Evening star., 1895-06-15
THE DISTRICT ATTORNEYSHIP.

Gossip Among Lawyers as to MIR.
nfrney's Successor.
1t was stated today upon good authority
that the object OF Mr. Justice Martin F.
Morris call upon the President a week ago
today was not the recommendation of MIR.
Michael j. Colbert's appointment as a sue
cesSor to District Attorney Arthur a Biz
ney. Justice Morris, it is known, has
recommended the appointment of Mr.. Henry
&. Davis. So. too has Mr. George Z. Ham
.lton, who. until the appointment of Justice
Morris as member of the Court of APP
peals, WAS the associate of Justice Morris.
Today a Star reporter was informed upon
authority coming direct from Mr.. Davis
that neither Justice Morris nor Mr.. Ham.l-
ton had, since their Recommendation Of
Mr.. Davis appointment to the President.
informed Mr.. Davis that lie had or would
recommend the appointment of any Other
as Mr.. B;r1ey's successor.
When Justice Morris was appointed on
the bench of the Court Of Appeals, his
partner. Mr. Hamilton. associated himself
in the legal profession with Mr.. Colbert.
who had previously been associated in Of
flee work with the firm of Morris 4 HAM
il;on. The firm are the legal representa-
tives of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
Company, as was the firm Of Morris q
Hi milton, ard it was stated today that Mr..
Colbert. who fs a young man, would prefer
remaining where he is. 1t was also stated
today by one employed IN the Office of the
firm that If Mr.. Colbert had been recon-
mended by Justice Morris Mr. Birney's
Successor, no one in the Office knew any
thing of it.
The general belief among the members of
the District bar is that Mr.. Davis will
eventually be Mr.. Birney's successor.
There is also an almost equally prevalent
belief that the President will permit Mr..
Birney to serve four years. He was ap
pointed by President Harrison in February,
1888. to succeed Judge Cole, VINO had been
appointed to the bench CT the District Su-
rreme Court, and his term of four years
will not expire until February, 1897, unless
it is held that he is serving out Judge
Coles uneXpired term.
However this May he, Star reporter
learned today that Mr.. Brney had recently
received word from the Department of JUS
tee that appointment OF a successor to
him IS contemplated for some time yet
When sera today by a Star reporter Mr.
to admit that ne is an applicant for the
position of district attorney, although he
emphaticallY declared he would do nothing
ard had done nothing to induce the Presi-
dent to remove Mr.. Birney, who has said
Mr. Davis, filled the Office in very ac-
ceptable m2rrer Mr. Davis also took oc-
casion to say that should the President
appoint him district attorney upon the eX-
piration of Mr.. Biineys term of four years
he would fee. constrained to decline the
appoint tment, in the event of the election
Of a republican successor to President
Cleveland. The republicans are not in the
habit of allowing political adversaries to
hold office fer any length of time re-
marked Mr.. Davis, "and / could not afford,
therefore, to relinHuish my private prac-
tee merely for the honor of serving dis
trict attorney for a short time
It is believed hy Some that the object of
Justice Morris cali upon the President a
week ago today was to recommend the ap-
pointment of Mr.. Wm. H. Dennis as regis
ter Of wills. we'll as to urge tie appoint
nant of Mr. Davis as district attorney.