Evening star., 1932-10-22

Laying Of the corner stone Of the
new building to house the United States
Supreme Court in Washington reminds
the public OF the fact that this most
important branch OF the Government
has been. throughout the greater part
Of its history, provided with entirely In
adequate quarters. Tributes to the power
and greatness Of this tribunal accom-
pany comments upon its new home.
The crowded Supreme Court room"
according to the Baltimore Sun, has
afforded almost no space for the thou
sands Of spectators who file through it
every year, and the space available for
members of the bar and for court OH
cials has been decidedly cramped. In
fact, it may be doubted that any great
agency of the Federal Government in
our time has carried on in the face OF
so much awkwardneSs and inconven-
ience as the tribunal at the top Of the
Federal judicial pyramid. Now. after
years of planning, the court is to have
a building of its own, for which the
corner stone was laid recently, on
site near the Capitol The construc-
ton of this building represents a step
toward comfort and ease in the con-
duct Of the courts business"
From this lack of suitable quarters
which has characterized the entire CEN
tury and half of the courts existence"
says the Dayton Daily News. "one would
not gather that the Supreme Court is
the most powerful tribunal in the
world" In hailing the prospective
change, that paper recognizes its great
Importance with the statement: More
than any other public agency, it has
determined the nature and scope Of
Federal Government. Often in its in
depreciation of the Constitution it has
gone counter not only to the national
administration Of the time, but to popu-
lar opinion as well. 1t has set the
limits both of Federal and Of State leg
islatiOn. welding in the process union
which has withstood all shocks. Though
its decisions have more or less reflected
q fixed governmental creed, it has
usually. particularly in recent years, in
terpreted the law in the light OF chang
ing times. Liberal justices like Brandeis
and Holmes have done much to dispel
the old popular distrust and bring the
court to the highest point in popular
respect and esteem. To them accrues a
great deal Of the credit for the adapta-
ton of the fundamental law to the
needs of a growing nation. The in
evitable readjustments of the future
may require of the court decisions as
momentous as any 1t has ever made. It
could render them as soundly as It has
hitherto, regardless OF the physical
structure in which it is housed; but the
give 1t the setting it deserves and has
SO long been denied" N'''
This was a fitting time" in the
opinion of the indianapolis News, ito
bring to the attention OF the lawyers
assembled for the occasion, and of the
people, the duty Of the scourt to
recognize the changing times. John w.
Davis, as one of the speakers, said that
there will arise again and yet again the
challenging question whether old words
have taken on new meaning in the light
Of changing facts or whether new facts
must find their proper setting in the
frame of ancient words The court Is
called conservative or liberal as 1t re-
shapes the Constitution to the changing
social order. But always it must be .
wise and informed umpire. In the
future the people will look to the build
ing as the citadel Of their political free
dom. It was dedicated as the home of
. servant Of the people, and such 1t
must Rs Il the Government Is to
"Ihe new temple of justice will be
elegant" states the Houston Chronicle,
"bsit not too luxurious for men whose
decisions control the future Of America.
The people of the United States will
not begrudge the money spent to give
them fitting tools with which to work
and desirable surroundings In which to
ponder statute law. That older chamber
which once heard webster and Hsyns
ii their great debate, which saw Brooks
Of South Carolina cane Sumner OF
Massachusetts,, will echo no more to the
orstory Of advocates seeking TO conyipcs
the Wiss men q the supkeme Court
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