Litchfield enquirer., 1880-02-19
The Judges Amendment.

ture at it's present session. for two-thirds ap proval before it can be submitted to the peo pie, upon which an important hearing was had before the legislative committee on Wed resday last. It provides that judges shall be nominated by the governor and approved by the legislature-not by the Senate alone, as has been quite generally supposed.
 At Wednesdays hearing, Judge Seymour, ex-Gov. Hubbard, Simeon E. Baldwin and others, spoke in favor of the measure, and Messrs. Marcy, Briscoe and Hunter against it. ! The argument in favor was chiefly directed l against the present method-appolntmen by party caucus confessedly one of the worst modes of selection for high office ever adopted. 1 One of the opponents of the amendment pre- ferred popular election. The others feared the ''one man power" t-. If the question were new one it might be doubtful one. If the choice lay between that of executive appointment and popular election, t might also be doubtful: but, be- tween nomination by the ''log-roIling" legisla- tive caucus and nomination by competent
 
 We hear no one at all familiar with the pres ent mode of appointment commend it. We hear objections made against other forms, but we have yet to see the intelligent lawyer or lyman who sees anything good in the work of the caucuses. + ''t-
 Even as between executive appointment and popular election. there are very many advan- tages to be urged in favor of the former. Us ually the Governor is himself lawyer, and can judge accurately of qualifications regard ing which neither legislative caucus nor po- litical convention could decide intelligently Another advantage would be the fact that he would be most unworthy chief magistrate who would allow solicitation of judicial of flee. Candidates would not select themselves. IS is so frequently the case in caucuses and conventions
 From the fact that governor would solicit, and not be solicited, would flow another great advantage. We hear it said, both here and in States where judges are chosen by the people, that the lawyers in largest practice and highest repute will not accept judicial appointments. Is 1t not one chief reason, that such lawyers are seldom politicians, and have no means of in- fluencing caucuses or conventions? ? It IS anoth- CT, that they would not condescend to use such methods even if they knew they would be successful. We have heard it alleged again and again as an excuse for weak judicial ap- pontments that stronger men would not ac- cept them. Yet we have seen some frst-class lawyers offered judgeships, and we have never yet heard of refusal Is it not plainly the reason so few leading lawyers receive such positions, that they will not solicit, and are seldom offered them?
 The only objection to executive nomination arises from the fear that judges so appointed will be too independent, too little inclined to hard, careful work. So far as our observa- .tion goes, such has not proved the case in States whose judges are appointed in that way. On the other hand. we have often known con- sclentious judges beaten at popular elections for the very reason that they insisted on de- ciding according to law and in opposition to local popular opinion.
 Though we fear that the result may be the other way, we sincerely hope that the present amendment will receive two-thirds vote of the legislature, and come before the people for ratification.
 The House Committee on Commerce has adopted a substitute for the Reag an bill regu- lating railway traffic between the States. The new bill provides for National Railroad Com mission, and retains some of the restrictive features of the Reagan bill. The N. Y. Times summarizes it's provisions as follows:
 The new bill enjoins reasonable and equal charges upon all railways conveying property from one State or Territory to another, for the carriage of such property, It imposes as a penalty for violation of this requirement. a fine of not less than $1, 900 for such offences, 10 be recovered in the United States courts, and also liability to suits for extortion by par ties injured by discrimination. The bill creates commission tosee to the enforcement of these provisions, with considerable powers. Among these are the following To investigate com plaints to summon witnesses and compel by legal process the production of books and pa pers; to require reports, according to fixed and uniform forms covering uniform periods, from the railway companies; to make general and detailed reports to the Secretary of the Interior; to notify companies of the remedies deemed proper for abuses which, in the judg ment Commissioners, exist; on failure of the of the companies to apply such reme- dies to notify the Attorney. General, that legal prosecution may be commenced and the Con- missioners are in general required to furnish such information as shall aid in the ''enact gnent of an intelligent system of national legis- lation, regulating inte, State railroad con- merce."
 THE EDINBURGH REVIEW, for January, con- tains: Agricultural Depression; Hamerton's Life of Turner The Military Position of Rus sia and England in Central Asia Ireland, her Present and Future; The Persian Miracle Play British Light Houses; Russia Before and after the War; Lord Minto in India Plain Whig Principles. l Published by the Leonard Scott Publishing l Co.,, New York. $4 year.
 HAMPERS contains: The New School of Italian Painting and Sculpture (with illus tration); Isis; Among the Arrapahoes GO illus.); Obstinacy 6 ilus); A Winter Idyl Q6 illus, by w. H. Gibson; Dakota Wheat Fields c illus.); Valentine Gllus ), An Irish
 Wake 6 illus); Vacation Aspects of Colo rado (11 illus); White Wings, Yachting Romance (continued), by Wm. Black; Miss
 Beulah's Bonnet, by Rose Terry Cooke ; Transportation by Railway and Ship Canals ; The Sitting of Peter, by H. W. Lougfel. low; Romance of Swedish Life; The Snow Messengers, by Paul H. Hayne; Mary