Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1888-04-02
WASHIN GTON LETTER.
Washington. Mar. 26th.


Chief Justice was in his seventy-sec-
ond year, he was remarkably well
preserved man, and to judge from
outward appearances, likely to live
many years. He died suddenly from
nervous action OF the heart. He had
been slightly ailing for several days,
bat neither he nor his physician ZEAL
lied that it was anything more than
a cold.
Chief Justice Waite presided over
the Supreme Court last Monday, and
the long opinion in favor of the Bell
patent in the celebrated telephone
case, which occupied two hours In its
reading, was his last work. He grad
uated from Y ale college in 1887, and
was appointed to the Supreme Bench
from Ohio by President Grant i'll
1874.
The appointment of a successor to
the late Chief Justice is by far the
most important question which Mr..
Cleveland has yet had to consider,
and one which can not fail to have an
important bearing on the coming
presidential election. Owing to the
almost equal division of opinion
among the eight Justices of the SUI
preme court on many important pub
lie and private questions, the new
Chief Justice will have an amount of
power in shaping important events,
one might almost say in making his
tory, that seldom falls to one man
under a republican form OF govern
ment, and the Importance OF select
ing a man who has the entire conf
dence of the country in his Integrity
as well as his ability, is one which Is
clearly appreciated by everybody.
That the president will select a
democrat for this place goes without
saying. He could not be expected
to waive an opportunity Of securing
| the most important position under
the government for his party. But
the country has a right to demand
that the man selected shall not be a
mere politician. His legal ability
must be of the highest order and his
integrity unquestioned. There are a
number of democrats who can fill the
bill. If Mr.. Cleveland will select
one of them the people ought to be
satisfied.
Among those already prominently
mentioned for the vacant position are
Speaker Carlisle, who is thought by
many to have the best chances, be-
cause it is known that he was offered
the last vacancy of the supreme
bench before Mi. Lamar was appoint
| ed. and that he declined it very re-
| luctantly. Don M. Dickinson of
Michigan, the present postmaster
| general. is considered to be second Ill
the race, but he is hardly likely to re-
ceive the appointment unless the
place be allowed to remain vacant I'M
til after the election, because he could
not do the work mapped out for HIM
in the coming campaign if he were
Chief Justice. Among the other
names are ex-senator Thurman OF
Ohio, Hon. j. Randolph Tucker OF
Virginia, Secretary Bayard Of Della
ware, Secretary Endicott of Massa-
chusetts, Attorney General Garland
of Arkansas, Representative Collins
of Mass, Senator Gray of Delaware,
ex-senator Mcdonald OF Indiana, land
unite a number of smaller men, who
only hope to gain little notorlety
by having themselves mentioned ID
connection with SO exalted position.
1t is said by prominent democrats
that the appointment Will not oe
made until after the st. Louis CON
vention, as Mr.. Cleveland would be
afraid of antagonizing his friends oi
aspirants before that time.
The funeral of the late Chief Jus
tice will take place on Wednesday, IL
the hall of the House of Representa-
tives. The remains will then be takel
to Toledo, Ohio, for lnterment, &C
companied by the special COMPRESSION
al committees, the associate justices
of the supreme court and the Ohi'
delegation in congress.
The senate has passed the bill re
ducing the postage on SEEDS, oulos
plants. cuttings, ETC., to four cents
pound. 1t has also passed bill pro
vidino for an investigation of al
phases of the alcoholic liquor traffic
bv a commission. The latter is t.
consist of five persons to be selected
bv the president and to remain IN ex
) istence until it's work is completed
} but not to exceed two years.
The House committee on reform
} in the civil service have decided t.
report the bill favorably which ap
e portions appointments in the civil ser
= vice at Washington equally anon;
+ the congressional districts Of the sew
|
t eral states upon the basis of popu
: lation. 1t will also provide that tn
S civil service commission shall keep
e record of all persons in the classlfie
e service of the departments at WASH
: ington, showing at all times the tota
j. number in each service from eac
d state and territory. In the future
i certificates for appointments will b
d given to the state or territory havln
:, the fewest number, based on populs
is ton as shown in the last census.
l. this bill becomes a law, it will