New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-04-20
IMPROPER APPOINTMENTS.
rur DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS WHOLLY
PARTISAN.
cu1Er JUSTICE ALVEY NEAR THE AGE FOR RE
T1REMENT ON FULL PAY" HOME
RULE" DIsREGARpED.

RIFLE" DISREGARDED
fpY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBuNEi
Washington. April l9.-The fact that the new
court Of Appeals for the District OF Columbia Will
orcanize early next week draws renewed attention 10
,ns judicial appointments made BY President Clevc
,,,d so far. His warmcst partisans admit that
,,os. NJ his first term far below the standard
y, PRESIDENT Harrison and 1t has been hoped that he
r,oph use the opportunity now offered him to improve
81, average The names sent in for the Court Of
,,r.oIs Of the District do not encourage the belief
mat such will be the case. They arc in violation
~ almost every principle he has announced bearing
on the subject and OF most OF the rules which should
Govern such appointments.
The Chief Justice Mr.. Alvey, Is undoubtedly man
- high character and good lawyer. bnt he is sixty
seven years odseveral years older so far as anybody
con discover than any oher man who has ever been
,ponted to the United states bench. where there Is
tl nav given for life after ten years service and the
attainment OF seventy years OF age. There has never
been an 1t is believed. Of Judge resiGninS
h.ore he was eligible 10 retirement when known
m be hopelessly incompetent to serve; and 1t Is
most unjustifable and improper thing to put man
m the bench with the probability TINT he will not be
obc 10 the country FIVE years. after which
or five years more he will be useless and in the way
RI any other appointment. He will then draw his
salary the rest Of his lfe 1t has been considered an
unwritten law that no man over sixty should be ap
,sinted though Mr.. Cleveland violated It in making
Mr. Lamar a Justice, and Mr.. Lamar certainly never
rendered much service.
Furthermore, being local court with pecni'ar
laws and Jurisdiction. Of the able experienced
members Of the Supreme Court OF the DISTRICT
sholild have been made Chief Justice which would
have been in the line OF ciyil-servce promoton. ms
/, not the first time Mr. German has induced fresiueh'
Cleveland 10 make improper appointments from the
state OF Maryland, and one is tempted once more 10
ask in the immortal language Of the late statesman
from Kansas q Is public Office a public trust or a
private snap?"
TIE gentleman appointed from Texas may be
LAWYER but he is known chiefly an active politician
who In a factlonal fight in that State took Mr. Ce'e-
limbs side. What would the city of New-lork say
II TO her highest court. consisting Of three members,
there should appointed one man from me Guy, ol
Sr m Connecticut and from LOUISIANA ltoiiie
Euc Is much talked of in Democratic gatherings ana
rut into platforms, but ii Will not Always pa! vi
p~r,onal obligations. President Cleveland seems 10
tsy. found out this moro. ana 10 nave C'is'
principles 10 the four winds. OF the t,ru appoh'tc,
may be said that he i unobiccil )nao', DNt III 10
Wv conspicuous for either weight OF character OF
ahv President IIarris1n's selections werc IN every
" ~ the hest possjble THIS one Is far frcm st.
Putting the whole court together. II is IN siarlne
erd dscreitable contrast to tho judicial appointments
made by Mr. Harrison for the reasons pointed ont ana
To- the further reason that il is wholly partisan M
Harrison always gave the Democratic party lalr
representation in the courts. AID MI CleEean6 IN
shannon decency should have selected one Republican
in constituting q court with three members.