The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-10-07

court-crier raps three times and
says in sing-song tone: "OyeZ oveZ.
oyez! A persons having business before
the honorable the Supreme Court OF the
United States are admnnished to draw near
AID give attention, as tie court is bout to
ssembIe. God bless the United States
and this honorable couri!"
When the gavel first falls all those
within the bar of the court rise and re-
main standing until the Justices, at sig
nal from the Chief JUS ice. take their seats.
AS they IL down they bow to the Attor-
nev-General and the members of he bar.
Usually the first business, and in fact
almost the only business, OF the first day
OF the term Is The swearing in of lawyers
who have practiced in the Supreme courts
of The States, nr who, by the fuifilment of
some other condition, are eligible to ad-
mission.
They are sworn in 10 patches of half
dozen. They gather about the clerks
desk, and aS many as can do so convent
entity lay their right hands on the little
old Bible which has been in use more than
half century, and thu clerk reads to them
the form of oath. This ceremony con-
cluded, the court ad j0urns and the Justices
march out as solsmny as they march in.
and proceed TO the robineroon, here they
remove their garments of silk aud sa in.
1t is customary for the Justices of the
Supreme Court. if the President and The
Vice-President are in the city on the day
when the terms opens, to call On them
formally. This call is made in ordinary
dress; but each Justice is accompanied
by his bOdy-servant, who sits on the box
OF the carriage, and The solemn order of
precedence is observed. This order must
be noted by the Vice-President and re-
garded by him when he returns the call
Of the Justices. The President, of
course, does not return their call.
He Is exempt from all calling.
10 ar1n s. rl&o hxy
the Justices in making the formal calls in
their own circles. AS for calling on other
PEG pie, that is done after the other people
have called on them. The wives Of Sena-
tors are disposed sometimes to dispute the
precedence Of Justices wives on The
ground that the Justices are confirmed by
the Senate ana are, therefore, of less inl-
portance; but the Supreme Court circle
still maintains lis social supremacy. 1t is
an exclusive circle too. though not in
snooblsh sense. The members OF the
curt and their people are coDgenial, and
they associate much in their homes
Although 1t is the ambition of every
young lawyer to practice before The Su-
preme Court, that practice does not afford
the opportunities which are to be found in
the courts of original jurisdiction. The
argument II ade to the Supreme Court IS
hardly more than statement OF facts and
dctatian of presidents. When Mr.
Cleveland appeared before the Supreme
Court few years ago be read his argu-
ment from manuscript. The only
other ex-Presidept who has appeared
III The Supreme Court room is John
Quincy Adams, and he argued one case.
There is usually dry iormality about
the hearing Of a case which makes The ses-
slOns of the court very HOMOGENEOUS to
those who are not directly Interested in
the matter on trial. Sometmes.
| however. the session is enlivened.
as when Justice Shiras Inter-
rupted the attorney who was arguing the
validity of the patent for collay-button
with the query whether among the viz
tues of this button (Which he had described
at some Lengthy was the property OF being
accessible when it fell under the bureau.
These breaks in the monotony Of the court
hearings though are not frequent.
Service on the Supreme bench seems
conductive to longevity. Chief Justice
Marshall served thirty-four years, JUS
tce Story thirty-three years. Justices
Mclean and Justice Wayne thirty-tw O
years each, Justice Washington thirty-oue
wears and Justice johnson thirty years.
But most of these men were appointed
at comparatively early age. Justice
Field, who site at the right hand of Chief
Justice Fuller, was appointed at the age
of AZ and be has served thirty-one
| years. He is eligible 10 retirement,
but he Is trying to beat Mr.. Marshall $
record He is growing old and somewhat
feeble; and it was proposed recently 10 re-
lirve him of the long trip to the Pacific
Coast every summer; but he declines to
change the accustomed routine OF his life
GEORGE GRANTHAM Balm.