Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-14

The Supreme Court Of the United
States, highest tribunal in the land, now
Is in recess after completing an unusu-
ally busy term which began last Octo-
Der. The court sits throughout The
AutuYn, following its frst meeting
early In October each year. the Winter
and the Spring, bringing the term to Q
close toward the end Of June. Follow
ing long-established custom 1t hands
on any other day OF the week. Al
Christmas and at Easter there are re-
cesses so far as decision days are con-
cerned, several being omitted.
This does not mean that the justices
are idle. These recesses are necessary
to enable the justices TO catch up with
the vast amount of reading and study
of cases at bar, which must be accom-
plished before fair Judgment can be
reached on the points Of law on appeal
before the Supreme bench. It is court
sure of the justice of its findings, be-
cause from It there is no appeal.
Chief Justice william Howard Taft Is
earning q reputation which probably
would be given the name Of slave driver
If his position related to anything less
dignified than the Supreme Court Of the
United States. Since he has been Chief
Justice he has insisted upon the closest
application to cases and the greatest
possible expedition In handing down
decisions, consonant with fairness to
all parties.
The court had been getting notorious
~ behind in its work. Each year saw
the number Of cases carried over to the
next term increased. There was much
talk among lawyers about the possible
necessity Of increasing the number of
justices or Of dividing up the work in
some manner, perhaps dividing the
court. This was not felt to be IN har-
mony with the Constitution, however
Another-in fact, two other ways were
found to make possible the bringing of
the work Of the court more nearly up
to-date.
JurisdicticnAl Act Cuts Numbers
Largely at the instance Of Chief JUS
tice Taft, Congress passed in 1925 what
Is known as the jurisdictional act This
act limits more narrowly than before
the type of cases which can be ap-
pealed to the Supreme Court.
In general, any case In which there
arises what is called Federal question
may be appealed on UP to the highest
court in the land. A Federal question
means a question Of right concerning
WHICH LI1c OOnSClCuLlOQ has LlaQ SOII1e"
thing to say. An outstanding example
is any case involving interstate COM
merce. Thus, q railroad rate case in
volving movement Of persons or proper
ty wholly within State would not in
ordinary circumstances be properly ap-
pealable to the Supreme Court But
should goods or persons be transported
across q State line, the matter becomes
Federal and the Federal question Is
injected. giving the Supreme Court jul
<isdiction. Then. too there are many
questions Of inalienable rights guarar-
teed by the Constitution. II it can be
shown that such a right has been
denied person. he may usually appeal
for final decision to the highest court
Lawyers are very resourceful in ind
ing Federal questions in almost any
kind Of case. For example, the clause
Of the Constitution guaranteeing due
process Of law is . highly convenient
limb on which to hang many an appeal
If lawyer can induce a Federal Court
inferior to the Supreme Court to recog-
nize the existence Of Federal question
In a case, he can have issued the writ
Of certiorari which certifles the case on
to the Supreme Court. It has been
whispered, from time to time, that law