New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-06-04
SUPREME COURT WOULD
REMEDY LAWS DELAYS
Chief Justice White Appoints
Committee to Revise Proceed
lIrc in Courts of Equity.
MR.. TAFT RECOMMENDED IT
Committee Consists of Chief Jus
tice and Justices Lurton and
Van Devanter Action Grat-
ifies Lawyers Here.
From The Tribune Bureau

From The Tribune Bureau
Washington. June 3.-The first stop in
accordance with President Tafts sug-
gestion for the reform Of judicial pro
cedure was taken to-day in the An
nouncement Of the appointment of
committee. consisting Of the chief Jus
tice of the United States and Associate
Justices Iurton and Nandevanter TO
undertake revision OF the rules Of prac-
tice IN federal courts Of equity. Chief
Justice White himself. who designated
the committee win act as chairman OK
oficio The work will he taken up i'm the
recess Of the Supreme Court Chief JUS
tice White announced that the commi--
tee in framing new rules will receive any
suggestions which may he made by the
bar Of the country.
II IL expected that ss resut of the
reform 70 he undertaken the adjustment
of disputes in courts ~ equity will be
expedited. and the long DELAYS due 20
the present rules. which are 10 some ey
tent obsolete, will be avoided. Eventu
ally. II is hoped. the revision of equity
rules will set the example for similar
general reforms IN court procedure, and
that the technical obstacles which can
now be interposed IN the course Of the
administration of Justice will he reduced
10 minimum. In connection with this
point attention will probably he called
70 the congestion cf the docket of the
Supreme Court itself, which is now So
great that private litigants cannot OBJ
tain a hearing until more than two years
after their case has been filed.
Attention WAS called 30 this delav IN
the administration of justice by Pres
dent Taft IN his message 70 the last Con
gress zone great CRYING need in these
United states" he said. is cheapeninc
the cost Of litigation BY simplifying Judi
cial procedure and eXpediting final iudG
ment. Under present conditions rho poor
man Is at a woful disadvantage IN a
contest with large corporation or
rich opponent The necessity for reform
exists in both the United States courts
and in all state courts. II naturally
falls to the general government. 10y its
example, 10 furnish a model to all states.
Under the law the Supreme Court Of the
United States has the power and ia given
the duty TO frame tho equity rules of
procedure"
The'President mentioned the recent re
form Of tho rules of chancery under
taken in England Senator Root. At the
last session Of Congress. introduced an
amendment to the sundry civil bill. ap-
propriating $4,000 10 pay the expenses
OF a committee Of the Supreme Court 10
undertake revision Of the rules of prac
tice In courts Of equity and admiralty.
The purpose of the appropriation was to
permit the committee to make n close
study Of tho English system. which is
regarded as a model, but the amend
ment was not adopted.
The present rules Of procedure IN
equity date back 10 the organization Of
the Supreme Court I'm 1883, and have
William ID. Guthrie. of Guthrie, Bangs
& Van Sindcren. who has had AN oy-
tensive practice in the federal courts for
many years. said last night. when "A
Tribune reporter Informed him Of chief
Justice Whites action:
For a considera bic time there has
been a demand on tho part OF lawyers
throughout the country for a sweeping
revision of the rules Of practice now in
force in the equity division Of the fed
eral courts. The present rules make il
hard to dispose Of cases with any degree
of promptness. I think that most law
yers who have practiSed in tho courts Of
equity VIII approve a revision of the
rules. ] do not know that the order
from the chief Justice will have any Of
feet on 4 movement for the revision of
the rules of practice in other branches
Of the United States courts
Louis Marshall, OF the firm Of Gugcon-
heimer, Untermyer & Marshall. said:
There has been a movement on foot
for some time 10 bring a bout A revision
of the rules OF practice in the equity as
well as In the law division of the United
states courts. President Taft has
favored II. as have large number of
the practising attorneys. The present
rules of practice. with few slight modi
fcations, have been in force for a cen.
tury or more, and there Is need of re
vision. The present rules were framed
when legal matters were conducted ON a
more leisurely line than at the present
time. There is also a movement on foot
TO have tho rules OF practice in th. law
division OF the United states courts re-
yised. Both Of these revisions are in
tended 10 expedite tho disposal of cos.e
before the courts, and are much to bc
desired
Samuel Untermyer. OF the same firm.
said
"A revision of the antiquated rules of
practice In the United States courts of
equity has become necessary. and think
the bar will welcome the revision. II is
much needed reform"
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