The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1910-12-07

ing that statute.
Judicial Procedure.
One great crying need in the Unitet
States is cheapening the cost Of litiga
ton by simplifying judicial procedur
and expediting final judgment. Unde
present conditions the poor man is u
a woeful disadvantage in legal con
test with a corporation or a rich op
ponent. The necessity for the reform
exists both in United States courts
and In all state courts. In order t,
bring it about, however, it naturally
falls to the general government by it
example to furnish a model to al
states. A legislative commission ap
pointed by joint resolution of congress
to revise the procedure in the United
States courts has as yet made no re
port
l am strongly convinced that tn,
best method of improving judicial pro
cedure at law is to empower the su
preme court to do 1t through the me
dunn of the rules of the court, as il
equity. This is the way in which 4
has been done in England.
Relief of Supreme Court From Un.
necessary Appeals.
No man ought to have as matter oil
right review of his case by the su
preme court. He should be satisfied
by one hearing before court of firs
instance and one review by court OF
appeals. The proper and chief useful
ness of the supreme court. and espe
c1ally the supreme court of the United
States, is in the cases which come be
fore 1t so to eXpound the law and espe
cially the fundamental law-the con
stitution-as to furnish precedents fol
the inferior courts in future litigation
and for the executive officers in the
construction of statutes and the per
formance of their legal duties. There
fore any provisions for review Of cases
by the supreme court that cast upon
that court the duty of passing on ques.
tions of evidence and the construction
Of particular forms of Instruments, like
indictments or wills or contracts. de.
cisions not of general application or
Importance. merely clog and burden
the court and render more difficult its
higher function, which makes II so i'm
portant a part of the framework of
our government. The supreme court is
now carrying an unnecessary burden
of appeals Of this kind. and earnestly
urge that it be removed.
Judicial Salaries.
l further recommend to congress the
passage of the bill now pending for
the Increase in the salaries of the fed
eral judges, by which the chief Justice
OF the supreme court shall receive Sl7,-
800 and the associate justices $1,000,
the circuit judges constituting the cir.
cult court of appeals shall receive $1O,-
600 and the district judges $4,000. The
positions they occupy ought to be filed
by men who have shown the greatest
ability in their professional work at
the bar, and it is the poorest economX
possible for the government to paN
salaries so low for judicial service as
not to be able to command the best
talent of the legal profession in every
part of the country
WiPng Out of Postal Deficit.
For many years there has been n
deficit in the operations of the post
office department which has been met
by appropriation from the treasury
The appropriation estimated for last
year from the treasury over and above
the receipts of the department was
$lI,5OO,OO0 am glad to record the
fact that of that $17,5O0,0O0 estimated
for 100000 were saved and return.
ed to the treasury. 1t is gratifying
to report that the reduction in the
deficit has been accomplished without
any curtallment of postal facilities.
Upon the recommendation of the
postmaster general | have included in
the classified service all assistant post
masters, and | believe that this giving
q secure tenure to those who are the
most important subordinates of post
masters will add much to the efficiency
Of their offices and an economical ad-
mlnistration.
The Franking Privilege.
The unrestricted manner in which
the franking privilege is now being
used by the several federal services
and by congress has laid 1t open to Sc
rious abuses.
Parcels Post.
With respect TO the parcels post
respectfully recommend Its adoption
on all rural delivery routes and that
eleven pounds, the International limit.
be made the limit Of carriage in such
post The postoflice department has
great plant and a great organization,
reaching into the most remote hamlet
of the United States. and with this
machinery 1t is able to do great
many things economically that If a
new organization were necessary II
would be impossible to do without ex-
travagant expenditure. That is the
reason why the postal savings bank
can be carried on at small additional |
cost and why 1t is possible to incor-
porate at n very inconsiderable eX-
pense n parcels post in the rural de-
livery system.
Peary.
unite with the secretary in the rec
that an appropriation
be made to construct n suitable crypt |
at Annapolis for the custody of the
remains of John Paul Jones.