New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-04-09
THE CHIEF JUSTICESHIP.
OPINIONS OF NEW YORK LAWYERS.
MINISTER PHELPS, JAMES G. CARTER AMI
EX-JUDGE HOADLY FAyORITES
PROMINENT MEN GIVE THEIR VIEWS AS To-
WHO SHOULD SUCCEED MARSHALL, TANEY
AND wAITE-THE QUALIFICATIONS o.
CHE MEN MENTloNED FOR THE

AND WAITE-THE W
CHE MEN MENTlONED FOR THE
PLACE DISCUSSED = NOT A
LARGE AMOUNT OF AVAIL
ABLE MATERIAL.
The question Of the coming Chief Justice on
the Supreme Court Of the United States is at
tracing deep interest among the prominent law
yers Of this city. There are more than fifty
Of those whose practice takes them before the.
court at Washington and these particularly
concerned over the choice which President C!eve<
land shall make to fill tho post occupied bM
Jay Marshall. Taney, Chase and Waite.
The opinions Of the best-known and most inf
luential Of these lawyers who go to Washington
on legal matters before the Supreme Court have
been obtained to their choice for Chief JUSTICE
together with the underlying their views.l
One remarkable feature in this search is thel
consensus Of opinion the paucity of the ma
terial from which to chose a man of the BREADTH
of mind, peculiar training, general eminence I'M
law and assduity which arc deemed essential
in the man who shall be called to the highest
judicial position in the country. At recent
dinner-party given by a leading lawyer of this
city to some dozen judges of the higher courts and
other prominent lawyers, this fact was dwels
upon that there were few Democrats who.
so far as was known from their trial and ex4
perence, could fill the position. And there was
some well-founded objection to these in most ins
stances.
A NORTHERN DEMOCRAT SHOULD HAVE THN
PLACE.
1t is generally held by the leading lawyers here,
Republicans included, that a Democrat should be
chosen Republican lawyers like Clarence A.
Seward and Elihu Root state that it would be-
absurd to expect anything else. Again, it is con-
ceded, even by such Southerner and Democrat
as General Pryor, that no Southern man will bo
chosen.
There arc only three men among all those whose
names have been before the public who thu
leading lawyers unhesitatingly concur in saying
are fully qualified for the position and who,
Republican lawyers declare, would not only be-
unexceptionable, but would be eminently, fit for
the position These are James O. Carter, cx-
Governor George Hoadly and Edward j. Phelps4
Minister to the Court of St James's. But somsI
of Mr. Carters warnest friends say that his health
would not permit him to accept the position ic
offered they refer 20 the former breakdown oc
his health and say that he has to take great
care Of himself lest he overworlS; he goes to his
office as little as possible, going directly to court
from his house, and finds it necessary now and
then to drop work and start of for q hunting or
fishing jaunt. 1t is generally conceded that a
man Of unimpaired physical powers is needed for
the head of the Supreme Court. Mr. HoadlY
receives support for his broad mind, his knowl-
edge of constitutional law his general training.
his powers Of endurance, his incisive character
and his well-known capacity for reelng of ID
great amount Of work
Mr.. Phelps is praised by those who know him
best-such men Colonel George Bliss, General
Pryor and F. L. Stetson-for his eminent legal
attainments. Mr. Phelps is, however well on
toward seventy, it is pointed out, while Colonel
Bliss says that the Minister'S well-llnown career
as corporation lawyer may be an objection in
these times
NEW. YORK LAWYERS WHO PRACTISE IN COURT
Following is list of the lawyers in this city
who practise before the Supreme Court in Washing,