New Britain herald., 1926-12-28
NEW ]. 5. JUDGE FOR l STATE IS BLOCKED
Senate and House Disagreement Holds Up Appointment
BY GEORGE B. MANNING

|
 deadlock of disagreement between l the judiciary committees of the
 S ate and the house of representa-
 tives threatens to defeat in this ses-
 sion the provision for an additional federal district judge fol Connecti-
 cut despite the fact that both houses
 of congress have agreed that the
 crowded docket of that district en- titles it to another judge.
 In fact, both houses have passed bills providing for the additional federal district judge for the Dis trict of Connecticut. but the bills were passed in different forms. AL though there is absolutely no differ- ence between the effect the different bills would have upon the public, each house refuses stubbornly to ap- prove the measure adopted by the other house.
 Representative John Q. Tilson of New Haven introduced bill in the
 house of representatives providing for an additional judge to speed up
 justice in the District of Connecticut,
 and this bill was incorporated into
 an omnibus federal judgeship bill
 providing for l4 additional federal
 district judges in different districts
 in the United States, including the
 District of Connecticut, and an ad- ditional circuit judge for the second
 judicial circuit, which includes Con-
 necticut.
 This bill was passed by the house
 of representatives, and sent to the
 senate where the senate judiciary
 committee considered it, and report
 ed it with amendments, striking out
 all the additional judges for which
 the senate had not already made
 provision by separate bills.
 A bill introduced by Senator George P. Mclean of Simsbury, Conn.,, providing an additional fed eral district judge for Connecticut the provision for this judge was left in the omnibus bill, while the pro- visions for the additional circuit judge and for nine district judges were eliminated.
 But just before congress adjourned for the Christmas holidays, the sen- ate judiciary committee met and decided that it would under no cir cumstances consider any omnibus bill providing for additional federal judges, holding that special bills rather than an omnibus bill is the proper way to provide for additional judges.
 Consequently, Senator George W. Norris of Nebraska, chairman of the | senate judiciary committee, asked and obtained unanimous consent for l the previously reported judiciary bill l to be referred back to the commit tee.
 At the same time. the judiciary committee of the house of repre- ! sentatives met in executive session. | and decided not 70 consider any ! special bills providing for additional i federal judges, thus taking the op- i posite position from that taken by i the senate committee, and leaving 1 the whole judgeship question in a | stalemate.
 In this way, a disagreement on | the proper procedure prevents action on a bill the justice ard necessity of 1 which is conceded by both houses of | congress. and the provision of an | additional federal district judge for ! the district of Connecticut may be 1 held up entirely in a short session . crowded with other important meas ures.
 An agreement Is now being sought so that the judgeship bills can be brought out of the deadlock and passed before congress adjourns March 4. Both committees seem de- termined not to change their con- trary attitudes on the bills. and at the present no acceptable con- promise has been proposed.
 It is hoped, however that some plan can be arranged 10 throw the bills into a conference of representa- tives of both judiciary committees so that a workable agreement can be at least on the provisions for the additional judges which both houses have approved In different forms, so that difference of opinion on procedure will not be allowed to cause further delays In the operation of justice in the United States dis trict court for the district of Con- necticut.