Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-05-21
THE SPOILS SYSTEM
Is Responsible, Says Justice Bradley,
for the Rush for Place.
CIVIL SERVICE is THE REMEDY.
He Corrects an Error About That Decision
on Prohibition.
MONEY is RULING THE GOVERNMENT

iMr. Justice J. P. Bradley, of the United
States Supreme Court, arrived last night on
the limited and went to the Monongahela
House, his old resort. The Judge has not
been here for two years and he was anxious
to know how much work there was to do.
He seemed disappointed when told that
he was expected to try the Westing
house. Edison case, but he hoped there
would be enough appeals to keep him occu-
pied, and he would rather Judges McKen-
nan and Acheson would go ahead with the
patent case The Judge remarked that in
any event he would probably hear it argued
before the Supreme Court anyhow, and it
wasn't necessary for it to come before him
now.
MILLER FOR MATTHEWS SHOES.
He did not know who would succeed JUS
tice Matthews; but he noticed that Attorney
General Miller had been mentioned for the
place in the newspapers.
sISpeaking of the rush for Offices he said: ut
is deplorable state of affairs when the Presi-
dents time is taken up with those who person
ally seek offices. Even the Cabinet officers are
pestered to death with these people. have
thought great deal about it, but no remedy is
obvious outside of the civil service system. If
this plan could be properly applied, the clerks
would hold over when the administration
changed, and the President would be relieved
of this extra work.
'HThe trouble began with the introduction of
the spoils system. know in the past there was
not such a wild rush for Office. remember
postmaster in Newark who was appointed by
Washington. He held the office for IA years,
when Jefferson displaced him. The man he ap-
fnfa hnld f0r
never hear of such a thing now"
BISHOP POTTER A LITTLE OFF.
The Judge said he had not read Bishop Pot
ter's sermon; but, from what he knew of it, he
thought the Bishop was little wild in his
statements. Continuing in this line he natur-
ally drifted into discussion of the labor prob
lem. On this subject he said: ut is quite evil
} dent TO every man that the Government is
drifting more every day toward pluto
cracy The concentration Of wealth into
the hands of few gives them
great power. and they have used it op-
pressively against the workingmen. can't
see why man, because he is a little sharper
and shrewdeF than his fellows and has amassed
great wealth, should use it against his
brethren. On the other hand, an equal distri-
button of wealth would never do. In such
case there would be nothing left to support art
and education, and men would be worse OH
than before. am anxious to know what VIII
be the outcome of the uprising of labor against
capital. 1t has been true in the past that capl-
tai overcame labor.
THE condition of the American workmen is
quite good, and it is strange that our laborers
should be SO restful and dissatisfied. They
clamor for shorter hours ana more leisure;
but can't see that this leisure time does them
any good.
IN AID OF SHIPPING.
"For the past 20 years the Supreme Court
has been doing all it could for American ship
ping by the Interpretation of the limited liza
bility act for vessels; that is, ship owner is
responsible only for the amount of money he
has invested in his ship should there be loss
not the result of his own carelessness- This
law has helped the shipping interests good
DEAL"
Concerning prohibition the Judge said: THE
general impression seems TO prevail that the
Supreme Court decided that prohibition was
constitutional. That is great mistake. The
Supreme Court merely decided that it was not
unconstitutional. The court has nothing to do
whatever with the question. 1t comes under
the head of those rights delegated to the States
by the Constitution, SO that If the question
were submitted to vote of the Supreme Court,
| am not sure that the measure would carry. l
never express personal opinions. Probably
prohibition is good thing, and there is no
doubt that ntemperance has became deplor-
able evil, but hardly believe that such law
can be enforced"