Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-03-11
THE DISTRICT OFFICES.
Talk About the Places to BE Filled and the
Candidates.

IN the coming local appointments and there is
as much uncertainty as there is interest in re-
speet to them What infringements
II any, Of the home rule principle
President Cleveland will commit; who. if any,
among the local political leaders will have his
ear-these are questions about which
heavy and for the present impene-
trable cloud of doubt is hanging
II Is agreed in a general way that he will do
about as he pleases, but what he will please to
do no one is ready to prophesy. 1t is
assumed that he will soon appoint
marshal Speculation in respect to this
Office involves the questions whether ex-Mar-
shall Wilson is put out of the race by the Presi-
dents declarations against reappointments,
whether the faithful labors of Chairman Norris
of the inaugural executive committee
are TO be recognized in this connection.
whether Lawrence Gsrdner's valuable work
during the campaign will bring him to the front
whether the President will be more impressed
BY the local aspect OF the marshal as District
court officer, Washington's sheriff. or by the
social. personal phase of the office. which gives
the marshal social duties at the White House,
and furnishes excuse for treating the Office as
personal appointment, &c. &c. Except n
possible indication of President Cleveland's
policy and of the man or set of men who will
lind favor in his sight during this administra-
ton, Washington is not nearly SO much con-
eerned IN respect to the marshslship appoint
ment as IN respect to the manner of filling some
other important vacancies already existing or
soon to exist.
Who will take Capt. Rossell's place? Can
some method be devised. without injury to the
public service. OF giving the city the benefit of
the possible opportunity of retaining Capt.
hossen after the expiration of his leave
OF absence? II not, will Capt. Turtle or
Capt Symons succeed him? Capt. Lusk will
be eligible TO this Office next June. Will it be
decided that without pubic injury the APP
pointment can be DELAYED for the purpose of
rendering the Office him? These are questions
that agitate the air about the District building.
THE COURT OF APPEALS.
1t is in respect however. to the composition
of the court of appeals. which comes into being
April, that the capital is naturally most Sc
riously concerned. The Districts highest court
is then to be created. Three judges.
who will influence the destinies of
the capital during their lifetime are to be Sc
lected. The people Of the District hop
ing and praying that no unfit men will be
saddled upon them for life in the creation of
this court The advocates of localappointments
to this court. land they include all Washing
tonians who discuss the natter, not only re-
peat the strong arguments In favor Of this
course which have been urged in the past. but
ment made in the District an additional
consideration favoring local selections bas been
provided by the Enactment Of the law which
throws half the judicial expenses upon the Dis
triet, thus putting our courts upon the
same basis as our other purely local
bar is strong in able lawyers who
viii make the best of judges. At the same time
there is an impression that one OF the appoint
ments on the court of appeals will SO to a lawyer
who is not Washingtonian. At least
two Senators are understood to be in
the Barkis attitude. II an outside appointment
were inevitable. and the opinion of the District
were considered by the President In the matter,
the choice would fall, Judging from expressions
both among the lawyers and the general public,
upon e1-Representative HeE!phill, who Is viewed
as slavyer ofability, of the judicial temperament
and OF thorough acquaintance with local law
and conditions. The suggestion that ex-Judge
Montgomery may be appointed upon this court
has aroused a bitter opposition. His opponents
say that to take him from Michigan politics,
which he preferred to his seat on the Supreme
Court of the District. and to bring him back
to the local appellate court would be personal
and partisan outside appointment OF the most
indefensble kind. They criticse him as unfit
for this high judicial appointment and
claim that bis past record as one of
the Districts supreme judges sustains
their contention. Some of the lawyers call at
tention TO the fact that he violently opposed
the creation of this court of appeals, and ex-
ptess the opinion that he cannot apply with
good grace for position upon
it. Then number Of the democratic
members of the bar dissatisfied because he
resigned from the Supreme Court Of the Dis
trict at a time when a republican successor was
inevitable and they believe that such
inconsiderate conduct should disqualfy
him politically from any further appointment.
But Judge Montgomerys critics and opponents
recognize that as Michigander and Michigan
democrat he is strong with Don Dickinson,
who is strong with the President; that
be has friend in Private Secretary Thurber |
and that the President is personally very
friendly toward him. and they express them |
selves as believing that, notwithstanding the |
local opposition TO him, he would GER
tainly walk of with the plum if this were an
ordinary spoils administration in which judicial
appointments were distributed among favorites
without regard TO fitness. What Cleveland
will do they say that they don't know. and
they are evidently very anxious to find out.
JUDGE NoSTeoNEnY's TESTIMONIAL
The large section of the bar which has poor
opinion of Judge Montgomery is the victim of
rich practical joke on the judges part.
When Judge Montgomery resigned the
bar very generally contributed to a testimonial
to be presented to HIM and signed the Gus
tomary ford Endorsements that characterize
expressions of opinion concerning the
dead, physically or officially. His friends
Of course favored heartily the testi-
monial; those who distrusted and
disliked him joined in the movement as Ian
expression of appreciation of his resignation"
as one of them put it. Now Judge Montgom-
cry reappears and draws upon his
opponents the Endorsement which
they gave him when they thought
that they were rid OF him. and the laugh is
upon the incautious testimonial signers. One
OF the latter suggests that Judge
Montgomery falls under the Presidents
rule against ex-ofice holders; that the
judge was an appointee under Cleveland's first
administration, and being out OF that Judicial
Office by his own act is barred BY the Presi-
dents declaration from re-entering the Dis
trict court.
RECORDER OF DEEDS.
Another local Office about which considerable
interest is manifested is that OF recorder OF
deeds. The last Congress responded to the
appeals Of the people of the city and made it a
salaried Office, 80 that it is no longer the rich
plum that it once was-ths best paving Office
next to that Of President of the United States
that the District of Columbia contained. The
temptation is no longer SO powerful to weak
Presidents to this Office as sop 20
politicians. especially for cultivating pleasant
political relations with the coored voters Of the