St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-02-02
THE SUPREME BENCH.
Pen Pictures OF the Nine Lead
ing Jupists of the United
States.
Chief Justice Fuller's Library
and His Decided Literary
Tastes.
Gossip About Brewer and
Field and Their Expert
enee in Asia.
Peculiarities of Miller, Brad
ley, Harlan, Lamar, Gray
and Blatehford.
specjal correspondence of the Globe.

Special Correspondence of the Globe.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 31.-One hun
dred years ago next Tuesday, the SUI
preme court of the United States held
its first meeting, and on Monday next
all of the justices will leave Washing
ton to celebrate its centennial at New
York. The supreme court is now the
most dignified body of men in our gov
eminent. 1t ranks with congress and
the president in its Importance, and the
chief justiceShip, lasting as it does for
life, is more desirable than the Office of
chief executive of the United States.
The business Of the court shows better
than anything else the growth of our
country during the past century. For
the first thirty years the supreme court
had practically nothing TO do. Now it
is 1000 cases behindhand, and Justice
Miller tells me that the judges work all
day and far into the night. During the
first half century of the courts history.
the record of admiSSiOnstO the court
We're recorded in book not mrch thick
ernor longer than a copy of Harper's
Magazine. Now. 200 lawyers come be-
fore the bar and kiss the little old Bible
upon which they swear to practice
honestly before it, every session and
not infrequently dozen lawyers are adj
mitted in single day.
The supreme court of the United
States holds its meetings in a room not
as large as many country court room.
There are dining rooms in many of the
houses OF Washington which have more
floor space. and the city councils of
towns OF 10000 people demand a bigger
hall If Cltnatpn midway hat
the house and the senate. Just off the
busy corridor which runs between. An
old negro, as solemn as Erebus, guards
the door. You ask for admission. He
pulls the string, and the door flies noise
1essly open. AS it does so another door
opens on the inside, and moment later
you stand in the presence of the SUI
preme court of the United States.
The whole court wears a comfortable
look and the majority of the judges cor
respond with Shakespeare's definition
of the justice whose fat, round belly
is with good capon llned." l warrant
You there are no wrinkles in the stom-
achs of these men. Those faces shine
with good living and upon each YOU see
the writing that the owner has not
single care and that he has for life
$4,000 year. Judge Miller there has
received $3.50, COO in salaries from Uncle
Sam and Justice Field has carried in
his inside pocket Uncle Sans good
drafts for S210,000. Bradley has re-
ceived 100000 from the government.
Harlan S13O,OOO. Gray $4,000, and
Blatchford's receipts have amounted to
$4,000 i'll cold cash. Each will receive
$4,000 more for every year that he lives,
and he will get this whether he remains
upon the bench or not. IT he leaves it
the government will have to get a new
$4,000 man to take his place, and Uncle
Sam will be out $4,000, instead of So
600, as long as he lives. There is no
doubt that any of these men can make
more than this amount at the law, and
each is well worth the salary paid him.
All have made big fees before they
came here and every one is a man OF
reputation.
Chief Justice Fuller had an income of
$4,000 year in Chicago, when Presi-