Evening star., 1954-11-18
Chief Justice Urged
To Address Congress
On Judiciary 5 Needs
sp.eiai Di.po,eh to III. Star

speeiai oispo'eh to The Star
CLEVELAND. Nov. 18.-Dep-
uty Attorney General William
p. Rogers last night proposed
that the Chief Justice Of the
United States address a joint
session OF Congress at the start
of each session.
The jurist, under this pro-
gram, would lay before the peo-
pie the needs and problems Of
the Federal judiciary. as well as
outlining the performance of the
courts.
Mr.. Rogers made his pro-
posal at a testimonial dinner
here for the new Federal Dis
trict jurist. Judge James c..
Connell, recently appointed by
President Eisenhower for the
Northern District Of Ohio. Judge
Connell was confirmed by the
Senate. The dinner was attended
by 1000 persons.
Present System Inadequate. *
Asserting that the present
system Of presenting the needs
and problems of the Federal
judiciary is entirely inadequate,
MIR. Rogers said:
II want to propose to you here
tonight. a plan which / believe,
holds great promise for the fu-,
ture Of the judicial system. /.
believe that a primary need Of
the Federal judiciary today is an
effective way to speak to the
Congress and to the people Of
the United States.
"The judiciary needs a voice
possessing strength and prestige
to speak effectively. That voice
Is. In my opinion. the voice Of
the Chief Justice Of the United
States. believe that the Chief
Justice should be invited by con-
current resolution at the begin
ming of each session of Congress
to address a Joint session of the
House and Senate.
"At such a joint session OF
Congress the Chief Justice could
effectively present to the Com
gress and the people of the
United States not only the needs
and problems of the Federal
judiciary. but give a broad and
comprehensive picture of the
performance of the courts in
their vastly important function
of doing justice between man
and man, and between the Gov
ernment and its citizens.
s. There should be-. and I be-
Heve that there is, no partisan
ship in the matter of providing
adequate facilities for our Fed
eral judiciary. In the past the
1ault has not been with Con-
Eress: The fault has beens In
my opinion, with the procedure
Whereby the needs Of tlse courts
are not fully presented to the
Antire Congress and the people. Y
Pay Too Low, He says
The deputy attorney general
aid: Nothing is more ifnpor- /
tant than to have a judiciary
which is respected and trusted
The salary of Federal judges is
900 low, he maintained. n
4 He declared 64 new Federal
Judges have been appointed by
President Eisenhower, adding
stlIat not single adverse vote
sUlf the Senate noor was cast
against any one of them. He
said this number was a record.
Mr.. Rogers asserted: "It is
my opinion that we have failed
TO provide for sufficient public
scrutiny of our Federal Court
system. Public opinion - the
most powerful single force in
sdenocracy-has not in sufficient
degree been brought to bear on
Ahe problems Of one of the three
treat coordinate branches of
bur Government. The result has
Been that our Federal Judiciary
has suffered in many ways"
The cited the point that judi
seial requests are heard only be-
fore a subcommittee of the Judi
Ciary or Appropriations Commit-
bees. He contended this proceed
nre< is entirely unsatisfactory
md not in the public interest"
Mr.. Rogers also directed at
tention to the cuts made ir ap-
prppriations for the judiciary,
Resulting in limited staff per-
sonnel, necessary law books.
aenied to judges and jurists being
restricted to buying needed type
writers and other Office equip
Sn1ent. Limited funds for proba-
stion work make proper guidance
6pften impossible, he observed