Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-11-12

by. . bold Dver from the last demo
cratic al ADMINISTRATION, who, therefore.
appears 20 DC safe 10 continue ~ his
post for four years more, unless Presi
dent Harr sou should determine 10
make . change before the 4th OF
Msrch, which Is improbable.
There are practically now two
vacancies IN the important offices OF
assistant secretary OF the treasury. as
Mr.. Nettleton's resignation will take
effect next month. aud Mr.. Crounse,
Who ran as q republican candidate for
governor or Nebraska, has likewise re-
signed from the treasury.
In the department of justice there
will be vacancy at the very head +,
Attorney General Miller having slgni-
ned his intention of resigning. but II 10
not yet known whether this action will
be taken so soon ss To require the presl-
dent to make a cabinet appointment
before the 4th of March.
There 10 the Bench, Also.
The president will also have four va
cancles on the tench to fili between
now and tie 4th of March. These are
United States judgeships caused by the
retirement of Judge Blodgett of the
Chicago disIrict, by the resignation of
Judge NJ ntgomery of the supreme
Court of the district nf Colorado, by
the retirement of Judge James If the
same court on December 1, and by the
resignation of Judge Dixon of the
Utah district. These are life positions
and are really the most alluring prizes
remaining within the gift of the ad-
minIstration. Colonel Hepburn, who
has just been elected TO congress from
the eighth district Of Iowa, will prob
ably retain his present Office as solicitor
of the treasury until March 4.
The Judiciary is the only branch of
the government whicn will remain
under the control of the republican
party after the 4th of March next.
United States judges are appointed for
life, subject the privilege of volun-
tary retirement on full pay after reach
ing the age of 20 years, provided they
have been ten years in service. The
district and circuit judges are, as a
rule, republicans, and il IS unlikely
that there will be a sufficient number
OF vacancies during the next four years
TO enable Mr.. Cleveland, by new ap-
pointments. to give the democratic
party majority of these positions.
Nor is there any probability that the
next administration VIII have an oppor-
tunity TO make the United States su-
preme court democratic.
As il is the court of final resort of all
questions of constitutional or federal
law, the political predictions of the
justices may at any time become a
matter of importance, though the
freedom of the court from influence
by considerations extraneous to the
legal points at issue in any case before
it IS conceded. The places on the SUI
prsme bencn which it is mort likely
Mr.. Cleveland will have an opportu-
nifty OF filling during the next four
years Of there be any vacancies at ALL
| arc at present occupied by democrats,
Justices Field and Lamar. Chief JUS
tice Fuller Is the only other democrat
on the bench. The remaining six
members are republicans, and. except
Justice Blatchford, none of them are
| within five years of the age at which
they may retire on full pay. Justice
| Blatchford IA In vigorous health, and
as he likes his work. he is In no hurry
to take advantage of the opportunity
| the law affords him, be having served
ten years last spring. The other five
| members of the court. viz, Justices
| Harlan, Gray, Brown, Brewer and Shl-
ras. are men hardly past middle age,
and. so far as appearances 60, are each
good for decade Of service yet.