Evening star., 1928-04-26
CRIME CASE DELAY
DEPLORED BY TAFT
Chief Justice Says Supreme
Court Win Clean Docket
of Felony Cases.

The shocking miScarriages OF Jus
tice" in the administration of criminal
justice in this country we're blamed on
Congress and the State legislatures by
GeorSe W wickerSham. president of
the American Law Institute, at the
opening session of its sixth annual
meeting at the Msyflower Hotel here
today.
Chief Justice William Howard Taft
seized the same occasion to deplore de-
laws in criminal procedure by which
he said those gentlemen unfortunate
enough TO have been convicted" are
allowed - period Of rest and contem-
plstion" before beginning to serve then
sentences,
LAmenting the fact that THE Su-
preme Court has become criminal
court-not so much in the cases We
hear. but in the cases We decline TO
hear" the Chief Justice prais q the
work of the institute in drafting code
Of criminal procedure.
No Period of Rest.
AT no time IN history" he said
shave legislators been so interested m
criminal codes. not so much because
the legislators themselves are inter.
ested. but because the people are stir
ring them up and demanding better ad-
miniStration Of justice.
The Supreme Court has determined
that those gentlemen unfortunate
enough to have been convicted IN the
lower courts are not going TO have
period of rest and contemplation bef0re
beginning TO serve the state The Su-
prerne court, therefore, he said, is ad-
vancing every criminal case that comes
before il and when it adiourns for the
Summer IL will have heard every crimi-
nal case on its docket
The Chief Justice said he feared THIS
would arouse from members OF the o..I
the query IF the Constitution doesnt
forbid such expediency.'
Mr., Wickersham declared that the
administration Of criminal justice IN
this country for some time past has
been a matter of reproach to thought
full men" This is due. he said, prl-
marily to "the failure of the community
at large to recognize the absolute neeo
of a learned. impartial and powerful
judiciary.
Takes Rap at Congress.
while associations such as ours are
enoeavorine TO reform the statutory
rules of procedure in criminal cases,
some members of the Congress OF the
United States are at work trying 10
reduce the powers OF a judge in the
trial of cases to the impotence OF
moderator at a town meeting, despite
the example furnished in many OF the
States of the Union of the sad results
of a poorly paid judiciary, chosen cy
popular vote, after preliminary pri-
mary campaign. for short terms, ano
often subject to popular recall
At no time in the history OF the par
Mr. wickersnam said, has IL been more
actively engaged in work designed 10
improve the administration OF justice
than at the present time"
He took a fling at commercial
schools pouring out great NUMBER Oh
innerfectly educated men, prepared 10
pass the official requirements Tor ao-
mission TO the bar. but III fltted to take
q leading part in the profession or IN
public life"
The institute council had ready for
approval today the offlcial restatement
al approximately half the law OF con-
tracts. Director William Draper Lewis,
II, his annual report, said that IN two
more wears the complete retatement OF
conflict Of laws would be ready. that
agencies and rest OF contracts would
be ready in three years and trusts In
four
Consideration Of the tentative draft
Of the code of criminal procedure. by
which the institute hopes To expedite
the administration OF criminal justice.
is set for Saturday.