Evening star., 1940-01-28

machinery Of the Federal courts to
notch up the speed.
Attracting only casual attention from
the public, which has very vital dol
lars-and-cents interest at stake, but
viewed Importantly by bench and
bar, precedent-making administrative
changes that in future will have
broad influence in facilitating litigation
are being put into effect under legisla-
ton enacted in the first session Of the
present Congress.
In charge of this little -publicized re-
form process is Henry P. Chandler, a
broad-shouldered, 59-year-old Chicago
lawyer Of wide experience. appointed by
the Supreme Court, who from his office
in the new court building is directing
the work which its sponsors hope eventu-
ally will have its effect on the entire
judicial structure OF the Nation-State
as we'll as Federal.
Mr.. Chambers title is Director of the
Administrative Office of the United
States Courts. but aptly, he might be
called the "eyes" throughr.,yhich the
courts hereafter will x6p sun4esss on
themselves, for that, IN brief, Is His
function, although the of1ice Is not a
'one-man" job.
The creation of the office is direct
outgrowth Of President Roosevelts con-
troversial move to reshape the Supreme
Court, which stirred the country in
1887. At the same time it may be con-
sidered as logical development of
plan operating for the last two decades
under the leadership of the Supreme
Court, to integrate the work of district
and circuit courts, where litigation origi-
mates. and correspondingly to improve
the administration of the courts.
Native of Massachusetts,.
The director, native of Massachu-
sets, has been engaged in general prac-
tice in Chicago for the last 80 years,
with particular attention to the law of
municipal corporations and public i'm
provements A graduate of Harvard
Law School and possessor Of law de-
gree also from the University of Chi
cago, he has been actively identified with
the affairs of his City and State through
out the period of his legal work. He was
president of the Chicago Bar Associa-
ton of 1938-39, and also served as
chairman of the Municipal Law Section
of the American Bar Association. He
has held the presidency of the City
Club, Union League Club and Civil
Service Association of Chicago, and for
four years was chairman of commit
tee on child welfare legislation ap-
pointed by the Governor of Illinois.
The program which he will admin
lister is being inaugurated under the
most favorable conditions. In sharp
contrast with the vigor with which
other portions of the Presidents Court
reform program were fought by the bar
of the country, provision for the ad-
ministrative officer met widespread ap-
proval from the American Bar Asso-
citation and many associate groups.
It is starting out too, at time when
court dockets generally are reported in
good condition, with but 18 out Of the
IS districts showing cases in arrears
at the last report In September.
Held Delay an Injustice.
. In his historic message to Congress
in which he urged that the course of
justice be speeded by changes that
would go from top to bottom, the Presi-
dent commented tersely: Delay in any
court results In injustice"
FittingH, the plan is being inaugu-
rated as the high court rounds out its
150th year, to constitute an appropriate
landmark in the history of that tri-
bunal.
There is some difference In the ad-
ministrative office, as now set up, and
the method that was suggested at the
outset by the President. He proposed
the Supreme Court appoint proctor"
who would keep check on the accumu-
lation of cases in district and circuit
courts; make recommendations to the
Chief Justice where conditions indicated
the need for assignment Of additional
judges, and, with the approval Of the
Chief Justice, advise the lower courts
on methods for expediting pending Hti-
cation.
As the legislation emerged in COM
pleted form two years later, however, it
provided more positive approach to the
problem, and, while leaving the appoint
ment Of the administrative of1cer to the
Supreme Court, relieved the Chief jus.
tics Of the immediate supervisory burden,