commenced during 1907, and the number commenced during 1914 is more than double the number commenced during 1907. The figures with respect to civil cases show that while there has not been an increase each year of the number of cases commenced over the number of the previous year up to 1912, there has been a substantial increase during the years 1913 and 1914. The number commenced during 1914 is almost 50 per cent (49+) more than the number commenced during 1907. The figures show an increase each year in the number of bankruptcy cases filed from 205 during 1907 to 436 during 1914-an increase of more than 100 per cent. The total number of cases commenced in the district for the year 1907 is 544, and for the year 1914 the number is 1,000. The number of criminal cases disposed of show an increase from 24 in 1907 to 133 in 1914. The total number of cases terminated in 1907 was 389, and in 1914 the number was 690. There has been a constant increase each year in the total number of cases pending in the district. On December 31, 1914, there were 4,456. A comparison of the total number of causes commenced with the number terminated during the last two fiscal years is as follows: 1913, commenced 845, terminated 697; 1914, commenced 1,000, terminated 690. These figures indicate very strongly that the business of the district is falling behind and are evidence of the fact that the calendars are in a congested condition. Exhibit B, attached hereto, is a statement for the calendar year ended December 31, 1914. It shows that during the year a total of 1,179 causes were commenced and only 832 terminated. It also shows that at the close of the year there was a total of 4,456 cases pending in the district, an increase of 170 over the number pending on June 30, 1914. The statement shows that in each class of cases except criminal, of which 161 were commenced and 162 terminated, the number of cases disposed of was considerably less than the number commenced. With respect to law and equity cases, for instance, the number commenced is 341, while only 246 were terminated. I could state in this connection that I am advised that neither of the resident judges took any vacation during the year. It should also be remembered that Judge Hunt assisted in the work of the district for about nine months during the year. Judge Rellstab stated to me that he had taken no vacation for a number of years. During my recent examination of the offices of the district I observed that Judge Rellstab was frequently at work in his office until late in the night. He is now engaged in writing opinions and has not been able to devote any time to the trial of cases since November, 1914. Court is now in session at Newark with Judges Hunt and Haight sitting. No attempt is being made to try equity cases, the entire time of both judges being devoted to the trial of cases at law, no law cases having been tried for a number of months previous to the beginning of the present term of court. I would state in this connection that Judge Rellstab advises me that he has found it impracticable to comply with the provisions of No. 46 of the Rules of the Supreme Court with respect to taking testimony in open court in equity cases owing to the time consumed in such procedure. Accordingly, in most equity cases testimony is taken before commissioners, masters, or examiners upon stipulation of the parties. Judge Rellstab states that the fact that New Jersey is the domicile of so many corporations gives rise to the institution of cases of unusual difficulty and importance, many of such cases being designed for the purpose of establishing precedents. The case of the Buckeye Powder Co. v. B. I. du Pont de Nemours Powder Co. et al. is cited. The trial of this case commenced on September 23, 1913, and terminated on February 25, 1914, having been in progress for a period of about five months. The judges seem to be doing their utmost to dispose of the business. The calendars, however, are now undoubtedly in a state of worse congestion than they have been in for a number of years. Notwithstanding the fact that three judges were on duty in the district for about nine months of the calendar year 1914, the total number of cases commenced was 347 in excess of the number terminated. In other words, the number disposed of is 71 per cent of the number commenced. Aside from the causes on the calendar I am advised that on January 1, 1915, there were opinions in 52 cases to be rendered, the same being reserved until the judges should have time to prepare them. I think the present condition of the calendars and the data submitted herewith indicate very strongly that it is impracticable for two judges properly to handle the business of the district. That it has been necessary to defer the trial of a considerable number of United States cases, and others as well, because of lack of time on the part of the court to hear them, as claimed by officials and attorneys, is undoubtedly true. EXHIBIT A. Statement showing the number of cases commenced and terminated in the United States circuit and district courts for the district of New Jersey at the close of the fiscal years 1907 to 1914, inclusive, and the number of causes pending in said district at the close of said fiscal years. Statement showing the number of causes instituted and terminated in the United States district court for the district of New Jersey during the calendar year 1914, and the number of cases pending at the close of said year. This proposed legislation has the hearty approval of the Attorney General, who hopes that it may be enacted into law at an early date. From the facts presented your committee is of the opinion that the additional district judge should be provided for this district. 