The times., 1899-09-20

AT a well-attended meeting of members
OF the District bar held yesterday after
noon at the City Hall resolutions petition
ing President Mckinley TO observe the
home-rule plank in the platform of the Re
publican party and appoint an active prae-
titioner at the local bar 10 the office Of
United States Attorney for the District.
when vacancy occurs in that Office, were
unanimously adopted. Before the consensus
Of opinion OF those present was expressed
the proceedings took an unexpected turn,
in the shape Of a somewhat spirited debate
between Attorney Thomas c. Taylor and
several Others. The resolutions were, how
ever, adopted as reported by the commit
tee appointed on last Saturday. with few
changes Of minor Importance.
Very soon after the meeting was
gained with Charles W clagett in the
chair. and Charles H. Merillatt as seere-
fary, Mr.. Taylor rose TO question of privi-
lege, and asked to be informed as TO the
object Of the gathering. He was told by
Mr. Clagett that the purpose was to petition
the President to appoint "an active practi-
tioner" Of the local bar as United States
Attorney for the District, the request be-
ing forwarded to Mr.. Mckinley on the un-
dersfanding that Mr. Davis was about TO be
elevated to the District bench, to fill the va
cancy caused by the resignation of Justice
Walter s. Cox. Mr.. Taylor then said he
proposed TO point out the mistake the meet
ing was making by intimating that the
President did not know what he is doing.
He had spoken but a minute or two, how
ever, when Attorney Arthur Peter called for
the regular order. which made an end of
Mr.. Taylor's remarks for the time.
Attorney A B. Hallam offered sub
stitute for the first preamble in the resolu-
1ions submitted by the committee and il
was adopted Other changes suggested
failed of acceptance.
When the resolutions were finally in
shape for adoption Mr.. Taylor was again
granted the floor. Everybody, he said,
knew at whom the resolutions were direct
ed. and they were a great injustice. He
stated that the gentleman, evidently mean
ing Gen Thomas II. Anderson, whom
nearly everybody conceded, the President
will name as the successor TO Mr. Davis,
IS not only a resident OF the District, but
has been a member of the local bar since
1893 and is also a member of the Wash
ingtOa Bar Association. Ii was a terrible
mistake Mr. Taylor said, for anyone to
think for one moment that President Nc
Kinley intends TO appoint q carpetbagger
TO an Office in the District
Attorney Robert r. Mattingly. after re-
ferring to the home rule planks in both the
Democratic and Republican platforms, in
the latter of which he said it is the strong
CT. quoted President McKinley's words TO
friend who was seeking the appointment
of one of his constituents as Governor
of one OF the Territories The President
was reported as saying:
Under no considerations would / feel
justified in going outside of a Territory or
the District OF Columbia for a man 70 fill
an Office therein so long as a suitable man
for the appointment could be found there
without further discussion the resolu-
tions. which are as follows, were adopted:
Whereas It is currently reported that the
President is considering the question Of the ap-
pointinent Of United States Attorney for the
District, aud
Whereas the same is a purely local Office the
requirements of which such 10 demand the
appointment Of an officer skilled IN the laws
peculiar To the District Of Columbia, and
Whereas said Office Is Of the few appoint
ments left open 10 the ambition Of the mem
bers Of the bar Of this District; be il
Resolved, That relying upon the wisdom, fair
ness. and strong of justice of the Presi-
dent Of the United States. we respectfully urge
an adherence 10 precedent In any appointment TO
the Office of United States Attorney and that
the person named for said Office be bona fide
resident Of the District and qualified for said
Office by long experience as an active practitioner
before the local courts Of the District of Co
lumiia: and he il further
Resolved, That q committee OF FIVE be APP
pointed by the chairman Of this meeting TO pre-
sert a copy Of these resolutions TO the President
ard % the Attorney General, and 10 urge that
the promise Of home rule contained in the plat
forms of both great political parties be adhered
TO in the appointment % a United States At
torney for the District Of Columbia
The following were named as q commit
tee to present the resolutions to President
Mckinley this morning: Benjamin F.
Leighton. Robert Christy, William John
Miller, James z. Padget, and Charles Mer-
Hiatt