The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-10-19
WORK OF THE u. $. SUPREME COURT
Prospect that 1t May Soon Catch Tn
with the Docket.
on Special in Chicago Post.

washington special IN Chicago Post.
should the present rate of decrease in the
number of cases on the docket of the Su-
preme Court of the United States continue
It is confidently believed by the officials of
that American tribunal that during the De-
TOPPER term, 1898. the court will be in a po-
Sltlon to take UP and pass upon the cases
ced1ng. In view OF the fact that but five
years ago there We're nearly 1900 cases on
the docket. the working power of the body
as AT present constituted will be appre-
ciated. This court, whose powers and
functions the Chicago platform seeks to
curtaIl, is, according to Archbishop Ireland
TIE 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 inmate with Il single idea
the clearing up of the docket from year to
year, that the ott-reDeated utterance that
the Supreme Court is the graveyard of liti-
cation may be forever, put to rest. Litlgants
have too often felt that justice would be
meted out long after their demise should
appeals be taken from lower courts, and
this has deferred many from insisting upon
n review of causes wherein there was rea-
sonable ground to doubt the rulings Of
changed in two years should there be no
reversal in the jurisdiction of the court as
at present constituted.
Herein, however, rests a danger. Under
the Evarts law. which went into effect in
1891, creating circuit courts of appeal, rev.
emu ana parent gases Were removed from
cult Courts of Appeal having final adjudica-
ton over these classes OF Cases. Importers
and lawyers, together with the govern
n1ent, are anxious to have Il uniform line
OF decisions on these cases. which at pres
ent is impossible, and are moving TO have
the Supreme Court made, as in old times,
the court of last resort. Revenue and pat
ent cases are largely heard in the courts
cago, st. Louis, New Orleans and San
Francisco, but, as might be expected,
Judges Of these courts see things differently;
and, as they are final with themselves, a
case involving new lines or adjudication
may be interpreted from diametrically OPP
posite views. To remedy this there is d
movement on foot to again invest the Su-
preme Court with power to try these cases,
instead of on a writ of certiorari, as at
present.
The Following table will be interesting in
showing how the business of the Supreme
Court is being handled:
Number of cases not disposed of at Oc-
tober term, 1889
Number of cases filed at October term,
1891 623
Total 500
Number of cases disposed OF at October
Number of cases filed at October term,
1891 $40
Number of cases disposed of at October
term, 1891 1876
Balance
Number of cases filed at October term.
1917 210
Total
Number of cases disposed of at October
term, 1882 4l9
Number of cases filed at October term.
1875 $50
-
Total
Number of cases disposed of at October
term. 1875 800
Halaf1ce IA
Number of cases filed at October term,
1871 322
Total 046
Number of cases disposed of at October
term, 1884 45
-
Balance go
Number of cases filed at October term.
1879 3S2
Total .022
Number Of cases disposed of at October
term, 1888 4S9
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