Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1896-10-19
TO SETTLE MANY OLD CASES
Supreme Court Of the United States Ex.
pected to Expedite Work,
CAN ALMOST SEE A CLEAR DOCKET
In Two More Years VIII Probably he
In II Position Ia Pass Upon Pcti-
lions Filed Within u Very
brief Period.

| WASHINGTON, Oct. 1S.-CSpecial)-
Should the present rate OF decrease in the
number Of eases now on the docket of the
supreme court OF the United States continue
1t is confidently believed by the officials Of
that American tribunal that during the oc
tober term. 1898 the court will be In posi-
tion to take up and pass upon the cases
filed during the year from the January
preceding. In view of the fact that but
iivc years ago there were nearly 1900 cases
on the docket, the working power of the
body. as at present constituted, will be APP
prCciated. Ibis court. whose powers and
functions, the Chicago platform seeks Ia
curtall, is, according to Archbishop Ireland
'the palladium of American liberties the
counterpart OF which in majesty and in
power to enforce absolute justice does not
exist among the nations of Christendom. "
Barring one member every occupant OF that
bench Is animated with a single idea-the
clearing up of the docket from year to year,
that the oft-ropeated uttcranCe that the
supreme court is the graveyard of litigation
may be forever put at rest.
Litigants have too often felt that JUS
tice would be mcted out long after their
demise should appeals be taken from lower
courts. and this has deferred many from
insisting UPON a review of causes wherein
there was reasonable ground to doubt the
rulings oi courts below. All this. how
ever, will be changed in couple of years
should there be no reversal in the juris-
diction OF the court as at present consti-
tuted Herein, however rests danger.
Under the Eyarts law which went into
eject in 1881, creating circuit courts OF
appeals, revenue and patent causes were
removed from the jurisdiction OF the su-
preme court, circuit courts of appeals hav-
Ing final adjudication over these classes of
cases. Importers and lawyers. together with
the government, are anxious 20 have a uni
form line OF decisions On these cases, which
at present Is impossible and are moving
to have the supreme court made as in
old times. the court Of last resort.
Revenue ard patent cases are largely
heard n the courts of New York. Boston.
Philadelphia, Chicago. New Orleans and San
Francisco, but as might be expected. judges
-of these courts see things differently, ana
as they are final with themselves. a case
involving new lines of adjudication may
be Interpreted from dramatically opposite
FioWs. To remedy this there is a move
m5nt on foot to gain invest the supreme
co"rt with power to try these cases in
stead OF or writ of certiorarl. as at
present.
INTERESTING TABLE.
The following table will be interesting
in showing how the business of the SUI,
preme court is being handled:
Number of cases not disposed of at Oc-
Number OF cases fled at October term,
le9V '.'.......,.-.............. 623
Total .:........................ l,SOO
Number Of cases disposed of at octo,- '''''
Der term. 1890. .....................,, Clio
>-,,.,,,,,, - ..-- 1lgO
term. 1881 ..................,.,..... . $40
Number OF eases disposed of at Octo- '''''
Der term. 1891. Observation-Disclosures. 4as
v,,u,,ou 1913
lA92 ............................. aT5
IGtal ;s.........;;......;... 1,3iS
NHHmoer OF cases disposed of ut Octo-
oer 'erh'' lSSZ''.'..... 4li
>....., 1854
1888 .,........................... $50
Number Of cases disposed or at Octo-
Der term. 1893. Observation-Disclosures, 500
Number of cases filed at October term 81
1871 '''''....................... 1872
I3tn ;''........;;;.......;...: LOIS
Der term. 1891. Observation-Disclosures. 4Os
Number of cases fled at oc;ober term, Wv
e i''" 3S2
N,, Total 30 1Ole
Der term, 1855. ..................... $50
$50