Evening star., 1921-07-15
NEED FOR JUDGES
IN DISTRICT TOLD
House Judiciary Committee
Hears Arguments for Ad-
ditiOnaI IISficeS

Members of the House judiciary
committee were impressed today with
the fact that the District Supreme
the staff of justices. the same today as
forty years ago. is entirely inadequate
to perform the work, different in this
jurisdiction from anywhere else in the
country.
Members of the bench and bar Of the
District testified today in support of
the Dyer bill. which would provide
two additional justices OF the Su-
prems Court in the District. This
measure has been under consideration
for more than six years and has pre-
viously passed both the House and
Senate.
Reports made to both houses in Con-
gress and at hearings emphasize the
need for this legislation. Representa-
tive Dyer said in opening the hearing
today. He pointed out that in his
home city they have nineteen judges,
whose jurisdiction is not as broad as
that Of the District judges. His home
city is approximately twice the size
of Washington and they have nine
teen judges as against six justices
here. He also laid before the COM
mittee compaI ative statement show
ing the hours Of work here given by
the Supreme Court justices to be much
more than in other places.
Prominent Witnesses.
Among those who appeared as wit
nesses were Chief Justice Walter l.
Mccoy, Associate Justice A. A. Hoehl-
ing. ]. Spaulding Flannery. chairman
OF the bar association committee: Col
J. s. Easily Smith, member of the
man Of the legislative committee Of
the Chamber Of Commerce; McWhar-
ton Lester and former Representative
James 2. Lloyd. both members Of the
bar.
Mr.. Flannery filed a comparative
the amount Of court business in 1880
and 1920 with the same number of
judges. He told Of personal ex-
periences before the bar since 1889.
court is extraordinary in many ways.
Chief Justice Mccoy really sits as
governor, he said. The breadth of
Jurisdiction is as broad as any state
or federal court and in addition
tion due to the fact that this is the
capital Of the nation, and the court
has to consider cases affecting the
President, members of his cabinet.
Congress and the various government
establishments.
The important part of it's jurisdic-
tion is of concern to every official and
resident from the President down. He
explained the history Of the courts
establishment by President Lincoln.
who had had trouble with the circuit
court in 1868.
Important Cases.
such as the trial Of Surratt and Gui-
teau and others. showing how the
seat of government has brought i'm
portant cases before the District
court. Every government establish
ment. he said, attracts cases here.
Courts burden and make 1t neces-
'sary for the judges to have extra
ordinary knowledge Of the federal
statutes.
The statistics he laid before the
committee showed that in forty years
the population has grown from III 900
to $4,000. The value Of property ap-
praised In settlements of estates in
creased from $272,177 to $12,365.536.
The number Of law suits filed in
creased from 1.103 to 2,O73. EQUITY
cases from 422 to 1872. Lunacy cases
important because it covers cases in
volvtng condemnation of land for gov.
ernment, from 10 to Il cases. The
criminal suits increased from ATS to
1,57a,l the naturalization cases from
81 to i821.
j Mr., Flannery also emphasized that
during. the last year justices Of the
District Supreme Court bench LOST
forty-fiye trial days because they had
to substitute sin the Court of Appeals
He also emphasized. in reply to. cues
tions, that the increased jurisdiction
given to the Municipal Court does not
mean any substantial relief to the ,Su-
preme .CDurt.
Justiee Mccoy Testiaes.
Chief Justice Mccoy. in reply to
questions. put into. the record a state
ment showing the length of time that
the District Supreme Court justices
devote to court business. He said
that as a conservative estimate thev
give more time to the business of the
court outside of the regular hours of
sitting than is actually consumed at
trial. They work evenings. holidays
and Sundays.
In reply I'd questions by Represents
tive Yeates of Illinois. who was sur
prised that the percentage of lunacy
cases was so much greater than he
himself experienced on the bench in
Chicago. It was brought out that the
CONTINUED on Page ., Column 81.