The Washington times., 1917-02-18
D. G. JUDICIARY BILL
GROWING IN FAVOR
House Opposition to CarIin
Measure EnIarging Court
Is Diminishing.
Continued from First Page.)

Continued from First Page.)
six jurists. During the same period,
however, the population of Washing
ton has increased by so per cent and
the business Of the court by 200 per
cent.
Work Vastly Increased.
Advocates OF the Carlin measure de-
clared today that II Congress deem
ed a court of six members necessary
to handle the cases in 1879, no objec-
ton should be made today to increas-
ing the number by two.
Particular attention was directed
today to the status of will contest
cases in the Supreme Court. Records
show that the average time the liti-
giant has to wait after filing a caveat
to a will submitted for probate Is
twenty-four months. Some cases are
not reached within that period Law
yers said many hardship are worked
In these particular cases by long de-
lays, and pointed to several instances
in which persons who contested Wills
had died before their causes were
reached.
It is understood that II two new
Justices are allowed by Congress, one
of them will handle all divorce cases
filed in the District. These cases now
are considered in the equity division
OF the court, where equity causes
alone are more than enough for a jus
tice to handle. Bankruptcy proceed
ings may also be conducted before one
of the new jurists, there being no
designated division of the tribunal
for handling these causes.
Members of the District Bar Asso-
citation said the criminal courts are
overburdened and that humanity to
the justices, whose strength is taxed
to its maximum, demanded the en-
Ilargement of the court.
Federal Government Suffers.
That the Federal Government is
feeling the effects of the delays is at
tested by the fact that a number of
condemnation cases in which the Gov
ernment is vitality interested have
been on the calendars for many
months, but have not been reached.
Notwithstanding the efforts of the
six members of the court to devise
ways and means to expedite the hand
ling of cases, no progress in that
direction has been made. New cases
accumulate on the calendar faster
them. with the result that at the
end Of a court year the dockets look
as IL the wheels OF justice had stood
still.
1t is estimated that in the last five
years the court has been 300 cases
behind the current docket, and that
the average time between the filing of
a suit and the trial of the cause has
been two years. In the event Con-
gress does not increase the personnel
OF the tribunal, the number OF cal
endared cases probably will exceed
1000 and the ligitants will have to
wait pore than two years.
scope of Work Is Wide.
The Supreme Court of the District still
has a broader Jurisdiction than any
other Of the Federal courts. excepting
the Supreme Court Of the United States
II has Jurisdiction in all criminal cases.
all civil matters at law. and In all civil
matters in equity; is required ito hear
and determine appeals from Municipal
Court OF the District of Columbia in
cases involving more than s. and not ex-
ceeding 500; is required to remove from
Municipal Court by certiorari. upon re-
quest Of defendant. cases involving more
than 500: has Jurisdiction OF all bank
ruptcy cases. Of all probate matters re-
Quiring the action OF a Judge either
with or without the intervention of
jury; hears all lunacy proceedings
hears all condemnation cases. both Gov
ernment and municipal: disposes Of all
habeas corpus proceedings; disposes OF
all naturalization petitions from the
District Of Columbia; is the only court
that can have original Jurisdiction Of
cases involving mandamus proceedings
and injunction suits against heads OF
departments and bureaus; and on ac-
count Of the absence of any executive in
the District Of Columbia. this court
through its chief Justice is required to
perform the same functions as the gov
ernor Of a State in respect to extradi-
ton cases.