Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-07-27
Complications Arising Over the Dis
trict Attorneyship.
IN Case OF DAVIS APPOINTMENT
Talk of an Ohio Man for the Va
cancy
OPPOSITION OF THE BAR

The announcements now being made with
more or less positivcness to the effect that
the President has decided to appoint Mr.
Henry f. Davis United States attorney for
the District of Columbia. TO the bench OF
the Supreme Court Of the District Of Co.
lumbia. as successor to Justice Cox. and To
name a resident of Ohio for the United
States attorneyship, are causing widespread
discussion The proposed elevation Of Mr..
Davis is not criticised except by the warm
advocates of other candidates for the
judgeship but the expression Of opinion is
unanimously against the bringing here of
an outsider to step into the shoes which,
rumor has it, Mr.. Davis will soon vacate
Owing to the fact that many members OF
| the bar, including a majority of the leading
lights, at present out of the city, It is
impossible to obtain any general idea of
the action, If any, that may be taken. but,
nevertheless there can be no doubt as to
the very great interest and feeling in the
matter on the part of all who are aware OF
the situation.
If ii be true that the President has de-
cided to elevate Mr.. Davis to the bench. II
is unquestiorably the earnest hope of the
bar and of the entire community that
local successor to him, as United States at
tCrney. may be chosen.
In this connection II is explained that the
office of United States attorney in the Dis
trict of Columbia has the largest volume of
business of all such offices in this country.
intricate in its demands upon its incumbent.
In addition to the duties that ordinarily
fall to a United States attorney in the
states. that officer in the District has to
discharge the duties which fall 10 the re-
spective states attorneys. and in this lat
ter part of his duties the United States II
torney for the District of Columbia has to
administer in a very large degree the Old
English common law which has been 80
long superseded in most of the states as 10
make it absolutely strange to the average
practitioner who is not too old for the
Guties Of the office. Surely, il is urged, no
one should be appointed to the office who
has not by reason of reasonably long res
idence acquired a knowledge of the opera
tions of the government carried on by
the courts, and. therefore, able to carry on
the very large business in which the gov
ernment is SO peculiarly interested.
1t is declared that every consideration
| points to the necessity, if not the duty, of
appointing man possessing the qualifica-
| tions indicated.
| The office pays $1,000 year, performance
| Of its duties is not inconsistent with some
outside practice, and the position is one of
the choice prizes for the energetic and am
| bilious local lawyer.
The friends of the other candidates for
the judgeship than Mr.. Davis are not dis
posed, however, to give up the fight. The
opinion was freely expressed by them that
MIR. Davis appointment could in no way be
considered settled, when, as it was alleged
upon apparently reliable authority. almost
up tC the time of departure on his vacation
the President had asserted he was still in
doubt to his selection.
Assuming the question of the judgeshiD
to be decided, the lawyers are, as stated,
deeply interested in the personnel of the
important office Of nited States attorney,
and evidence deep and intense interest in
the selection OF a thoroughly suitable and
able man for the position. 1t is said that
one of Senator McComaS' objects I'm having
Mr.. Ashley NJ Gould of Maryland placed
in the office of United States attorney sew
eral months ago and in espousing Mr..
Davis candidacy for the bench was to
secure the placing of Mr.. Gould at the
head of the United States attorneys Office.
but in this some say they believe he will
he unsuccessful, even though Mr. Davis
obtains the erminc.
While it is understood that the United
States attorneys office has generally as
sumed the same political complexion that
Of the administration. ii is the consensus Of
opinion among the members of the bar that
they are entitled, above all, to have thor
oughiy competent and local man for posi-
tion requiring, as it does. the fullest knowl-
edge of District laws ana customs. This
feeling of the right TO a local man, In fact,
seems TO be universal and has caused much
talk and suggestion regarding available
candidates
1t was freely asserted today. and the sug-
gestiOn seemed to meet with favor, that,
following out the Presidents suggestion
that a man who would make a good Judge
would make a better district attorney, the
President should fill the Office from among
the younger men who have been so heartily
indorsed for the bench, such as Messrs.
Tallmadge a. Lambert Job Barnard and
BENZ. f. Leighton. 1t is also conceded that
an excellent appointment would be Mr.. A.
:. WOrthington or Mr.. r. Ross Perry. both
of whom have served with credit in the
office in the past, the former as United
States attorney and the latter as associate
1t is not thought, however, that either Of
these last named would consent to be a
candidate. Mr. c. Maurice Smith and Mr.
Alphonso Hart, the latter at one time lieu
tenant governor Of Ohio. ii is understood,
desirous of succeeding to the office IL
it We're once thoroughly understood that
the office surely to be vacated by Mr..
Davis it is said that there would be a great
abundance Of capable local candidates from
whom the President might select.