New-York tribune., 1909-09-17

for the benefit of the people and litigants. More
than this, l am bound to say that in the matter
of reducing the cost of litigation, and. indeed,
the time of il, Congress and the federal courts
have not set a good example Probably under
the Constitution IL is impossible in the federal
courts to unite suits at law and cases in equity
in one form of action, has been done in the
codes Of the states. but it certainly is possible to
introduce a simpler form of procedure both in
suits in Law and suits ia equity. This last form
of prOcedure-that is equity-has been entirely
in the control Of the courts. and especially the
Supreme Court. and yet in years no real reform
has taken place in that regard, and the pro-
cedure is just about as clumsy. just about as
expensive, just about likely 20 produce de-
lay, as il was thirty or forty years ago.
The fact that no reform has been instituted
may perhaps be due TO the circumstance that
judges have been overloaded with work in
the Supreme Court, and thus opportunity has
not been seized for this reform But 1 conceive
that the situation is now ripe for the appoint
ment of a commission by Congress to take up
the question of the laws delays in the federal
courts and to report a system which shall not
only secure quick and cheap justice to the liti
gants in the federal courts, but shall offer
model TO the legislatures and courts of the states
tute reforms.
WOULD MODIFY FEE SYSTEM
would abolish altogether the system of pay
ment of court officers by fees. The fee system
may be properly continued for the reimburse
ment of the public treasury by litigants special
ly interested, but the fees ought 10 be reduced
10 the lowest point, and the motive for increasing
the expense of litigation that arises from the
officers should be removed / do not think that
the delays in justice due to any niggardli-
ness on the part of the public in appropriatnG
money 10 meet the expenses of administration
The evil lies deeper in the system which have
referred 10 only in a most summary way.
OF all the questions that are before the Amer
lean people 1 regard more important
than this, to Wit. the improvement Of the ad-
ministration of Justice We must make il so
that the poor man will have as nearly as pos
sibie opportunity in iitigatnq the rich
man. and under present conditions, ashamed as
we may be OF II, this is not the fact.
ana now my friends, have subjected you
TO a rather solemn discussion Of a rather solemn
. subject.
I always like TO visit Chicago. because it is in a
sense the centre of the country. Much more
than Boston is IL the hub about which many
people and many interests revolVe. In making
up the personnel of my Cabinet and my admin
iStratiOn have been surprised to find how many
admirable men you have in your community
and must apologize for the drain which l have
made upon your resources by calling TO Wash
ington and foreign courts at least half dozen
of your most prominent and able citizens In
doing so had 20 ask them all to make personal
+ sacrifices in the matter of compensation and to
gather their reward from disinterested desire to
serve the public and a patriotic Willingness to
put their abilities at the disposition of the coun-
try
ROOSEVELT REFORMS INDORSED.
We are entering now upon an era of prosperity
which hope will be long continued. We have
+ just passed tariff bill which has ended for the
time the disturbance of business that always
arises from the consideration and agitation over
euCn OH, anu tneFe Is nothlng now 10 prevent
the application Of all the capital and all the
FORCES which have been suspended for the last
year and half or two years by lack of conf
dence and waiting for such settlement 10 the
expansion OF business and the further develop
ment OF the resources OF this country.
But this prospect of prosperity must not blind
as 70 the necessity for carrying out certain great
reforms advocated by Mr.. Roosevelt, recon-
mended in the Republican party platform, which
believe are needed 70 prevent return 70 the
abuses which all men recognize the evil Of in our
previous business methods and the management
OF our great corporations.
expect 10 consider these questions more at
length at another stage in my journey. as l do
also the character of the tariff bill which has
been adopted and which has been subjected TO
much criticism. but tonight feel that have
Wearied you far beyond any claim have had to
your attention.