Evening star., 1924-10-12
THE SUPREME COURT
BY FREDERIC J. H4SKIN

tion of its gown, there is nothing to
distinguish the court from any other
body of American officials, but silence
is so rigidly maintained that the at
mosphere is one of dignity and solem-
nifty. Visitors are admitted at all
times. as long as there is room on the
few benches outside the bar. Worn
quill pens used in the Supreme Court
room are sometimes given to VISITORS
who prize them highly as souvenirs.
Contrary 10 general impression
Supreme Court decisions are not
printed by the Government Printing
once A private job printing office
does this work, and a handful of
faithful workers. some of whom have
been at the same task for nearly half
century, set up the decisions and
print them The greatest secrecy is
observed concerning this printing job
but it is said that no printer is ever
given complete decision to set in
type.
Thousands of dollars would be paid
LOT ADVANCE information on some i'm
portant antitrust law decision. for.
with an hours notice, great fortunes
coulo be made in the stock market.
The Cases of the Court.
Most of the cases before the Su-
preme Court arise from lower courts.
No such case comes before the court
unless what is known as a Federal
question is involved A mere theft
or damage case could not ordinarily
be appealed to the Supreme Court.
But should there develop from even
minor case some angle which, for
instance, involved denial of a mans
right to trial by jury, or the right to
the writ of habeas corpus, the case
would come up, for a Federal ques-
ton would be involved; that is, a
question directly covered by the Con-
stitution of the United States. Cases
where interstate commerce is in
Volved or where a Federal statute is
infringed may be heard by the high
court.
In few cases the court has orig
inal jurisdiction; that is, case may
be brought directly before the body
without first being passed upon by
inferior tribunals. Principal among
these are cases where ambassadors,
ministers and consuls of foreign
countries are involved. Cases be-
tween States of the Union and cases
between an individual and State
may also come directly here. In all
other cases, the courts jurisdiction
is appellate. Original cases have
been very few, but the number of
appellate cases annually increases in
number. Prior to the Civil War
there were never more than $50
cases on the courts docket, while
today the number is over a thousand.
The Supreme Court has higher
standing in the public estimation to-
day than it had at the beginning of
it's career. John Jay, the first Chief
Justice, serving 1888 to 1896, retired
from his high position to accept a
political office. a governorship was
then regarded as more desirable than
seat on the Supreme bench. JUS
tice Cushing once declined the Chief
Justiceship on the ground that he
preferred his position associate JUS
tice to that of Chief Justice.
When Justice Field was on the
bench, the justices who sat on one
side of the Chief Justice were Field.
other side were Harlane Brewer,
Shiras and Peckham. Those On the
one side had no children while those
on the other side had both children
and grandchildren.
Outside the Swirl of Politics.
Politics, as a rule, plays little part
in the naming of justices Of the Su-
preme Court. The President, ire
spective Of the party he represents,
seeks to appoint the best man avail
able when a vacancy occurs. Chief
Justice White, Mr.. 'Taft's immediate
predecessor, was recognized as one
of the great Chief Justices. He was
appointed Chief Justice by President
Taft, Republican, and the fact that
Mr.. White was a Democrat and had
been a Confederate soldier did not
weigh against his indisputable legal
talents and profound judicial capacity.
Associate Justices Harlan and Lurton
who sat on the bench at the same
time. were soldiers on opposite sides