Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1883-11-01
The Supreme C0urt.

~ w uSulu2 tOl lClttI W ut L MIA
delphia Press says: The supreme court
Of the United States begins its next
session day after tomorrow, with a
docket containing over one thousand
| cases. As the court can not, ordinar-
| lily, get through with three hundred a
year, you will see that the owlish body
is over three years behind in It's work.
But, as every member of it is candi-
date for the presidency, it IS not expect
ed that unusual zeal will be shown in
the courtroom. In speaking of the
supreme court | am led to the recollec-
ton of the rows that have occurred So
cially over the precedence of the ''su-
preme court ladies' the cabinet lad
les, and the families of senators. The
supreme court ladies' assert that the
members of the court get more salary
than either the senate or the cabinet;
that the office is for life, and that its
power and dignity are superior to eth
house of congress or the cabinet, which
is simply undeniable.
The cabinet members declare Cat
least their families do) that they are
the executive branch of the government,
and therefore, quite the equal. if not
the superiors, of the legislative and
judicial branches. The social families
of the senators, when their turns comes,
say they should have precedence, for,
does not the senate decide, after ali.
whether a man shall be Judge upon
the supreme bench or member of the
cabinet. Certainly no member of
either body can take his seat without
the approval and confirmation of the
senate. But these points you have
heard discussed for years. was only
wondering whether they will come up
again this coming winter.
The social requirements of those in
high Office can hardly be imagined by
those not familiar with Washington
society. Do not frown; am not going
to write society letter. And yet
want to express my opinion that the
supreme work of the judges is certain
ly very great and of Importance that
can not be overstated. A law in the
country is not law if it is questioned
until it shall have been passed upon by
the supreme court. The senate has
right to reject the house bill, and the
president has the power to veto the bill
From the action of the house there is
an appeal, from the action of both houses
there is an appeal, but when the SUI
preme court has decided upon law
there is no appeal. In is final and alb
solute The supreme court is composed
generally, of men past the meridian of
life. Some of the Judges are on the
three-score and ten roster. Theil fam
lilies are, like themselves, too old to de-
vote their lives to hollow society. The
family of the chief justice inv ashington
consists of his wife and daughter. His
wife met with an accident about three
years or more ago and broke her LEG.
She is now happily recovered, but she
can not wear herself out in looking after
people she does not know, half of whom
make themselves conspicuous out of
curiosity. The daughter is bright and
amiable and does what she is obliged to
do in a very gentle way The family of
Judge Miller, the eldest Judge on the
bench in the term of service, consists,
while in Washington, of his wife and
young daughter. His age is about 60.
His wife is much younger but is much of
the time an invalid. The daughter,
educated in Germany and France, and
a most brilliant musician and linguist.
can not be expected to throw her life
away in social mockery and neglect
and forget her accomplishments,
Judge Fields family consists of his
beautiful wife and such relatives as they
may happen to have. Should Mrs
Field give up her beautiful home to
spend every day in her carriage calling
on Mrs. Tom, Dick, and Harry? Justice
Gray is a bachelor, and therefore, has
nothing to do but to accept or decline
invitations. Judge Blatchford. the lat
est appointed member of the court, has
certainly a handsome house, but
know nothing of his family Judge
Harlan's family are in mourning, and
therefore exempt from social obligations
Judge Stanley Mathews, who built a
beautiful house on Connecticut avenue
after he was appointed to the bench, can
not entertain because of the death of a
son. The wife of Judge Bradley is cid
and feeble, and not equal to winter
in society Judge Woods is not
very well known in Washington society
So you see that little ought to be ex-
pected this winter from the families of
the supreme court judges.