The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-12-07
REFORMS FOR THE COURTS.
Legislation Urged Against Injunc tions Without Previous Notice.

T
 The platform of the successful party in the last election contained the fol lowing:
 The Republican party will uphold at all times the authority and integrit. of the courts, state and federal. ano will ever insist that their powers t. enforce their process and to protect life. liberty and property shall be pre- served tnvioiate. We believe, however that the rules of procedure in the federal courts with respect to the is- suance of the writ of injunction shoulC be more accurately defined by statute and that no injunction or temporar. restraining order should be issued without notice, except where irrepara- bie injury would result from delay. in which case a speedy hearing there after should be granted"
 recommend that in compliance with the promise thus made appropriate leg islation be adopted. The ends of jus tice will best be met and the chief cause of complaint against Ill consid- cred injunctions without notice will be removed by the enactment of a statute forbidding hereafter the issuing of any
  CT temporary or permanent, by any federal court without previous notice and a reasonable opportunity to be heard on behalf of the parties to be enjoined unless it shall appear to the satisfaction of the court that the delay necessary to give such notice and hear ing would result in irreparable injury to the complainant and unless also the court shall from the evidence make a written finding. which shall be spread upon the court minutes, that fmme- dfate and irreparable injury is likely to ensue to the complainant and shall define the injury, state why it is ir- reparable and shall also indorse on the order issued the date and the hour of the issuance of the order. More over, every such injunction or re- straining order issued without previ- ous notice and opportunity by the de- fendant to be heard should by force of the statute expire and be of no ef- feet after seven days from the issu- ance thereof or within any time less than that period which the court may fix unless within such seven days pr such less period the injunction nr order Is extended or renewed after previous notice and opportunity to be heard
 My judgment is that the passage of such an act, which really embodies The best practice in equity and is vel Ike the rule now in force in some ,ourts. will prevent the issuing of III advised orders of injunction without notice and will render such orders when issued much less objectionable by the short time in which they may remain effective.
 Antitrust and Interstate Commerce
 Laws.
 The Jurisdiction of the general gov- esnment over interstate commerce has led to the passage of the so called sherman antitrust law and the ''in- terstate commerce law" and its amendments. The developments in the operation of those laws. as shown by indictments. trials. judicial decisions and other sources of information, call for a discussion and some suggestions as to amendments. These l prefer 10 embody in a special message instead of including them in the present com munication. and 1 shall avail myself of the first convenient opportunity 10 bring these subjects to the attention of congress.
 Jail of the District of Columbia.
 My predecessor transmitted to the congress special message on Jan. Il, 1909, accompanying the report of com missioners heretofore appointed to in- vestigate the jail. workhouse, etc. in the District of Columbia. in which he directed attention to the report as set ting forth vividly ''the really out