The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1909-12-14
PEARL HARGoR.

which the Shirt of retaliation shals
be aroused.
PEARL HARGOR.
The military and naval Joint boaru
have unanimously agreed that it
would be unwise TO make the large
expenditures which at one time were
contemplated in the establishment of
naval base and Station in the Phil.
ippne Islands, and have expressed
their judgment, in which 1 fully con-
cur in favor of making an extensive
naval base at Pearl Harbor. near Ho-
nolulu, and not in the Philippines.
! This does not dispense with the ne
cessity for the comparatively small
appropriations required to finish the
proper coast defenses in the PhiliLt
pines now under construction on the
island of Corregidor and elsewhere,
or to complete suitable repair sta
ton and coaling supply station at
Olongapo, where is the floating dock
Dewey" / hope ,that this recon-
mendation of me joint board will end
the discussion as to the comparative
merits of Manila Bay and Olongapo
as naval stations, and will lead to
prompt measures for the proper
equipment and defense of Pearl Har-
Dor.
THE NAVY.
The return of the battleship fleet
from its voyage around the world, IN
more efficient condition than when it
started, was a noteworthy event OF
interest alike to our citizens and the
naval authorities of the world. Be
sides the beneficial and far-reaching
effect on our personal and diploma
tic relations in the countries which
the fleet visited the marked success
of the ships in steaming around the
world in all weathers on scheduled
time has increased respect for our
navy, and has added to our national
prestige.
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
Expedition in legal procedure.)
The deplorable delays in the adj
ministration of civil and criminal
law have received the attention of
committees of the American Bar AS
ISOLATION and of many state bar asso.
Citations, as well as the considered
thought of judges and iurists. In my
Judgment, change in judicial proce.
dure, with a view to reducing its ex-
pense to private litigants in civil
cases and facilitating the despatch OIL
business and final decision in both
civil and criminal cases. constitutes
the greatest need in our American
institutions. l do not doubt for one
moment that much of the lawless vio-
fence and cruelty exhibited in lynch.
lngs is directly due to the uncertain.
Ties and injustice growing out of tbe
uelays In trials, judgments, and the
executions thereof by our courts. OF
course these remarks apply ouita as
well TO the administration of iustice
III state courts as to that in fedora,
courts, and without making invidious
ulStlnction it is Perhaps not too much
10 say that, speaking generally. the
ueIects are less in the federal courts
IMAM IN the state courts. But they
are very great in the federal courts.
Inc expedition with which business
IS disposed of both on the civil ana
the criminal side of English courts
under modern rules of procedure
makes the decays in our courts seem
archaic and borhorOvc MT. -
dure in the federal courts should
furnish an example for the state
courts. l presume it is impossible,
without an amendment to the consti-
tuition to unite in form of action the
proceedings at common law and pro.
ceedings in equity in the federal
courts, but it is certainly not impos-
slble by a statute to simplify and
make short and direct the procedure
both at law and in equity in these
courts. 1t is not impossible to cut
down still more than it is cut down,
the Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court
so as to confine it almost wholly to
statutory and constitutional cues
Ilols' Ohder the present statutes tn
equity and admiralty procedure IN
the Federal courts is under the con-
troll of the Supreme Court but in the
pressure of business to which thai
court is subjected it is impossible
to hope that a radical and proper re-
form of the federal equity procedure
can be brought about. l therefore
recommend legislation providing for
the appointment by the President OF
a commission with authority to ex-
anime the law and equity procedure
OF the federal courts of first instance.
the law of appeals from these courts
to the courts of appeals and to the
supreme court, and the costs imposed
IN such procedure upon the private
lltlgants and upon the public treasury
L.