Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-02-02
HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE
FORMED ON VIRGINIAN'S PLEA
Appeal for Judicial Body to Amend De-
fective Statutes Bore Fruit at Thir-
teenth Congress in 1913.

Guilford S. Jameson. member Of
the District bar and clerk of the jh-
dietary committee of the House of Rep
resentativeS. writing in the American
Bar Association Journal. gives the fol-
lowing interesting account of the or
ganization and functioning of that
committee:
| On June l. 1913 FIRST session. Thir-
, tenth Congress-. John G.. Jackson, a
Representative from the State of Vir-
ginia. made q motion to amend the
standing rules of the House of Repre-
sentatives by adding thereto the fol-
lowing:
IAN additional standing committee
shall be appointed at the commence
ment Of each session. viz:
"A committee on the judiciary. to
consist Of seven members.
1T shall be the duty Of the said
committee on the judiciary to take into
consideration all such petitions and
matters or things touching judicial pro-
ceedings as shall be presented. or may
come in question, and be referred to
them by the House, and to report their
opinion thereupon. together with such
propositions relative thereto, as to them
shall seem expedient."
This was the first effort to establish
a separate committee OF Congress Ito
take into consideration all such petit.
tions and matters or things touching
judicial procedure" The resolution
was ordered to lie on the table, and on
the Sd of June Mr.. Jackson moved for
its consideration. In asking for the
adoption of the resolution he stated
that he was moved to do so from the
consideration that our laws are in many
instances defective and it is of the ut.
most importance that they be amend.
ed"
Cities Defective Measures
He called to the attention of the
House two defects which he recollected
demonstrating the necessity for the
creation of this committee. In one
case, Congress had provided for the
collection of penalties for the infrac-
ton Of the internal revenue laws
through the State courts. A suit was
brought In an inferior court In Virginia.
but lost on appeal on the ground that
it was not in the power of Congress TO
confer jurisdiction on State court. A
similar decision was rendered where the
defendant was accused Of violating the
postal laws and an attempt was made
to prosecute him in the State courts.
To meet these situations by consider
ing the legal problems OF the young
Repuolc ana suggesting amendments
where there appeared to be miscar-
riage of justice because of some legal
deficiency in the statute was, therefore.
the prime purpose which actuated the
forefathers in the establishment of this
committee.
Suggesting further the necessity for
the committee. Mr.. Jackson stated that
IL should consider the various epplica-
tons for the organization Of new Fed
eral courts and their location. and that
the committee should have jurisdiction
over the powers Of these courts. point
ing out the advantage of having one
committee consider all OF these matters
thus securing uniformity Of decision.
The resolution was adopted without
further debate and without division
vote.
In the next session Of the Thirteenth
Congress. namely. on December Z. 1913.
Congress. pursuant to the new rule.
established its first judiciary committee
1t will be interesting to recall some Of
the great lawyers who have presided
over its sessions. The first chairman
was Charles Jared Ingersoll. a Repre- |
sentative from Pennsylvania. and q |
Philadelphia lawyer. who served but |
one term, at the expiration Of which he |
was appointed United States district |
attorney for Pennsylvania. Serving |