3d Session. No. 1413. PUBLIC BUILDING, WILDWOOD, N. J. FEBRUARY 18, 1915.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and ordered to be printed. Mr. LOGUE, from the Committee on Publie Buildings and Grounds, submitted the following REPORT. [To accompany H. R. 20243.] The Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds, to which was referred the bill (H. R. 20243) to acquire a site and erect a building thereon for the use of the United States post office at Wildwood, N. J., having considered the same, beg to report thereon with the recommendation that the bill do pass amended as follows: Strike out all after the word "site" in line 5 down to and including the figures $100,000" in line 11 and insert in lieu thereof the words "for a public building in the city of Wildwood, Cape May County, New Jersey, at a cost not to exceed $20,000." The purpose of this bill is to authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to acquire a site for a Federal building in the city of Wildwood, N. J. The committee believes it wise to purchase this site at the present time for several reasons. The tremendous growth of the town will make the erection of a public building imperative in the immediate future and it is believed advisable to purchase the site for the building before the further advance in values will make the price prohibitive. Another reason is the urgent necessity of providing more adequate facilities for carrying on the postal business in that city. The present quarters are in a very crowded and congested condition and the work is carried on only with the greatest difficulty, especially in the summer months when thousands of visitors are in the city The office is a fast-growing one, as will be seen in the statement of postal receipts for the three adjustment years ended March 31: 1906 receipts, $6,444; 1909 receipts, $10,719; 1914 receipts, $25,976. The Post Office Department reports on this project as follows: OFFICE OF THE POSTMASTER GENERAL, Washington, D. C., January 20, 1915. Hon. FRANK CLARK, Chairman Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds, House of Representatives. MY DEAR MR. CLARK: I am in receipt of your letter of the 18th intsant, stating that a bill introduced by Hon. J. Thompson Baker providing for an appropriation for the acquisition of a site and the erection of a post-office building at Wildwood, N. J., is before the Public Buildings and Grounds Committee for consideration and asking that the committee be furnished with an expression of the department's views in the matter. In reply I wish to state that no recent special investigation has been made for the purpose of determining the needs of the services at Wildwood, but from data available it appears that the workroom of the quarters now occupied contains approximately 1,200 square feet of floor space, while 1,600 square feet are required at the present time. The force employed during the summer months, when the bulk of the postal business is transacted, consists of 12 clerks and 4 carriers, and experience indicates that not less than 100 square feet of floor space should be provided for each clerk and carrier and the equipment assigned to his use. The receipts of the Wildwood post office for the three adjustment years ended March 31 were as follows: 1906, $6,444; 1909, $10,719; 1914, $25,976. From the foregoing it is apparent that the Wildwood office is growing rapidly, and as it is the policy of the department in reporting on prospective buildings to suggest that space be secured to meet the needs of the service 10 years hence, it would seem that if a new building is authorized, workroom should contain approximately 2,600 square feet of floor space. The quarters occupied by the Wildwood office prior to May 1, 1910, were leased by the department at a rental of $600 a year, which included equipment, heat, light, and water. As the accommodations were inadequate, it became necessary to secure additional space for which the Postal Service is paying rental at the rate of $1,200 a year, which also includes equipment, heat, light, and water. Very truly, yours, A. S. BURLESON, Postmaster General. The following is a letter from Postmaster George N. Smith, of Wildwood, and explains further the needs of the service in that city: UNITED STATES POST OFFICE, Wildwood, N. J., December 12, 1914. Hon. J. THOMPSON BAKER, M. C., House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. DEAR MR. BAKER: In the matter of the congested condition of the post office in the city of Wildwood, to which your attention was recently called, I beg to hand you herewith a comparative statement of the business handled since the year 1910, at which time the present quarters were occupied. Such an extraordinary growth as is shown by the statement submitted very clearly indicates the present congested condition of the office, and especially so when the space requirements of the parcel-post business is taken into consideration, which, of course, was unforeseen at the time the present quarters were leased by the Government. The peculiar conditions existing at this point make the problem a particularly difficult one to handle in that over 60 per cent of the business done annually is transacted during the three months' period from June 15 to September 15. I would greatly appreciate a careful perusal of the inclosed comparative statement, as well as your advice in the matter of my recommendations to the department at Washington. Very respectfully, yours, June 30, 1910.. June 30, 1912. June 30, 1913. June 30, 1914. Increase, 122 per cent. GEORGE N. SMITH, Postmaster. Postal account. |