Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1884-10-03
WASHINGTON LETTER.
[From Our Regular Correspondent

lrEom oui itSEuiat SolEorpouuOus.J
WASHINGTON. ID. C., Sept. 29th, 1884.
The retirement of Commissioner Dudley
from the Pension Office on the 10th of
will be hsiled with eminent
satisfaction by all who believe that the
affairs of the Pension Office can I've more
administered. Mr.. Dudley's
management has brought the Office three
years behind in its business, although lie
has had an army o. clerks, and the ex-
pense of running his Office for single
year has amounted to $3.50, 900. The tact
that applications for pensions filed as long
ago as 1882 are just beginning to be reach
ed in their order, shows want of System
or discipline or both, which can he readily
supplied by some one who has better
appreciation of his official duties. II the
administration carries out is ideas OF
Civil Service Reform with sincerity, Major
Clarke. the present Assistant Commission
er. with advanced ideas upon proper
p-nsion system, would and should receive
the appointment.
The necessity for reorganization of the
United States Supreme Court becomes
more and more pressing with the advent
OF each recurring session. With nine
judges almost constantly at work, the court
is still so overrun witt, new cases that it
has become an absolute impossibility to
advance even step upon the three years
that the court has Jagged behind its cslen-
dar. Sitting from October to May, these
judges dispose of about three hundred
cases, while the number Of new cases that
it will encounter at the opening of the
session next monih will be upwards of 400,
thus throwing its work back still another
year. Thrice has the Senate passed bil |
looking to the relief of The court, by re-
dncing the number Of appeals aud co,,-
ferring increased jurisdiction upon inferior
courts, hut the House has EACH time faie,l
to reHcl, the bills, tl,ongh the Speaker,
table was loaded will, petitions praying
for action upon them. Under the present
right Of appeal. this, the highest tribunal
in the land, has infinitely more of ils time
occupied with petty cases that involve
neither principle or property. lhru with
those involving grave constitutional qncs-
lions.
The personnel of the Supreme Court has
often been remarked upon. bat I have
never seen a newspaper description that
did the court justice. Beginning with
Chief Justice Waite, whose grey han and
beard and big mouth and big nose are all
that bear any resemblance 10 II Judge, one
is set to wondering how any such look
ing man as that could ever gel into seat
once occupied by Mar.hall? Miller, who
sits at the right Of the Chief Justice, has
the bearing, the learning and all the re-
qnisites OF Judge, except the appearance,
which is that OF Il thrifty Iowa husband
man. Justice Field, the left supporter Of
the Chief Justice. il u gander. legged, bald
headed, full bearded, gold bowed-sp pecta-
cled lawyer, Whose chief qualification for
his appointment consisted of his being the
brother Of D,vid Dudley aud Cyrus w.
lie ia Democrat. and a hardshelled one
at that. Justice Bradley is small man,
with large capncity for sonnolence on
the bench. lie IT., however, clesr-headed,
and has no reason % keep awake to listen
10 the soporifc Supreme Court arguments.
Harlan is n handsome Kenluekian who is
long all over as well as long-heAdcd. He
clIewa iobncco amazingly, but wilhal is nm
excellent judge who writes excellent opim-
ions. Woods was little known M SOL
dieI IN Georgia, bnt will he less known az
a Judge, while Gray, of Boston, Is every
inch Of liis six feet four, u siaIwart speci-
men Of the New England jurst, Gray Is
an odd bachelor, crispy and snappy, but he
can work of more business than any two
of his associates. Stanley Matthews has no
business or the bench of the Supreme
Court, and Blatchiord, who was an admir-
able district court Judge in New York, is
not basement high in this court.
DON PEDRO.