Evening star., 1921-10-05
CHIEF JUSTICE TAFT
ASKS MORE JUDGES
Before Senate Committee
Urges Eighteen Additions to
Relieve Court Congestion.

Relieve Court Congestion.
Chief Justice Taft, appearing to-
day before the Senate judiciary COM
mittee. urged naming eighteen addi-
tional district judges as a means Of
relieving congestion in federal court
dockets. Something must be done i'm
mediately. he declared, to keep the
courts from being Swamped
Present also at the hearing were
Attorney General Daugherty and a
committee of federal judges and dis
trict attorneys which has recon-
mended an increase IN the number of
federal district Judges
The Chief Justice expressed ap-
proSal Of ofllsgislatiop. pending before
the committee, which would authorize
creation of eighteen judges, two to
BE- be assigned as judges In, each Of the
should be able to make a xreat hole
In overloaded dockets.".
voistead Act Add to Consestion,
The Voistead act, Chief Justice Taft
said. has added greatly to the jurIs-
dicton of federal courts. Hc audeG,
however, that prohibition was only
one feature of court congestion, and
was responsible for only 8 per cent
OF increased court business.
With a chuckle, the Chief Justice
remarked. that district Judge is \
power in his community"
He is apt 10 become biz indif-
ferent." he declared, and TO think
people are made for courts, not
courts for the people"
With a comment hat after ALL
MI
said there was need for annual su-
Lervision of their court activities
Legislation before the committee.
which the Chief Justice said, he ap-
proved. would provide for the annual
meeting of the nine senior federal
circuit judges with the Chief Justice
and Attorney General at which re-
ports would be made as to the state
of court business in each circuit
Such legislation, Mr.. Taft said. would
provide for reasonable supervision
of federal courts"
For half an hour the Chief Justice,
IN an informal manner. discussed the
advisability of revising the nations
federal court system. frequently he
was questioned by senator's Bills
pending before the Senate, he said,
would provide Immediate relief" and
would in no way interfere with re-
vision of court procedure. and rear
rangement of judicial districts. which,
he added. should be undertaken in the
near future. The bills would not pre-
vent appointment of other addi-
tiona1 judges in districts particu-
larly swamped with business.
Asked by Senator Reed. democrat.
Missouri, whether he thought there
would be decrease. in the number
of cases in federal courts growing
ott of prohibition law violations, the
Chief Justice said the number of
cases lis apt to grow a great deal
before it grows less"
The Chief Justice said he did not
appear before the committee as
preme Court. but solely to outline his
personal views.
Attorney General Gives Views.
Attorney General Daugherty, de-
claring the country probably has
neglected the federal judiciary more
than any other branch of the govern
ment," said he was convinced the
plan for appointment of eighteen ad-
ditional federal district judges was
Immediately effective that Congress
could accept" Eventually, he said,
thirty additional judgeships should
be created, although as temporary
relief measure eighteen would suffice.
At this time. said the Attorney Cen
u,
Congress will pass legislation needed
for a general reorganization of the
federal judiciary.
Commenting on prohibition law vio-
iations and the part they have played
in increasing federal court business.
the Attorney General, said he did not
agree with the Chief Justice on one
proposition"
The prohibition law, he added. has
not contributed to the congestion OF
federal court dockets to the extent
'.the public has been led to believe"
Believes Peak In Reached.
'I think the peak in the number Of
cases growing out of violations of
the Volstead act has been reached"
said Mr.. Daugherty. adding that when
the public realized the law was 60
ing to be enforced there would be a
marked decrease in the number of
cases.
Don't you believe that for time
prohibition law violations will con-
tinue to increase?" inquired Senator
sterling, republican. South Dakota,
who has been pressing for an early
vote in the Senate OIL the anti-beer
bill.
replied.
At the outset in the prosecution of
yfoIators Of state and local prohibi-
ton laws. Mr.. Daugherty continued.
Continued on Page 2. Column u.