New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-12-16
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
MEN AND AFFAIRS At THE NATIONAL
CAPITAL.

FEtT-THE SOUTHERN QUESTION.
Washington, Dec. l5.-Thc appointment 10 the
vacancy in the supreme Court will in all prob
ability go outside OF Congress UNDERSTAND
that the President has reached this point in con
sidering the case although he has no; yet decided
whom he will select II he had made an appoint
mcnt from Congress he would have selected Sen
ator Spooner The latter who WAS scnSlhc
enough to acquire "A fortune before going INTO
politics. will probably he Senator Sawycr's success
sor in the Senate two wears from now. unGcrSt ana
that the senior Senator does not care TO cont!hnc
longer than thai; in public life. Otherwise Nr.
Sawyer would succeed himself. The two Senators
are close friends and the Sawyer influence was
given to Mr.. Spooncr at the time of his ccction
The possiblc addition to the supreme Court IS
watched with great interest hY the legal pr"i''-
sion The two Democratic appointments made
hy Mr. Cleveland did not strengthen the WorkIn%
capacity of the court. The Chief Justice. Mr.
Fuller. while lawyer of good standing, Is not
considered the equal Of any OF the "hcr
Justices in legal knowledge ana hr'a'
grasp Of questions presented. Mr.. Lamar Is not
strong physically. Physical strength Is an I'M
rcr,ant clcmcn, in the life of a Justice of the
Supreme Court know something Of t"' inner
view Of Supreme Court life through my former
in a conversation upon the subject "l the h'"'"
and lis worl, that il was OF the utmost importance
that 4 President in making Iii, selections. should
M, on outside of certain coGdtionS. y" man.
in his Judgment Should he appointed to Inc hch'"
who WAS not in the prime and Ngor 81 MS nc
He Thought that the average appointment Sh"uI'
hc between the aces of fortY-hNc and my IL Il
AT that tine that lawyer al the Il@h' sou j.
AZ the top of his physical strength ana at '"'
onc> Of his intellectual requirements TIE Work
of the Suprcmc Court involves d trcm"n"'N' '"'" an
If drudccry. for which physical strength i hr'''"
Nboro man i appointed 10 the Bench who Is 100
old ar too feeble 10 do his share Of the ph}S'"
,vcrl, of writing the decisions assigned l." h'i' NV
burden of the work falls upon the other 'NN'''N
Justice Miller was noted for his pANslcu ana I"'''
lectDl strength During the later years "' 'N ',''
- col imam his broad shoulders the hrunt of the
.evrrest worl; o the ron,u'2noh-ro'm. Nv "''
t,.tico Field. two Of the Oldest appointments 81
tho Herch. were two e the most vigorous ana Ih
dns,rion, of tine Justices. II the Democratic "p
,oir,,er,s lod been mon equal u rank and a."
commit ,hn,en,s 10 Justice Field there would nave
bn.n no reason ~ criticism. Justice Flc!d j.
to-l,, str,ne physically anI j. able 10 fnlhl "a"
If tho work which ne has been called upon Z" no.
I'm, il j, a question whether ne would moi hF'
longer if he should not be- called upon 10 81" 3"
much II wa. possibly some ih'@-li "l 'Hlt
that Inclined the PrcsiGcn, {" l"oN WIN N"."
favorable eyes upo" tho vodih'i Neo' ara Il
tellectuai qualifications of senator NPooner. ana '
IS further probable that the freNd"rtS at
icn,ion was only turrcl away from MN
through tho Senator'S Dissemination At ms
time of life to enter what is rlAcoc'iF
q judicial monastery Lawyers in the fall
vigor and activity Of The profession shond
naturally shrink from The scclusion and conihc
nIcnt of the high Office of J1stice of the supreme
Court. Few people realize how close TINS con
hncment is \ Justice has comparatively l'tIc
fire. dom The Supreme Court II in continuous
session uealv siN months. and the circuit duties
Of the Justices and their travels occupy three OF
four more months The res, Of their time Is oc-
cuped often in preparing cases alIcady IN hah'
for the opening term. Although Tn" places are
high and the honor Is great. yet the labor and the
confinement aIe equally great " Justice can
even visit Europe except by a tiyiuS TIP ana mis-
personal freedom is limited. He cannot take part
in politics. lie rarely las any intimat's OUTSIDE
# his official associates for fear That some Oh"
Will see some improperly or indiscrefion upon ms
part. He goes out in general society bu, IN
solemn and dgnifed way. Senator ~ q Mem
Ter can deport himself gayly and pay the compli-
mcnts of tie season 10 each new beauty a. she
appears upon the social carpet AZ Washington
hut a supreme Court Judge can only stand ht
and watch with ponderous gravity the SIchter
phases Of life. He must avoid Ia" scnbahc'
Of frivolity. and the slightest indlsrrcuon ia
speaking Of the important subjects they have III
band would he charged against hm ~ e high
crime He must be as watcaiul over his personal
rr,utation ~ q virgin His rrlaNatiJrs are only
found al the elegant dinner tables of Washington
tI. 4l - q
and possibly. in the best literature Of the lime,
in the heeting half hours caught from his severe
work In reality Justice las no spare time,
and for every hour spent from his actual dntles
he has Ia make up by increased labor
Mr. Ronyngc a citizen of TWO continents, whose
home j. in California and London, IS in Washn--
ton. Mr. Bonynge is supposed 10 be the sicA'
rival Of Nj. MAckay in financial circles Ihr
former is in the prime Of vigorous physical
health and has the reputation of never failing IN
ANYTHING he undertakes. He is at present. ere
tied with being al the head OF project 10 lay a
new Atlantic cable between Europe and this conn-
nv | asked Mr. Bonynge about this. lie aaid
that il was true that he, ia company with all Eng
Ush syndicate were preparing 10 by down another
cable but that they would wait until the iinan-
cal situation cleared up before beginning actua
operations MIR. BoHynge evidently thinks that
their capita can be better utilized for the moment
in purchasing current properties At their present
market valuations rather than going ahead too
actively with anything new.
II is enough ~ chill ones blood 10 read the
declarations Of Colonel John g. HASKELL son-in
law Of Senator Wade Hampton. lie has just
arrived in Washington, and is proiuse in
his explanations OF the defeat Of his distinguished
fat/.r-in-aw. As his description relate 10
fight between Democrats II VIII be read with
great interest although his descriptions resemble
very much the accounts given Of previous contests
between Democrats and Republicans in thc south
Such accounts are supposed 10 have no further
interest for people in the North, and even to
discuss such contests is deprecated upon the part
Of timid Republicans, who think II extremely bad
nncu Ii Amci the lcelInRs OF line eMINlnnAI leNcIh