Evening star., 1928-05-16
TAFT URGES EARLY
HOME FOR COURT
Chief Justice Appears Before
House Group in Plea for Su-
preme Bench Building.

Early action by Congress authorizing
the erection of a Supreme Court build
ing on the site north of the Library of
Congress and east of the Capitol
grounds. between First and Second
streets, East Capitol street and Mary
land avenue. was urged today by Ci'ief
Justice Taft and Associate Justice Van
Devanter before the House committee
on public buildings and grounds.
The sympathetic hearing given by
the committee indicates that early ac-
ton will be taken with small APP
preparation authorized for preliminary
work in having plans prepared.
Chief Justice Taft described the con-
gested condition. and said IL had been
his conviction for the nearly 40 years
of his association with the court, orig
inally as solicitor general, that this
important branch of the Government
should be dignified with a building of
its own. His experience, however.
showed that the members of the court
were reluctant to leave the Capitol
building and had for years hoped that
they might be able to get more adequate
space under the Capitol dome.
Assn EACtuShFe nuuutnks
The court is now unanimously in
favor of a building of its own and Is
desirous that the legislation specifically
provide that the building TO be erected
is exclusively for the Supreme Court
and the disposition of space within the
building and the custody of the building
directly under the court itself.
Chairman Elliott of the committee
said that not per cent of the courts
of the country are as poorly housed as
the Supreme Court of the United
States.
Justice Van Devanter discussed the
lack of adequate consultation rooms
for attorneys appearing before the
court and the lack of room In which
the justices can confer. With the rapid
ly increasing volume of business, he
said, 1t Is imperative that more ade-
quate facilities be provided for coun-
sci before the court. in order that they
may best prepare their cases From his
experience In four or five courts. be-
fore coming 10 the Supreme Court. he
found that the quarters supplied were
never as cramped as those for the SUI
preme judicial tribunal.
The question of housing the Supreme
Court In temple OF justice with the
Department of Justice was brushed
aside when Chief Justice Taft and AS
sociate Justice Van Devanter pointed
out that the United States Government
is the chief litigant before the Supreme
Court and 1t would not be proper Tor
the court TO be housed with the at
torneys for the chief litigant,
Vast Structure Needed.
Justice Van Devanter argued that the
new building should be OF monumental
size, emphasizing that vast halls are re-
quired for the proper storing Of all the
records Of the court, which are now
widely scattered In vaults and base
ments SO that ID takes several days 70
find them. These should be assembled
and filed in an orderly way so that they
viii be readily available for consulta-
ton
He also pointed out that with ade-
duate space the court will receive gifts
OF important libraries such as that re-
Gently given by Senator Gerry OF Rhode
Island. The court recently had 10 de-
cline a gift OF the robe and chair OF
Chief Justice JAY because 1t had not q
suitable place in which to display them.
Chief Justice Taft also advocated pro-
vision Of space where portraits OF JUS
tices Of the courts could be hung.
Justice Van Devanter amazed the
committee by his statement that the
members OF the court, with single ex-
ception, have their offices In their
homes. which are lighted, heated, cared
for, and for the most part furnished
at the expense of the Justices.