Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1885-01-23
WASHINGTON LETTER.



WASHINGTON, ID. G., Jan. l9tb, 1885.
II may not be generally known or be
lieved that Chief Justice Waite will never
again preside over the deliberations Of the
Supreme Court, but have II from un-
doubted authority ina, the Chicf Justice
10 afflicted with sofienlng of the train, aud
you know what that means. The fact that
the Judges OF thm court ave over worked
cannot be sainmyed. for they work nearly
all the time and are still at least three
years behind in the preparation OF the
opinions IN cases that involve not only
vast financial interests hut grave constilu.
tionnl questions. The Chief Justice il
anxious to ge, to work again, bat his as
socinics know too well what ia the matter
and they have informed him that n. they
can carry everything that is now pending
without difficulty, lie had hest remain ut
home ard rest up Mr.. Waite Ia not much
above sixly, and Judge Taney was thirty
years hi. senior when he retired from the
bench. Judge Nelson was seventy seven,
and Judge Cianch nearly that when they
retired, but these eminent Judges retained
their mental faculties to the last moment
Though Judge Tsney had res lily attained
his second childhood, lie had the ssgacity
10 conceal il while on the bench, and il WIS
only when Congress made provision for
judicial senility, that he became consciou.
that he was getting beyond the days Of
ns-filness.
The Chief Justice Of onr Sapreme Court
gets ten thousand Eve hundred dollars per
year. while the Associate Justices receive
ten thousand dollars. The five hunireI
dollar additional il not l,ecause Of the a,idi.
tienal dignity that aitache-. to the posi-.
tien, but because the Chief Justise really
does more work than any uf his brethren
For instance, all the motions that are
m,de IN court on motion day (Monday ]
have to he considered aud determined up
| on by the Chief Justice alone, besides
which lie is expected to bear his fu share
| Of the work OF the court.
In the matter of the writing and. deliv-
cry OF the opinions of the court there i,
as much variance in the manner Of these
nine Judges as one could pnssiblv conceive
| While Stanley Matthews and Harlan are
verbose, and exhaust both the law and III,
patience of the court in the reading I"
their opinions, Gray, Biatchford, Bradlp,
and Miller arrive directly at the point nnt
strike the marrow Of the issues involve,
without circumlocuiion or other jldicia
travail. Justice Gray particularly, mus
be cited ms an exception to the rule o
those Judges who read their opinions from
manuscript, because, although his opinion.
are written, they are delivered of hand il
an easy conversational style that genll,
let's down the liiganls on both sides. Jus
tice Field cannot lie said to be much Of
jnrist, although he acquired something o
n reputation as railroad lawyer. In fac
n first class lawyer will not go on ih
bench, when his own practice is weril
anywhere from two 10 FIVE times the salar,
paid to a Supreme Conrt Judge. At lh
time that Mr.. Conkling was offered ih
Chief Jusiiceship by President Grant, h
peremrtorily refused an,l told the Presi
deut that he had nj that moment a case IL
which the retniner was larger than tn
salary OF tie Judge for whole year.
Dom PEDRO.