Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-01-03
STATE HOUSE.
The Simple Ceremony of Max
ing a Chief Justice.
Council Will Meet January 31---State
Assessors Planning Valuation.
Hearing Appointed by Fish Commissioners
Railroad Commissioners Meeting.

The making of a chief justice is not
such very difficult matter after all,
when once the man is selected for the
position. 1t requires but little time
and little more formality than the
making of a justice of the peace living
up in Millinockett. Yet it is cere-
mony that is seen in Maine only once
in seven years, and the swearing in of
a new one is something that occurs
still less frequently.
| The qualification of Chief Justice
Andrew p. Wiswell that took place at
| about as early a time in Tuesday
January 2, as it would be possible, was
witnessed by more than one would or
dinarily suspect for such a terrible
night, as several OF the State officials
| had sat up at the Augusta House and
| in their offices, to see the ceremony
performed.
! 1t was little before IL o'clock, Mon
| day night that the chief justice APP
pointed and Councillor ]. III. Hill drove
to the State House from the ball they
had been attending, both immaculate
in their full evening dress with pinks
on their left lapels Some of the coun-
cilors remarked it would be well, in the
future to make a rule that no chief
justice should be sworn in unless in
evening dress, and with some dis
tinguished member of the Council in a
like dress, if il were not possible to get
all to appear that way.
1t was 1215 A. NJ. when Governor
Powers took his seat and pronounced
the words that the hour has arrived
when | desire to present for your ap-
proval the name Of Andrew =. Wis
well Of Ellsworth as the chief justice
Of the Maine supreme bench to succeed
Judge John y. Peters of Bangor re-
signed"
Councillor Bird. in whose district the
candidate lives. said Yes" to the ap-
prevail. and every other councillor like
wise said the little word that made
Judge Wiswell the chief justice elect.
Mr.. Messenger. will you please in
form the Hon Andrew =. Wiswell that
the Council is in session and is ready
to confirm him." said the Governor to
Messenger n. s. Purinton. and that
gentleman at once returned to the
private executive chamber, returning
with the candidate.
1t is seldom that the Council or the
Governor is called upon to rise, but
here the sturdy Aroostook Governor
brought three tremendous raps upon
the mahogany table and all arose, even
the spectators. to receive the chief
justice-elect with due honors.
Advancing to the left of the Gov 1
ernor between the secretary of States
desk and that of Councillor Gordon I
Judge Wiswell held up his right hand
and was duly sworn. first to support (
the constitution of the United States
so long as he remains a citizen, and 1
furthermore to discharge the duties of
chief justice to the best of his ability. /
Justice
This raising of the associate justice /
to the chief. left a vacancy in the as
sociate justiceship. and Governor Pow
crs announcing this. nominated the I
Hon Frederick A. Powers of Houlton,
to that office. The second brother. /
Councillor Don a. II. Powers. was the I
first to be asked to approve the
nomination, and later the associate
justice was sworn in, as the chief jus
tice had been.
After that the Council adjourned to
the 31st day of January. which falls
on Wednesday, at 4 o'clock in the after
noon At that time the candidates ap-
pointed to the office Of liquor commits
soner, an inspector of prisons and |
jails. and one or two other State Off
GERS will be confirmed. their appoint
ment being made about a week previ-
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