Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-06-07
TINE m'saesr couar.


WAsHiNerox, June g. With the rem
dering Of the decision in the Chinese ex.
clnsion case the supreme court Of the
United States went into its annual sum-
n@r vacation, aud those justices who
could do SO made haste to get out Of
town. Justice Gray and Justice Field
were obliged To stay here, even if they
had desired to get away. for each is a
pnrist in language, and the former had
not in final shape the opinion of the
court on the Chinese case, while the lat
ter still saw possibilities Of increasing
the virility of his vigorous dissent from
the conclusions of the majority.
Most persons would think position
in which vacation from the latter part
of May till early October was part of
the regular routine wonld be in common
parlance "a snap" Yet no one who has
ever known justice of the United
States supreme court intimately would
ever think of alluding to him as IN the
enjoyment Of that luxury. There are
no harder workers in Washington. For
tunately the labors Of the justices are
steady and unexciting. By system and
method each justice is enabled to get
through great deal of work with the
least possible wear and tear. Thus
there is presented the spectacle Of men.
all past middle age and others past 20,
keeping up good pace in the business
of life.
Although the supreme court is in va
cation, this does not mean that the jus
tices are of the bench and their judicial
labors ended for the term. Under the
law each justice must travel on his cir
cunt at least once every two years. sit
ting with the circuit and district court
judges. This year every one of the jus
tices, save possibly Justice Field and
Justice Harlan, who is adding to the
high standard of the American courts by
his presence as one of the arbitrators on
the part Of the United States in the
Behring sea arbitration in Paris, will go
on circuit. The newly created circuit
courts of appeals will generally meet
this month, and the justices will sit with
the judges of inferior courts.
This duty of travelling on circuit is q
serious burden on the poorer members
of the court. Their salaries are $10.0H
a year. with an added $500 for the chief
justice. it is true. but all of them have
families, and their official positions i'm
pose social obligations on them that
comport better with big fat rent roll
than even good sized salary. No al
lowance is made for travelling expenses.
and railroad fares and other costs must
come OUT Of tie salary.
All the members of the court are now
out of the city except Justice Field. Not
withstanding his n years. he keeps stead
lily busy at one thing or another. Nc
more stubborn man ever lived. and
whether he goes or not depends on the
family making him think he is having
his way while they have theirs.
The Worlds fair has broken up the
plans Of the justices for spending the
summer, and most of them will not set
tie down in one place, as in former sea-
sons. Chief Justice Fuller has gone to
Chicago He will hold court in this cir
cult as substitute for Justice Harlan
and will entertain number of visitors
to the Worlds fair at his pretty home
on Lake street in Chicago, South Side.
Justices Brown and Brewer each went
to Chicago almost as soon as the court
adjourned. Justice Brown will hold
court in Cincinnati and will be in De
troit considerable part of the summer
months though he may occasionally
come here to inspect the building of his
big horne on Sixteenth street. Justice
Brewer will sit on the court of appeals
in Kansas City and has in view quie,
season at the seashore. He ia not anx-
ious to let his whereabouts be known
No justice is more pestered for writs
than Mr.. Brewer. and he wants "A respite
from the attorneys who constantly seek
his Intervention.
Justice Blatchford has closed up his 4
street residence and gone to New York.
He will work there. AS he is one Of th'
wealthy members Of the bench through
good investments in stocks. bonds ana
real property. no financial considerations
need limit his selections for an outing.
Justice jackson has been holdingcourt
in Georgia, hearing argument in the
Georgia Central litigation. From the re-
ports he is. as usual, hitting the Rich
mond Terminal people one day, and the
next day giving the Hollins syndicate a
sha~n rap. 1t used to be said in Louis
vile that no man could tell from the
hearing how Judge jackson would de
eide case, as he always found some
ra,,se to sharply admonish each side and
then patiently listened and came to a
conclusion unaided. He will spend the
summer at Bellevue. Tenn, after hold
ing court again in Georgia and in Nash
vile.
Justice Shiras could not get to Allie
ghany City quickly enough after ad-
journment and left the day after court
ceased. Justice Gray will spend most
of his time around Boston. He will
doubtless camp out week or two. On
the bench he is the grummest and most
irritable of the justices, but Mr.. Whar-
ton. who was assistant secretary Of state
under Mr. Blaine, says that no more de.
Eghtful companion for a camping triI
can be found than the giant justice from
Massachusetts.