Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1882-10-20
JUDGE PO1.AND,s STATEMENT.


Hon. i. p. Poland, ut the request of the
editor of the Rutland Herdld, has made the
following statement regarding certain person.
al matters relating to appointments at Wash
ington, concerning which more or less has
been said in public and private:
Representative Ray of New Hampshire,
"A Vermont boy, who came up vt the bar
while Judge Poland was ON the bench, and
was devoted friend of his, came over to the
general term at Montpelier last fall to argue
u case, and while there argued asked Judge
Poland why he did not have some good place
under the administration.
Judge Poland replied as follows: II told
HIM that one reason why did not have a
place, supposed, was that | never asked
for one. | also said that there was but one
place that | would have taken, and that was
solicitor-general that If had thought of it
in season would have asked for that, but
did not; that the principal duty OF the solic-
tor-gencral was TO argue cases in the Supreme
Court of the United States and ! thought
must be very pleasant one. Ray, who is an
ardent, enthusiastic fellow, said he believed
might have the place now, and when he got
to Washington he would see. He asked
about the Vermont delegation. told him |
had no doubt Joyce, Tyler and Grout would
all be glad to help if there was anything to
be done that should not wish to have Nor
ill asked, and that Edmunds never recon-.
mended anybody.
| heard no more till late in the Winter
got letter from Grout, saying that he and
Ray had been to see Brewster, the Attorney
General, on the subject; that Brewster SAID
he did not wish 10 exchange Phillips, the
solicitor general, for any new man, as he had
been long in the office but that he should
be glad to have me take the place of solicitor
of the treasury in place of old MIR. Raynor,
il the secretary Of the treasury and the Pres
dent were willing thatthereupon they went
to see Folgcr, the secretary Of the treasury.
lie was quite willing that should be solicit
tor of the treasury, hut suggested that there
was "A vacancy in the court of claims and
thought would much prefer that place.
That thercupon they went to see the Prcsi-
dent. That the President said the Court of
claims was out Of business and he should not
fill the vacancy unless Congress passed some
of the bills to give that court jurisdiction
over other classes of claims, etc. Gen. Grout
urged me to come to Washington and sec the
President and Secretary and thought could
without doubt get u good appointment.
replied to him that | wOnld not take the
solicitor of the treasury--that it was Il mere
department place and that | did not want
any place except one where the duty was in
court. said also that should not come to
Washington to look for the place,
also wrote that some dozen years ago
Gen. Grant offered me the chief justiceship
of that court (lhc court of claims) which |
declined. That within u year one of the
Judges of that court had written mt that
Chief Justice Drake was old enough and had
served long enough TO retire aud keep his
salary, and was talking of rctiring,a and should
he do so hoped might have it. | wrote
Gen. Grout that if the old offer Of chief JUS
ticc was renewed, would accept it. | be-
lcvc this is just all there is of it. The whole
thing started from this talk with Ray and
was in no sense an application by me to
GrOut or anybody"