New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-09-22
WASHINGTON.
THE CHIEF JUsTICESHIP.
THE VACANCY AND THE CANDIpAIES-hoAioh0 -
cERSING THE APPoINTMENT-soME PRoMINLNi
PERSON TO BE SELECTED.

THE VACANCY AND THE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. YIN
CERNING THE APPoINTMENr-soME PRoAiNi-Ni
PERSON TO BE SELECTED.
InY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNR.J
WASHINGTON, Sept 2l.-ln three weeks iroi,
tomorrow the regular Winter term under the "a" =,
last Congress- OF the Supreme Court OF the oh'o'
States will begin ct the Capitol The subject OF inc az
pointment OF a Chief Justice Is one which, more 'n'N
any other is occupying the minds Of the lawyers saS
men and public m1 throughout the country soon atei
the vacancy occurred, the President said repeatedly
that he should not appoint successor to Judge Oha7o
during the Summer, but that he shonid III tne n'o
time endeavor to obtain the sentiments OF the ia"''
of the country on the subject ana make the apPoiht
nent in time 10 enable the Court 10 assemble Wsh u
bench ON the second Monday In October. Only 20 DAYS
are left OF the time. and no indication has yet peeh
ovred IN reach the public as the Presidents inen-
lions and the bar is In state OF feversh interest 10
know whether the ighest judicial body III the Ianu
is 10 be presided over by great Jurlst, ur
whether the successor of Mr. Chase shall be taken rom
the ranks of serviceable politicians VINO nave nauS
Themselves conspicuous only In the support OF pohca
party There report. which comes with such uree
ness from the President that 1t not for its exraor
binary character could not fail 10 be believed that no
choice of ChieJustice will be made until after the
New York election, and that the selection VIII IcS'
largely on the result Of that election. In paih
words the report is this That If the election Is
satisfactory to Mr. COnklinS, ana ne Is assured '''
successor 70 himself may dictated by him. then the
postion OF Chief Justice OF the Supreme Court Will De
offered 10 and accepted by him. II the Legislature
should stand so that the person selected by him coh
NOT he elected 10 the United States Senate then the APP
no,ntment will 90 elsewhere. The long delay and tue
extreme retcence of the President the subject leads
10 the rational belief that appointment will now be
made until the assembling Of Congress, when the
name will be sent direct to the Senate FOR cOhuf-
mation The feeling among the members OF the
LEGAL profession il very strong against the
appointmept of Mr. COnklng OF any one whose DIS
tnction as a public man was achieved political life
instead of in distinctive legal character and II is said
thai IL would be an injustice the members OF the
Court TO place at their head great politician instead OF
a great lawyer Finally, 1t is acknowledged on all sides
that Mr. Conking obtained that distinction as
a lawyer that would make disappointment on any
bench q suitable one. Many leading Government
officials believe that Associate Justices Miller
or swayne will he promoted 10 the head
Of the bench and that the vacancy thus
ocasioned will be filled by the appointment OF South
ern man. such as Col Bristow OF Kentucky or Judge
Durant OF Louisiana. Both Judges Miller and swayne
are strongly pressed by their friends. and if promo
ton Is made the latter would of getting IL, we're
il not for his age 1t reported here day or two
ago that attorney General Williams would he appointed
and that the President had informed friend, but
Judge Williams such expectations In justice 10
the President il proper say that very few people
here believe that he will take obscure man and place
him in that high office.