Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-30
RECEIVE HIGHER PAY
Justices of Supreme Court
Benefit by Legislation.
CONGRESS REWSES LAWS
Abolition of Federal Circuit Courts
in Effect January 1.
COURTS OF APPEAL RETAINED
Provision Governing Procedure in
District of Columbia-Final
Judgments and DEGREES.
COURTS OF APPEAL RETAINED


the United States Supreme Court. The
justices will then be entitled to con-
gratulations upon their raises in SAL
airy. The Chief Justice, who has been
trying to make both ends meet on
$4,000 year. will receive $4,000
after the new year starts. The as
sociate Justices will also get raise;
each will draw s14.50O per year here
after.
The increased stipend was provided
the justices in the act passed by Con-
gress last winter for the revision Of the
laws relating to the judiciary. and the
necessary appropriations were carried
in the sundry civil bill.
The act which revised and amended
the laws relating to the judiciary goes
into effect January /, and 1T will mean
many changes in the countrys judicial
system. New rules to meet the
changed conditions have been promul-
gated by the United States Supreme
Court to take effect at the same time.
Probably the greatest change is the
adjustment of the federal circuit
courts. When they pass out of ex-
istence. with the close of the present
year. the clerks are to deliver to the
clerks OF the federal district courts
all the journals. books. files, records
and papers, which are to be made
part of the records Of the district
courts. All suits that have been be-
gun in the circuit courts are to be
proceeded with in the district courts
as if they had been begun there.
Circuits Courts Number II.
There are, at present seventy seven
circuit courts. which were required to
meet in PIG different places. The
twenty mine circuit judges will sit In
the circuit courts of appeal. which
have been retained as the intermedi-
/ ate appellate court between the
United States district courts and the
| United States Supreme Court.
The reasons for tn change were set
| forth by Representative Reuben O. Moon,
CT arman of the House committee on
| revision of the laws. In speech on the
| bill when it was before the House last
| winter:
| But the glory of it's Circuit COURTS
early days necessarily rapidly declined"
| ne declai ed. THE act of 1893. which
withdrew one of the Justices from tn
circuit. weakened its Importance The
court juds c and made the district judg
alone competent to hold a circuit court
and practically withdrew both Supreme
Court justices, pointed to its rapid de
| caCence. The act of March ), 1891. which
took from it all of its appellate ju is
| d ction and RELOCATED it 10 a court of
! United scope and powers already exer-
cised by the district court, completed its
final overthrow and made the House b II
. of 1890, which provided for its entire eX-
! iinction from the judic al system, a mat
ter of prime necessity.
commingled Jurisdiction Perplexing.
Because unde- existing laws certain
exclusive original jurisdiction is given to
the circuit courts. there is necessarily
maintained in every district of the United
Sta,es and in every division thereof the
complete machinery Of a circuit cour,,
consisting of courtrooms. clerks. dockets.
! MAI shalS and all OF the extenS We and
expensive features of court ganiza
ton The commingled Jurisdiction be-
tween it and the district courts is per-
picking and often lines confusing to lii
ants and attorneys. Its exclusive juris-
d ction is not tased upon any organic
principle of distinction. and there exis s
no lone er any reason either In theory
or practice why the original jurisd ct.o1
of this court should be maintain d."
The law. however. effects important
United States Supreme COur from the
| District Court of Appeals. Fewer cases
than formerly can be taken to the high
est court in the land, thus giving the
decisions of the the local court greater
| weight and making them final in a
| greater NUMBER of cases.
Appeals From District of Columbia.
The law, which goes into effect next
Monday. provides as regard appeals from
the District of Columbia Court of APP
peals:
Section 30. Any final Judgment or de-
cree of the Court of Appeals Of the Dis
trct of Columbia may be re-examined
and affirmed, reversed or modified by the
Supreme Court of the United ates. upon
writ of error or appeal In the following
cases:
First In cases in which the jurisdic-
ton of the trial court is in issue; but
when any such case is not otherwise re-
viewab'e in said Supreme Court, then the
quest on of Jurisdiction alone shall be
certified TO said Supreme Court for de-
cision.
Second. In prize cases.
Third. In cases involving the con-
struction or application of the Constitu-
ton of the United States. or the const1tu-
onality of any law of the United ates,
or the validity or construction OF any
! treaty made under its authority.
| Fourth. In cases in which the constf-
tuition or any law of a state Is claimed o
be in contravention of the Constitution
OF the United States.
| Fifth. In cases IN which the validity
of any authority exercised under the
| Uni ed States or the existence or scope OF
any power or duty Of an officer Of the
! United States is drawn In question.
struct:on of any law of the United States
is drawn in question by the defendant.
Final Judgments.
Except as provided in the next sue
cecding section, the judgments and de-
crees of the said Court of Appeals shall