Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1947-04-10
New Courthouse Vital
Even II D. {. Is Given
Home Rule, Laws Says
By Harold B. Rogers

II the Disrtcit should be given
home rule and have its own courts
to handle local litigation, q new Fed
eral Courthouse still would be need
ed here, Chief Justice Bolitha J.
Laws OF District Court today told q
House subcommittee.
Justice Laws testified to this ef-
feet before the Public Buildings Sub
committee of the House Public Works
Committee during hearings on q bill
for q new court building.
The issue was raised by Repre-
sentative Auchincloss, Republican, Of
New Jersey, who is chairman OF q
Home Rule Subcommittee OF the
House District Committee.
Mr.. Auchincloss explained his
group was now in the midst Of a
study Of the problem Of home rule
and reorganization pf the District
government. &.
Agrees with Jurist.
After hearing q lengthy plea by
the jurist as tosthe need Of the new
building here, Mn. Archincloss said
he agreed with the jurtst. He asked
also for further testimony and data
as to the proportion Of purely local
court business handled by the Fed
eral courts.
Justice Laws promised to prepare
the data for presentation soon to
the Home Rule Committee.
The Public Buildings subcom-
mittee listened at length today to
testimony from several witnesses
who agreed unanimously on the need
for a new structure.
Representative McGregor, Repub-
lican, Of Ohio, subcommittee chair
man, asked Austin Garfield, presi-
dent Of the District Bar Associa-
ton, If he knew OF any group which
opposed the new courthouse. Mr..
Garfield said as far as he knew
there was no opposition whatever.
Hearings to Resume.
The subcommittee will resume
hearings tomorrow morning and ex-
poets to complete consideration OF
the bill at that time. While there
was no official indication as to the
action the committee may take
some members said they thought
the measure would be favorably re-
ported to the House.
Justice Laws, In q comprehensive
presentation Of the case for new
structure, described the congested
conditions of the present court al
"intolerable." He charged the in
adequate facilities are definitely i'm
pairing the administration Of JUS
tice. He went into considerable de-
tail describing conditions pointed
out to members of the subcommittee
who recently visited the courthouse
On tour of inspection.
Case Increase Cited.
Business OF the court increased
in the fiscal year 1916 more thar
20 per cent above that in the flscal
year 1915, the jurist pointed out
Eliminating divorce cases here, he
said the remainder, which he con-
sidered heavy business" showed an
increase of about II per cent during
the same period. This heavy busi-
ness during the first six months Of
the fiscal year 1947, he reported, was
up nearly Is per cent over the COM
parable period in the fiscal year 1916
Other witnesses testifying to the
inadequate facilities Of the court
included Bruce Baird, president Of
the National Savings 81 Trust Co.
who is chairman of a Laymen's
Subcommittee on Cooperation With
the Courts; w. E. Reynolds, public
buildings commissioner of the Fed
eral Works Agency. and George
Morris Fay, United States attorney
Justice Laws presented to the
committee other witnesses who
probably will testify tomorrow
They included David Lynn, archi-
tect Of the Capitol; w. Bruce Mat
thews. United States Marshal; Lee
A. Rover, former United States
attorney; r. A. Van Orsdel Of the
Board OF Trade; Louis Justement
architect Of this city, and B. NJ
McKelway, chairman Of the Lay.
mems Committee on Cooperation
WITH xtaA