The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-02-09
A BLOCKADE
OF JUSTICE.
District of Columbia Without a
Prosecuting Attorney.
TIE SENATE COMMITTEE ON THE
JUDICIARY FAILS.TO TAKE AC.
TON ON THE PRESIDENTS NOM.
INATION-CASES IN THE uRIMI-
NAL COURTS .PILING UP-MUCH
OPPOSITION DEVELOPED IN THE
COMMITTEE.

| number of judicial nominations pending
| before it the committee on the judiciary
| is making little Roadway in clearing VI
| it's executive calendar.
This morning Senator Hansbrough, OF
North Dakota, was teard in opposition
| to the confirmation of Chas. +. A.nidon
| nominated some weeks ago to he district
| judge of North Dakota. Mr.. Hansbrough
stated that Mr.. Amidon was lacking in
| training and al not, in the opinion OF
| nine-tenths of the bar of the State, the
mind of q jurist. He insisted that his
confirmation would be mistake. Moth.
ing was said against Ir. Amidon person
ally.
Senator Roach, OF North Dakota, urged
confirmation and stated that the bar was
with him. The committee took no nc.
ton.
The nomination of VIM. II. Munger to
be district judge for the district of Ne
braska was laid over for one week
n complicated condition of affairs has
arisen in the district of Columbia owing
to the failure of the committee to take
action on the nomination of Henry F.
Davis to be district attorney for the Dis
trict of Columbia. Under the law the
term of Office of the United States district
attorney for the District of Columbia
expires 10y limitation at the end of four
years and no provision is made for n sue
cessor, temporarily or otherwise, until
the appointee is confirmed by the Senate
The retiring district attorneys term en-
PRED Friday evening last The commit
tee is agreed that there is no authority
given the courts of the district to make Il
temporary appointments. The police
court of the district is under the juris-
diction of the district attorney and he
of ha
offences
Since Saturday not case has been
tried nor can the business proceed, if the
contention OF the Senate committee is
correct, until II new district attorney has
been confirmed and he can name his dep
uties. Meanwhile the criminal docket of
the district police cturt is plling up and
cases are being postponed pending the
action of the Senate. Despite this condi-
tion of affairs the committee did not
reach the Davis nomination.
There is some opposition to the nomi-
nee by the silver men because Mr.. Davis
was active i'll his opposition to the Chi
cago ticket and platform. The commit.
tee appears to he almost evenly divided
The committee will meet in special SEES
sion Thursday to dispose Of this and sew.
eral other nominations
A joint resolution was subsequently
reported to the Senate, where it was
passed, authorizing the supreme court of
the District of Columbia 10 fill any va
cancy in the Office of district attorney for
the District OF Columbia. This resolu
ton, when passed by the House and
signed by the President, will enable the
business of the criminal courts of the
District to proceed pending the action of
Senate upon any nomination for district
attorney that may be submitted.
The Senate committee on interstate
commerce took the nti-ticket scalping
bill up this morning and after an infor-
nal discussion agreed that it would be
impossible to pass the bill at this session
and that any report that might lie made
would be useless. The House has refused
to give the bill II day for consideration.
Secretary Herbert has ordered the crui.
ser Montgomery TO Mobile for /. week
commencing March during the Mardi
Gras festivals. The Texas will probably
go to New Orleans at the same time.
Admiral Bunce telegraphs the Navy
Department, through Captain CrowEin-
shield, of the Maine, that the cruiser Col.
umSia and monitor Amphitrite crossed
the bar off Charleston last night: the
Marblehead at 8 o'clock this morning.
the Maine ut 10 O'Clock and the flagship
New AOrl. this afternoon.
Consul General Lee telegraphs that
Correspondent Scovel, arrested at Tunas,
will be brought to Havana, reaching there
| Friday next, and he apprehends no diff
| Guilty in the case. 1t is thought here that
| Scoyel will he expelled from the island
| AFTER Il brief Imprisonment pending exam
| nation.