Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-05-20
BUSINESS OF
U. S. DISTRICT
COURTROOM
Ports Along Coast of
Texas Add to Work
OF Federal Tribu-
mails is Claim

South Texas is entering upon an
or OF development and unheard Of
expansion, declared Douglas McGreg-
or, assistant United States district
attorney Saturday. Mr.. McGregor, a
keen student of economic affairs, has
kept track Of south Texas growth
over a period Of several years from
the standpoint of q public official
whose field is broad enough to allow
safe generaliZing.
He say there is a definite relation
between public development and in
creased volume of business Of any
major governmental department.
While that is particularly true in the
ease of customs and labor, Mr.. Nc
Gregor drew a fine parallel between
his own office and general condi-
sions.
His first figures, while abstract,
are enlightening. Business" he
says-and by business he means cases
tried and handled in the federal
courts Of this district-"has about
trebled during the last few years.
The southern district once was one
Of the smaller districts and not even
given the dignity of having two
stenographers in the district attor-
ney's office" Then came expansion
and District Attorney II. NJ. Holden
began petitioning the attorney gen.
eral for more stenographers. He got
them only after he and his four as
sistants sandwiched many hours of
labor into already busy days Of court
work, and prepared data showing that
the southern district Of Texas had
jumped suddenly TO the third larges.
district in point Of business handled,
in the United States. There are two
eastern districts that lead il. The
attorney general gave in assigning
an additional stenographer, and now
there is beginning to be felt the
need Of more assistant attorneys.
Sea Furnishes Business
But that is a matter with which
only that department Is concerned
and Mr.. McGregor's conclusions
show, he said. Enthusiastically that
business is good" to use . good slo-
gar.
The chief source Of the increase Is
the sea, he avered. Houston port and
the establishment of Corpus Christi
and the approaching establishment of
Point Isabel as ports have been the
chief factors. Increased shipping
means increased business and conse-
ouently increased federal court work.
About the same time these three
ports were opened and world
shipping began turning to the
Texas coast, the long shoremens
and harbor workers act went into
effect. This threw all labor disputes
and other cases involving violations
of this act, into the federal courts.
Most OF this kind Of legal work had
previously been done in state courts.
Mr.. McGregor pointed out.
With this came an influx Of sddi-
tional harbor workers and others who
live by the sea. drawn by the de-
mand. The result was as always:
more business for every n
Peak Yet to Come
But il doesn't stop there, and the
peak Of development is yet not WIS.,
ible, Mr.. McGregor believes. and his
sentiment is echoed by leading cot
tor men.
The recent "set-to" between Ander-
son & Clayton, the south's leading
cotton brokers, and congress, is go
ing TO result in the abolition Of the
New York delivery rule II is freely
predicted BY cotton men. Anderson
& Clayton now carry around 100000
bales Of cotton in New York for de-
livery there when trading there, but
when the rule is lifted. deliveries can
be made at any point mutually
agreed upon. This will work TO the
advantage Of both buyer and seller. il
is claimed. And the volume Of cot
ton moving through gulf ports will
increase greatly.
Cotton now shipped to New York
and held for deliveries there, a be