
new quarters were ready. Judge Keith.
president OF the court wrote letter
20 the board. which has given rise to a
good deal Of comment. The board de-
ciines 10 give tho letter out for publica-
tiop or 10 discuss its contents further
than 10 say tina. the Judge renews and
.smphssizes the courts refusal 70 go into