The morning times., 1896-03-29
LAWYERS MIKE PROTEST
Bar Association Meets On the
Appeals Bill.
ARE A UNIT AGAINST IT
Proposed Measure Makes the Court
OF Appeals of the Dist rict the Final
Patent Suits-COmmittee Appointed
TO Lobby Against 1t.

A special meeting of the District Bar As
sociation was held at the city fiall yester-
day afternoon TO take action on the bill
that has been favorably reported to the
Senate from the Judiciary Committee, and
which is destined to curtail the right OF
appeal To the supreme court Of the United
States from the court OF appeals OF the
District. a fair attendance Of representa-
tiEe lawyers of the city were on hand, and
a violent and unanimous opposition to the
bill was manifested.
Henry Z. Davis, president of the assOaia-
ton, presided over the meeting. and secre-
tary Lewiuhad charge OF the currentrecords.
The bill under consideration is Senate bill
2546, and makes the following provision:
THAT the decision Of the court OF ap-
peaIS of the District of Columbia shall be
final in all cases where the decision OF a
circuit court or appeals OF the United states
would have been final If the question in
volved in such decision had arisen in any
State"
Senator Gray is the author OF the bill, and
Senator Hoar, il is understood, has yolun-
teCred To act rs Sponsor for it before the
Upper House OF Congress.
CASES IT WOULD AFFECT.
AT present it is possible TO appeal from
Supreme Court OF the United states where
the amount involved IN the suit amounts
TO $1,000 or over. The passage OF the new
biu would cut off right or appeal almost
entirely Among the cases In the Sta-ss
from which there Is no appeal are patent
cases and admiralty suits under certain
conditions. one OF the most important
branches OF litigation brought before the
court OF appeals is that OF patent eases
In these they are allowed an appeal
and the efforts OF Il blow aimed in that
direction would be far felt.
The court Of appeals has always been
regarded IS a favorite child OF the govern
meut's judiciary. When the court was
organized the chief Justice OF the Supreme
Court came down from his bench aBdswOre
the three Justices into office. though that
was not duty devolyed upon him. He
called attention at the time 10 the dignity
that attached TO the new court.
OF late, il is said, however, an occasional
frown is sent down from Uncle Sans
highest judiciary. When the records in
the appealed case show on their face that
the amount of money involved amounts TO
$4,000 the case is accepted, maybe with
III favors, but without question. But in
cases where the amount involved in the
litigation does not appear on the face OF the
suit, as in an eiectment suit, careful
inspection by the court Is made to see that
; the minimum limit is reached.
UNANIMOUS AGAINST IT.
The discussio ion over The matter was
| Joined in by numer of well-kuow wn Ia wyers,
| but the speeches were all on one side and
| that against the biB. AT the conclusion
| of the discussion the following gentlemen
| were appointed committee to fight the
| bill in the lobbies or any other available
/ battIefields OF the Senate: Messrs. H E.
| Davis, chairman; r. Ross Perry, Nathaniel
Wilson. a. S. Worthngton, Caideron Car
| Isle. Melyis Church, C. Z. Foster, William
| F. Mattingly and A. Bt Brown.
! The question of international arbitra-
| ton also came up Tor debate before the
| meeting Several speeches were made
| and q general feeling prevailed for the
necessity OF adopting some international
| treaty OF arbitration, and especially with
| Great b Britain. a committee was appointed
to confer on the matter with q similar
| committee from the New York Bar Asso'
| ciation The members of this committee
! are as follows: II. L. Davis. a. Porter
| Morse. j H. Ashton, Frank ". Hackett,
| and Calderon Carlisle.