New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-07-03
THE NEW CHIEF JUSTICE.
THE CONFIRMATION OF MELVILLE W. Full
LER LIKELY WITHIN TWO WEEKS.
THE NOMINATION REPORTED TO THE SENATE WITH
OUT RECoMMESDATIOS-MR. FULLERs WAR
prropn THE erRroUs OBSTACLE.

THE NOMINATION RFPoRTED TO THE SENATE WITH
OUT RECoMMESDATIoS-MR. FULLER's WAR
RECORD TUE SERIOUS OBSTACLE.
Washington. July CSpeciaD. Judiciary
Committee of the Senate reported to-day the nom
nation of Melville w. Fuller to be Chief justice
of the United States, without recommendation.
This proved somewhat Of q surprise to the
friends Of Mr. Fuller who were confidently look
ing forward to favorable report since the re-
turn from Chicago Of Senator Hoar who had IL Is
understood spent part of his time while attending
the Republican Convention as delegate from
Massachusetts in making inquiries regarding ME-
Fuller's legal and personal standing Inc reports
which Mr.. Hoar gathered are known to nave oeen
the most favorable. Indeed, he expressed himseu
while in Chicago as altogether satisfied with the
result of his investigation. prompt report on
the part Of the Judiciary Committee favoring the
confirmation of Mr.. Fuller was therefore expected
by everybody.
1t seems however that the Senators composing
the Judiciary Committee, who practice before the
Supreme Court and earn large fees in dong so;
are still in doubt as to whether Mr.; Fulers legal
qualifications are such as 10 entltle MN 10 pr,
side over the deliberations OF the hlgncst tribunal
in the country. The doubts about Mr. rnllers
honesty seem to have been dlspelled entlrey'
There still remains. however, the feeIng thaJ Sir
Fuller was during the war, as already SHOWN III
these dispatches. a rank C0pperhead ana lb u 1lS
feeling more than anything else the doubts re-
garding his legal qualifications not even eXcepteuJ
which makes Republican Senators on inc COM
mittee hesitate to recommend his continuation
They do not seem to have the courage however
TO saw so formally in report knowing wen thdS
MIR Fuller is almost certain to be- connrneu;
Senators Farwel and Cullom are already committed
70 vote for his confirmation; Others, 1t Is known
feel equally friendly 10 him. That Democrat
will vote to reject Mr.. Fuller is altogether un-
likely. II en
II is reasonable, therefore, TO expect the connr-
nation of Mr. Fuller in the course OF the mex
two weeks The report of the judiciary Com-
mittee took its place on the calendar along WIN
other reports to-day, but as the calendar Is hoO
heavy and an objection to Its consideration ny
any one Senator carries 10 over only one day' III 10
altogether probable that the matter Will soon De
reached. = ...o 60 1o,,
OF the doings in the Judiciary Committee to-day
little can be learned All that IS known is thae
there was long and animated debate anu t I
AT its close the Republican senator's admitted .hac
there were no charges against Mr. ruler DuI u1ey
were unwilling to approve his continuation on .iS
ground that it would not, from thelr pOlIU Oh
view be safe TO intrust him with the SreaI pVm,ol
of Chief Justice in interpreting leglslatloh lHs
Democrats attempted to get favorable reRorC -
view of the fact that there were no Gn le
against Mr. Fuller but in this they failed Iln IDLY
after several propositions had been dlscusseu gVl
sides consented to report without recOnilneu"lns
either confirmation or rejection.