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

Ch1ei Justice Taft. appearing to.
day before the Senate judiciary com
mattee, urged naming eighteen addi-
t'onai district judges as a means OF
relieving congestion in federal court
doekets. 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
tr1ct attorneys which has recon-
mendcd an increase in the number OF
federal district Judges.
The Chief Justice expressed an
provai of legislation, pending before
the committee, which would authorize
creation Of eighteen judges, two to
De assigned as judges in each of the
nine circuits. These judges. he said
should be able to make a great hole
in overloaded dockets."
SOlstead Act Adds to Conxextiou.
The Volstead act, Chief Justice Taf,
said. has added greatly to the juris-
diction of federal courts" He added,
however. that prohibition was only
one feature of court congestion, and
was responsible for only per cent
OF increased court business.
With chuckle. the Chief Justice
remarked, that district Judge is q
power in his community"
He is apt to become a bit indif-
ferent," he declared. ''and to think
people are made for courts, not
courts for the people"
with comment that after all,
judges are human" the Chief Justice
said there was need for annual SUI
pervision of their court activities.
Legislation before the committed
which the Chief Justice said, he an,
proved. would provide for the annual
meeting of the nine senior fedora
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"
The Chief Justice said he did not
appear before the committee as
spokesman for justices of the Su-
preme Court. but solely to outline his
personal views.
Attorney General Gives Views, .
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
the most economical. practical and
Immediately effective that Congress
thirty additional judgeships should
be created, although as u temporary
relief measure eighteen would suffice.
At this time. said the Attorney Cen
eral. therea is little likelihood that
Congress will pass legislation needed
for a general reorganization of the
federal judiciary.
Commenting on prohibition law vio-
lations 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
federal court dockets to the extent
1.-THE public has been led to believe
Believes Peak Is Reached.
Il 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. a.
Don't you believe that for a time
prohibition law violations will con-
tinu- to increase?" inquired Senator
Sterling. republican, South Dakotx,
who has been pressing for an early
vote in the Senate on the anti-beer
bill. So,
'aNo. don't" the Attorney General
replied.
AT the outset in the prosecution of
violators of state and local prohibi-
ton laws. Mr.. Daugherty continued,
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