Evening star., 1932-03-14
Court Reform Is Accepted
As Necessity for Country

President Hoover's message to Con-
gress on needed reforms in the courts
is being widely acclaimed. The country
it Is indicated, will watch Congress
closely for its response to these sug-
gestions.
"The more readily Congress follows
President Hoover's leadership for law
reform, the better 1t will be for the
country" says the Boston Evening
Transcript, declaring that "in the i'm
provement of Federal Court practice
in criminal cases there is the promise
Of greater stability for law and order,
and this cannot fail to bring better
ment of the daily life of the American
people" While conceding that Con
gress Is busy just now with many mat
ters of import" the Transcript con-
tends that 'if it really wishes to expe-
dite a good cause, 1t would be wellnigh
justified in enacting without debate the
Presidents program as now an
nounced." The Lincoln State Journal
approvingly remarks: President Hoo
yer. in urging upon Congress various
measures of reform in the conduct
of courts, is calling attention to a con-
dition that a great many informed
persons believe to be at the bottom Of
the lawlessness that prevails in this
country. Every bar association of any
prominence in recent years has studied
the problem of more efficient enforce
ment of law and has passed resolutions
calling for reforms, but that Is about
as far as we have got"
1.-THE message of the President Is
based on apparently reaching in
yestigation of the Department of Jus
tice, conducted under the supervision
of the Solicitor General" declares the
Houston Chronicle, which believes that
"a voluminous assembly of information
has been gathered, which should be
invaluable to Congress in considering
MANY matters of court reform" The
Harrisburg Telegraph notes: "Presi-
dent Hoover appeals against the evils
of the laws delay. Promptitude Of
action and simplihcatien of court pro-
cedure are among his demands and
very properly So"
In the opinion OF the Oshkosh Daily
Northwestern, "the country at large Will
welcome the kind of law reform that
will improve procedure and practice ana
permit the Federal courts to handle
criminal cases promptly, clean on con-
gested dockets, dispense speedy and i'm
partial justice and lend stability to law
and order In Nation that just now Is
overrun with lawlessneSs and disrespect
for law" This paper characterizes the
recommendations made by the President
as "judiciouS and well considered" Not
only that, but they should be needed,
according to the Pasadena Star-News,
which believes that "the course OF
Justice in all American courts should be
made smooth and simple" and hopes
that legislation, so long sorely needed,
may be enacted to correct manifest de-
procedure" As the Chicago Daily News
sees it, the friends of justice should
give united and methodical support to
the presidential program, and so con-
vince Congress that the Nation fully
appreciates the need for the feasible
and eminently sensible improvements
which Mr.. Hoover advocates"
only an experienced attorney could
pretend to give q competent appraisal
Of these recommendations, yet certain
points stand out and can be readily ap-
preciated," declares the Rochester
Times Union, which sees adoption Of
the Presidents suggestions as greatly
to the public interest According to
the Yakima Morning Herald, "our laws
pertaining to actions In court were built
up on the idea that the individual
should be given every possible protec-
ton against autocratic pressure. The
tyranny of overiords in the Middle Ages
was still fresh in the minds of the
founders of this Nation" explains this
paper, and that thought has been
woven int6Athe fabric Of our criminal
laws. naklAe endless delays possible in
melting out Justice"