Evening star., 1897-02-05
THE DISTRICT ATTORNEYsHlP
Supreme Court of the District Considering
Its Powers.
Possible Temporary Appointment tH
he Made-nemocratic Committee
Discusses Mr.. Davis.


Attorney birney in The event of the Senate
failing to confirm the nomination of Mr.
Henry f. Davis to the Office.
In conversation with a Star reporter
after the meeting of the court, the meeting
being a private one Chief Justice Bingham
tated that the court was un6er the impress
SION that Mr.. Birney's term of office eX-
pired yesterday. They discovered, however,
that. having been commissioned for four
years from February 8, 1893 his term ex-
pires with tomorrow.
The court. therefore, adjourned without
reaching conclusion as 20 its claimed
rights to make an appointment in the
event of vacancy in the office. Chief Jus
tice Bingham explained that until va
oancy exists in the office the court will
take no action in the matter Meantime
however, anticipating non-action by the
Senate for a time, the members of the
court will individually examine the statutes
applicable in the case, SO as TO be prepared
to decide the question when the necessity
arises.
The chief justice said that while the bus
lness CT the criminal courts would suffer
through a vacancy occurring, the criminal
business in the Police Court would be most
seriously affected, he thought because in
tnat court. where business is daily trans
acted, the interests Of both the govern
ment and that of persons charged with
crime would be jeopardized( and no such
Gases could be tried
Chief Justice Bingham said there WILL in
all probability. be no further meeting of
the Court In General Term until Tuesday
morning. provided, of course the Senate
fails meantime, to confirm the nomina-
ton of Mr.. Davis. He thought that the
Senate might pass upon the nomina ation be-
lore then, when there would be no necessi-
ty Tor a meeting of the court. unless the
nomination was rejected. While the chief
justice declined, of course, to express an
oriA'on as to what tbs court might decide
&c
lieved that 1t will, In such an event, hold
that 1t has, possesses the power and author
ity to appoint. 1t is also generally believed
that Mr. Birney will be appointed to fl,
the vacancy.
The Central Committee
Mr.. Davis was also the subject of dis
cussion last night at the Hotel Never.
where the central democratic committee
considered his nomination, without, how
ever. reaching any definite conclusion. OF
the twenty members composing the COM
mlttee, fourteen We're present Mr. John A
Clarke presided during the early part of
the meeting and until the arrival of Chair
man Ihomas B. kalbfus, at whose request
the meeting was called. As soon as its Oh
1ects had been stated, Mr. p. F. Cusck
preclpl' ated matters by moving that the
meeting indorse the nomination of Mr
Davis Mr.. John Boyle objected to either
the Endorsement or the disapproval of the
nomination on the ground that the COM
Wlttee mad never done such thing in the
past, and he could no good reason for
departing from this policy now He there
lore moved to lay Mr. Cusick's motion on
the table.
Ex-Representative Charles Turner famil-
iarly known 'Iceman' Turner made a
bitter attack on Mr.. Davis assai!;ng his
political record and pleading with the com
miitee to denounce his nominal ton
olhe. delegates participated in the de-
cate. A motion to adjourn until next Tues
day night was put and cut off debate 1t
was adopted by vote of to g.
District Bnr.
one of the largest attended meetings of
the District Bar Association was held al
The rooms of the association at the city
nall at ":l5 yesterday afternoon, TO take
appropriate action upon the nomina ton of
Mr.. Davis. The call for the meeting v-as
made by Vice President Samuel Maddox
upon the written request of Messrs j. J.
Darlington. Jere NJ. Wilson, Wm F. Mat
tfnsly, Walter d. Davidge, Tallmadge A.
Lambert A. S. Worthington. p. Ross Per-
ry, Geo r. Hamilton, Randall Hagner and
Enoch Totten. Mr.. Maddox, in calling the
meeting TO order, had Secretary W. NJ.
Levin read the petition for a call of the
meeting explaining that under the rules
a the meeting
District Attorney Birney then offered the
following resolutions:
Resolved. That the association has learned
Henry f. Davis, esq. president of the as
sociation. to be United States attorney for
the District Of Columbia, and heartily in
oorSes the same as one most eminently
qualified for the purpose of the duties Of
that important Office.
Resolved. That in view of the pressing
public exigency with respect to the i'm
minent vacancy in the office a coumittea
OF seven be appointed of which the chair
man of this meeting shall be chairman. 10
urge the prompt confirmation of Mr. Davis.
In rev graceful words, Mr.. Birney in
moving the adoption of the resolutions. re-
marked that Mr.. Davis is too well known
TO render any words of approval or COM
mendation necessary. and while political
differences might exist there could be 10
hesitation on the part of any one in heartily
indorsing the resolutions. The resolutions
We're then unanimously adopted. when MIR
Blrhey requested the chair In naming the
committee, to omit his name. He explained
that he made the request only because tho
pressure of his official duties was such that
he could not possibly serve with advantage
TO Mr.. Davis interests.
Vice President Maddox named as the c,n
mittee Messrs. Walter D. Davidge Jere NJ
Wilson, }. j. Darlington, Nathaniel Wilson,
a. a 5; Mor5hington, Calderon Carlisle and
meeting at once for the purpose Of decid-
ing upon what action they should take in
the matter.
already named. were: Justices Bradley. NC
Comas and Cole of the District Supreme
Court. James G. Payne, E. H. Thomas. A.
s. Bundy c. s. Lee, F. H. Stevens. James
Lowndes. R. Ross Perry. jr.. Thomas c.
Taylor, John Ridout, Walter c. CIephane.
Melville Church, d. E. Fox. c. H. Cragin,
Chas. l.. Frailey. T. V. Huyck, John e.
Lask"y, W. l.. Cole, E. G. Niles, Arthur
Peter. A. E. L. Leckie, ]. P. Ernest Peyton
Gordon, ]. II. Ralston, w. A. McKenney,
Chaplin Brown, Tracey L. Jeffords, Andrew
Y. Bradley, w. H. Sholes and others.
Serious Accident to Rev. Mr.. Snyder.
Rev. William T. Snyder rector of the
Church of the Incarnation, is lying at his
home on 10Th street, suffering from a frac-
tured leg. The accident occurred Tuesday
morning last, when the falling rain, freez-
ing on the pavements and Streets made a
CLASSY and treacherous surface. Dr. Sny-
der had just concluded the early morning
service in the Church Of the Incarnation,
at the corner of 18th and N streets. and
was on his way to the Episcopal Boys
Home, 1927 10th street, of which he is
warden. He was nearly to his destination
when he fell and broke his right leg, Just
above the ankle Both bones were broken.
There was considerable swelling attendant,
and the clergyman suffered intense pain.
IJo int he