Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-09
VOTES TO END COURT
House Favors Discontinuance
of Commerce Body.
PARTY RANKS ARE SPLIT
Many Republicans Side With Demo-
Gratis on Question.
AGE EMBARGO STRICKEN OUT
Provision for Dismissal Of Clerks in
1918 Changed to Be Eff
fective in 1917.
LGE EMBARGO STRICKEN OUT

The House this afternoon voted TO aOol-
ish the Commerce Court. At the end of
two hours debate, Representative Dris-
the entire paragraph which abolishes the
court This motion was lost by 40 to 40,
and the paragraph which wipes out this
institution remains in the bill. Several
republicans voted with the democrats to
make up the majority vote.
After having kept their promise to
strike out the provision in the legisla-
tive, executive and judicial appropriation
bill which would drive government clerks
from office at the age Of sixty-five. the
democrats in the House of Representa-
tives today started their big fight to
abolish the Commerce Court
A section of the appropriation bill dis
tinctIy provides for the adjustment OF
this court. At the time The Stars report
closed two hours debate had been held
on this provision. and the House was
preparing to vote.
Representative johnson. author Of the
bill, asked to have the old-age section
stricken out in accordance with his an
HOuIlCcliicHI VI q Lew odyo 06os WAASAA 80
said public sentiment was against the
idea of throwing clerks out at the age
of sixty-five.
He also introduced a change in the pro-
visions which ends all appointments in
the civil service in 1913. AS he amended
the bill. the civil service appointments
will end in 1917, and in this way an entire
administration will pass by before any
changes are made. These sections are not
done with, however. Assaults from both
sides of the House may be expected.
Terms Power Too Sweeping.
Representative Sims said the Commerce
Court had power to issue injunctions OF
too sweeping character. He also called
attention to the fact that many cases
have been reversed by the higher court.
The discussion was on the matter OF
Jurisdiction or the court to a great extent.
Representatives, Sims said that only
eighty-five- cases had ever been brought
to the court.
with SO many District courts it is folly
to continue q court of this kind" he said
There's no expert knowledge required In
this court In many instances-merely
question Of fact is at issue. One of the
strangest things I know about the court
is that the judges get $1,000 a year ana
have 5000 added because they live In
Washington"
Representative Driscoll said he. too, be-
lieved in a reduction of these salaries
to the plane of circuit judge and asked
II that be done would Representative
Sims be satisfied.
NO. said Representative Sims, the
court itself is unnecessary.
Movt Expensive Of All Courts.
Representative Bartlett Of Georgia in
terrupted to give some figures to prove
that the Commerce Court has too few
cases to warrant its existence; sixteen
applications had been made for prelimi-
nary injunctions: nine had been granted
and seven refused.
Representative Sims continued: "It
costs the United States more to carry on
a case in this court than in any other in
the country"
started the republican reply to Repre-
sentative Sims.
THE class of cases coming to the Com
merce Court is a peculiar one. The
court expedites the prosecution Of these
cases, and there Is right understanding
Of the shippers and carriers it is mat
ter of economy with the poor shippers to
bring cases in this court.
1.-The litigation in this court may affect
the whole country, and for that reason a
are almost legislative. We ought to have
speed In determination of these cases, and
a special court Is necessary for that.
The circourt court judges are good
men, but a4.A rule they know little Of this
special kind of litigation. The great
volume Of interstate litigation Of this kind
Is necessarily conferred in a few courts
throughout the country"
He mentioned the cities where the bulk
of litigation of this kind Is most frequent,
mentioning New York, Chicago. San
Francisco and Baltimore. He also gave
an illustration Of legal facts to prove
that the Commerce Court saves much
time.
Defends Courts Record.
He read a paper to defend the court
against the slur that it had received from
certain quarters to the effect that the
court had favored the railroads. He gave
figures to show the Commerce Court has
the best record for sustaining the orders
of the interstate commerce commission.
He mentioned Judge Knapp, who, he said.
had been most fortuate in his decisions
and dealings He also mentioned Com
missioner Neill with Judge Knapp and
said they had been great bulwarks of
strength in labor mediations.