The daily gazette., 1880-01-19
FIFTH EDITION.
THB SUPERVISOR Question.

THE MATTER BROUGHT UP IN THE u.
s. CIRCUIT coURT-oBJECTIoN TO
THE APPOINTMENT MADE RY ATToR-
ToRNRY-GENERAL GRAY-coURT DE
CIDEs TO HEAR ARGUMENT To-MoB-
ROW.
The large attendance at the United
States Circuit Court this morning bore
testimony TO the interest with which the
expected appointment OF United States
Supervisors of Registration was regarded.
All the sitting room outside the railing
was occupied by spec ators, and the
space within the bar was crowded ~
members OF the legal fraternity. Among
those present were Attornry-Gen al
Gray, CHARLES B. Lore. VIM. q. White
ley, |. &. Grubb and George ii. Bates,
Esqs., on the Democratic side, and Dis
trict Attorney Spruance and Anthony
Higgins, Esqs., for the Republicans.
Court was opened promptly at eleven
O'Clock, with Judge Bradford on the
bench. A few minutes thereafter Chief
Supervisor Valentine entered the room
and presented the names Of Supervisors
for all the wards Ia Wilmington for con
firmatlon. This was done quetily and
the nam es could not be learned.
Immediately Attorney-General Gray
arose and, addressing the Court, said
that IL had been understood that the Cir
cult Judge of the United States Court
would, under the u. S. election laws, as
comprised in sections Poll to 20l6 In
elusive, appoint Supervisors of Registra
ton for this State.
There bad been some discussion as to
the propriety OF the Circuit Court max
ing this appointment, and he had under
stood that the court had stated that II
would be glad TO hear any argument In
reference to the appointment under
depu izatfon by the circuit judge. Avail
ing himself of this privilege, he was
here In pursuance Of requests of num-
Der or leading citizens, and Revenue Of
ficers Of the State, including the assess
ors themselves, and prepared to argue
the question that the appointment was
not within the provision and scope OF
the law.
OF course, he went on, Il is not pro-
posed 10 argue the c0nslitutionality OF
the law as 1t stands, but simply whether
under the pl DIVISIONS of the law IL would
be proper for the court 70 appoint super
viSors who woul1 scrutinize the assess
ment lists, and whether the law provld-
ing for the appointment would confer
upon the supervisors the authority 10
witness the assessment.
The court, Judge Bradford, replied
that he would freely grant an opportu-
nity Tor the objection to be made. He
would say that he regretted that the m
plicatlon for the appointment Of the su-
pt rvis1rs had not been made sooner, In
order that the question could be more
fnlly discussed. He had made up his
mind upon the matter, but, of course,
was willing to hear any thing that might
be- said. There had been some doubt as
TO the right of the contemplated SUPER
viSors TO examine into the assessment.
IL would be uncandld for him to say that
he had not reached decision that the
appointment would be right. As he had
before remarked, he would freely give
an opportunity for argument and wOuld
prefer having 1t come up tomorrow, The
question, as he understands 10. would be
appll cation of the act Of Congress TO the
provision OF the Sate law,-whether the
assessm, 1t, In sui stance and in effect
was registration of voters.
Mr.. Gray replied that the side which
he represented were ready to 60 INTO the
argument at once.
The Court, In reply to this, said thai
there was important business 10 come uI
IN Court and be would prefer not to {
into the hearing Of argument to-day.
1t was then fixed that the question
should be fully argued to-murrow, com
meucing a. 10 o'clock. Elch side wi be
allowed TWO hours and two speeches or
each side will be made. The Court stated
that the question To be discussed " ould
be the proper construction of the act OF
Congress, as applicable TO the a. sessme nj
laws ; no other issues could be intro
duced.
Court adjourned shortly after this un
I'll morrow at 10 o clock.