The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-04-16
sTuEFING THE BENCH.

There II a report that influence VIII be
excrted upon Justice Field to avail him
self OF the retirement he has earned, and
sn that event or the prolonged disability
OF Justice Jackson. judges will be selected
who will be more in harmony with the
administrations views OF important laws.
II seems hardly credible that President
Cleveland viii undertake TO bring about
the retirement Of United States supreme
judges, or that If he did he would stun
the bench with men who would be expect
ed to rule his way on the income tax
law His excelloncy seems fairly well
versed In English history, and he may
have read 10 some purpose the means by
which measures have sometimes been car
Red through the house of lords when
close vote was probable. on one fragrant
occasion a whole batch" OF peerages
was bestowed by the crown In order to
Offset the vote OF the determined Iegisla-
tive body Such methods were denounc-
ed even In England. where the sovereign's
provocative Is held fr awe. and they
would hardly find favor with the United
States senate. Ballot box stuffing, count
ing In and other Ingenious devices for
compelling the majority 10 yield TO tho
minority are not altogether unknown, but
they have never extended to the supreme
court OF the United States.
OF no other Office has the senate shown
Itself so jealous as that OF a supreme
Judge, and President Cleveland has learn
ed by his experience in the cases OF Horn
blower and Peckham that IL Is not an
easy matter TO secure confirmation. Presi-
dent Tyler had two appointees. John
G. Spencer and Reuben II. Walworth.
turned down." although he sent them
both In twice. George W. Woodward OF
Pennsy lvania. was rejected In spite of
President Folks support. and President
Fillmore's nomination of +. A. Bradford.
OF Louisiana. did not avail him. Presi-
dent Buchanan suffered a like mortifica-
ton when he sent in the name OF Jere-
miah S. Black. then serving as secretary
Of state. The senate rejected President
Grants nomination for the chief justice
ship OF three famous men In succession.
Judge Hoar. OF Massachusetts; George
II. Williams. Of Oregon. hts attorney
general. and Caleb Gushing. but prompt
ly confirmed Morrison X. Waite.
The United States senate does not al
ways. but II does usually. allow other
than the most laudable motives guide 1t
in such confirma lions. and IL would be
particularly punetilious when IT was
not I'm accord with the chief executive.
II win 30 a little singular II Secre-
tary OF State Gresham should. as
seems not unlikely. be nosuinat-
cd by the president TO the next
vacancy on the bench OF the high
est tribunal IN the land. Judge Gresham
won more reuown on the bench than he
has In tho cabinet: he cast of all hope
Of future honor In the Republican party
in responding 30 Cleveland's call for his
aid I'm forming a ministry. and II would
lie an act Of political gratitude 20 pro-
vide for a supcrannusted official who
would hardly know what to 10 out Of
Office. President buchanan tried In 1881
20 do as much for Jerry BLACK. who
had succeeded Lewis Cass as secretary
Of state. The senate applied dllatory tao
tics until within ten days or the close Of
BuchanAn's term OF office. and then re-
fused 10 consider the nomination.