Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-10-13
BUSINESS P|L|NC UP
Congestion the Result of Mag
isteriaI Vacancy.
ACCUMULATION OF CASES
Conditions Growing Worse aAd No
Relief in Sight.
JUSTICE STRIDER'S POSITION
Unwilling to Serve in the Late
Judge O'Neals District at His
Own Expense.
ACCUMULATION OF CASES
JUSTICE sTRIDER's POSITION

Through the reduction of the regular
corps of justices of the peace IN the Dis
triCt of Columbia by the death of Judge
Lewis ] O'Neal there have sprung up a
series Of difficulties which bid fair TO fig
ure largely in minor legal controversies
IL The city for some time to como. At
present a state of congestion exists.
Every day conditions are becoming worse
and no relief is in sight
The death OF Justice ONeaI occurred
August -, and five days altcrWard the
justices of THE Supreme Court OF the Dis
.rict OF Columbia by virtue of authority
vested in them by the code, designated
Judge Luke c. Strider to preside tenn
rorari.y in subdstrict NJ. >, the post of
the late Judge O'Neai. Justice Stnder
ook up his added duties September } and
sal in buJu courts during al. Of Scptem-
Der. With the end of the month how
ever. the neTs Of Judge O Neal dlscon-
Gnu"G the rent of the office at 100 ID
street northwest and subdiStTict No. > was
without a courtroom. The work of con-
Quoting two courts hau been very trying
Gpou Magistrate Strider, and for various
.eaSonS- among them that there was no
provision in the law whereby he might
receive the salary Of the deceased justice
as compensation for his additional iG5orS +;
office in subdstriCt No. unless he
should bear the expense from his own
pocket; that ne could not carry cases in
the latter district into his own court in
the Fendall building. and that the work
IN the late Judge 'Nea $ Jurisdiction
could not be kept up without the en-
p.oyment Of a clerk. the printing of new
blanks and other statiOnery-he declined
TO serve in both offices after the first of
the present month.
Landlord and Tenant Cases.
Since that time the familiar Landlord
and tenant cases. which form the bulk
of cases coming before justices of the
peace for adjudication. have been ac-
cumulating in subdistrict No. ., and there
is no way in which they can be brought
10 trial. Even if the court should be
again temporarily filed, the sessions
would necessarily extend into extra hours
for many days before the congestion
could he reduced.
Mr. Strider said yesterday that he had
found ample Justification in the law for
his refusal to continue doing double duty.
THE justices of the District Supreme
Court, in event of the death of one of the
justices OF the peace, are empowered to
designate one of the other five members
of that court to sit on the vacant bench
temporarily until successor is appoint
ed Mr.. Strider continued But the law
cry. clerk hire, etc, for the temporary
incumbent. and he cannot be compelled
TO met these expenses with no compensat-
ing additional income. 1t las been admit
ted that l was justified in refusing to
continue in Judge O'Neai's place.
Situation Discussed.
"A delegation of South Washington bust
ness men who are most affected by the
closing of the court called upon me day
or two ago and endeavored to find Some
way out of the dilemma, and tried to per-
suade me to continue. l told them if they
would interview the Commissioners and
secure d promise from the latter TO in
clude proper recommendation in the
urgent deficiency bill TO reimburse me
for the outlay. and to press the matter
before Congress, l would go ahead and
rent new office in subdistrict >. But l
am told the Commissioners feared such
step might jeOpardize other legislation re-
lating TO the justices courts which il is
hoped to secure from the next Congress,
and they would not consent"
1t is understood the matter of the va
Cancy in the corps of six justices of the
peace OF the District was brought to the
attention of Attorney General Bonaparte
a few days ago, and by him in turn re-
ferred to President Roosevelt, but the
chief executive declined to make the nee
essary appointment until he had returned
from his southern trip.