The St. Lucie County tribune. (Fort Pierce, St. Lucie County, Fla.) 1905-1920, 1910-12-09
TAFT'S MESSAGE
Continued from page ~

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equally required by commercial YES
sells, there would seem TO be strong
reasons why the government should
take over aud include In its manage
ment the furnishing not only to the
navy. but to the public. drydock anu
repair shop facilities and the sale OF
coal. oil and other ship supplies,
The maintenance Of lock canal OF
this enormous size in sparsely popu'
lated country and in the tropics, where
the danger from disease Is always
present requires large and compete
and well trained organization Win
full police powers, exercising the Ut
most care.
cannot close this reference 10 the
canal without suggesting as wise
amendment to the interstate commerce
law a provision prohibiting Interstate
commerce railroads from owning or
controlling ships engaged in the traue
through the Panama canal. ! believe
such provision may be needed TO
save to the people of the United States
the benefits of the competition in trade
between the eastern and western sea.
boards which this canal was construct.
ed to secure
Department Of Justice.
am glad to say that under the ap.
preparations made for the department
Of Justice the attorney general has 50
improved It's organization that vast
amount Of litigation Of civil and
criminal character has been disposed
of during the current year This will
explain the necessity for slightly in
creasing the estimates for the ex
penses of the department. His report
shows the recoveries made on behalf
OF the government. Of duties fraudu'
lently withheld. public lands improp'
erly patented. fines and penalties for
trespass. prosecutions and convictions
under the antitrust law and proSecu
tions under Interstate commerce law
invite especial attention to the
prosecutions under the federal law of
the so called bucket shops" and OF
those schemes 70 dpfrald In which the
use of the mail is IN essential part
Of the fraudulent conspiracy. prosecu
lions which have saved ignorant and
weak members IF the public and are
saving them millions of dollars
,al Of III a "
present perhaps the most important
litigation before the department. ard
the number OF cases filed shows the
activity Of the government In enforc.
ing that statute.
Judicial Procedure.
One great crying need in the United
States is cheapeuing the cost Of litiga.
ton by simplifying judicial procedure. \
and expediting final judgment. Under
present conditions the poor man is at
a wOeful disadvantage in u legal con-
test with corpora ton or a rich Op-
pOnent. The necessity for the reform
exists both in United States courts
and In all state courts. In order to
bring ii about. however, it naturally
falls to the general government by its
example to furnish model to all
states. A legislative commission APP
pointed by joint resolution Of congress
to revise the procedure in the United
States courts has as yet made no re-
port.
| am strongly convinced that the
best method of improving judicial pro.
redure at law Is to empower the su-
preme court to do 1t through the me.
dunn Of the rules Of the court. as in
equity. This is the way In which II
has been done in England
Relief Of Supreme Court From Un.
necessary Appeals.
No man ought to have as a matter OF |
light a review Of his case By the su.
)relne court He should be satisfied |
)y one hearing before court OF first |
Instance and one review by d court Of |
appeals. The proper and chief useful.
less Of the supreme court. and espe.
tally the supreme court Uf the United
states. is in the cases which come be.
ore 1t 50 to expound the law aud espe.
tally the fundamental law--the con.
to furnish precedents for
he inferior courts In future litigation
nd for the executive officers In the
of statutes and the per.
ormance Of their legal duties There.
ore any provisions for reviewbf cases
" the supreme court that cast upon
hat court the duty Of passing on ques.
ions Of evidence and the construction
4 particular forms Of instruments. like
Indictments or wills or contracts. de-
isiOns not of general application or
Importance. merely clog and burden
he court and render more difficult Its
igher function. which makes II 30 i'm.
'ortant part Of the framework Of
ur government. The supreme cOurt Ia