New-York tribune., 1900-05-31
REPORT ADVERSE TO HAZEL
BAR ASSOCIATION MAY SEND A DELEGA-
TION TO WASHINGTON
SECRECY ABOUT THE RECOMMENDATIONS
TO BE MADE TONIGHT, WHEN THERE
WILL BE DEBATE

WILL BE A DEBATE
Members of the Committee on Judicial Nom
ir ations of the Bar Association were studiously
averse yesterday to discussing the proceedings
of Tuesday night, when two deputatons of Buff
falo lawyers appeared before them and pre-
sonted arguments and documents contending
for and against the confirmation of the nomina-
tion of John p Hazel for United States District
Judge for the Western District of New-York.
Six members of the committee yes
terday afternoon last night, but not of
them would permit himself to disclose the nature
of the recommendation which will be presented
to the association at a special meeting, which
has been called for tonight. Sufficient
lative information obtained, however to
point apparently to the conclusion that the re-
port will be adverse to Mr.. Hazel. and that it
will suggest that delegation of the association
be sent to Washington to be heard before the
Judiciary Committee in opposition to the con-
frmation of Mr.. Hazers appointment.
1t was not until three o'clock yesterday morn
ing that the last of the Buffalo representatives
brought his arguments to a close At that hour
especially after so protracted a session, it was
manifestly out of the question for the Com
mittee on Judicial Nominations to begin deliber
atng upon the evidence which had been placed
before it. 1t was suggested that another
Injecting Snoulu De nelO curing the coming AFTER
noon or evening, but many of the members
were desirous of taking advantage of the holi-
day by leaving town for the day, it decided
to postpone the meeting until this afternoon.
In accordance with that arrangement the
committee will assemble at r. w. De Forests
office No 80 Broad-st., at 4 o'clock. They will
then determine upon the nature of the report
which they will lay before the association. 1t
is apparent, however that in the short lapse Of
to appearing at the meeting of the association
it will be impossible for them to consider in de-
tail the facts adduced by the Buffalo lawyers
and to prepare a comprehensive report. Conse-
quently it is believed that the members of the
committee have already resolved upon the at
titude they will take. Seemingly Corroboratng
this belief the remark which one of the
members made yesterday, when, in reply to an
inquiry he said I'VE ow at work upon
report" Moreover in order to make up
their minds it was not necessary that they
should be altogether dependent upon the opin-
ions of the Buffalo men. Practically, all that
the contendng delegates had to say had already
been brought out at the hearing on the previous
Friday before the Judiciary Committee of the
Senate This evidence the New-York body had
already digested. 1t was in fact intimated by
of the members at the close of Tuesday
nights meeting, that subcommittee had been
designated to draw up a report and 1t is prob
able therefore, that the purpose of this after
Moons gathering at Mr.. De Forests office IS
merely to pass upon this report before it is
read the association -zs--~s--es ess'' 49,
From conversations which a Tribune reporter
had yesterday afternoon with lawyers in the
building of the Bar Association the idea seemed
to prevail that the committee would not be
unanimous in it's recommendations. Some of
them thought that. although the committee
might be united to the unftness of Mr.. Hazel
for the high judicial place for which he had
been named, there might be a difference of
views as to the advisability Of the association
taking sides In what might appear to some indi-
vdual minds to be a party controversy. But
whatever the action of the committee 1t was
predicted that the debate tonight would be
somewhat heated. The members Of the COM
mittee declined to answer the inquiries which
were put to them as to the probability of their
report being unanimous. One of them, however,
drew attention to the fact that in some quarters
it had been sought to make capital out of the
absence from the call for the special meeting of
Robert W. De Forest. Horace Russell and WILL
lam E. Curtis. three of the committee The
Tribune's informant explained that these three
men out of town when the call signed;
otherwise their names would have appeared on
the call
on Tuesday night to speak in support of Mr..
Hazels nomination. and to insist that he
qualified for the bench, went back to their homes
yesterday morning on the Empire State Ex
press They took particular while in this
city to keep their Identities from public knowl
edge On Tuesday night when they arrived
they refused to impart their names to the news
paper representatives. At the Hotel Manhattan,
where they stayed for the night. they did not
register.
Ex-Judge Frank Brundage and Charles B.
Wheeler who opposed the confirmation of Mr..
Hazel. and who fortified their protests with
many letters and afidavits of representative
lawyers ard of judges of the Western District
of the State. also returned to Buffalo last night.
When they were seen at the Netherand Hotel
in the afternoon they asked to be excused from
discussing the proceedings before the commit
tee. For them to do so before that body made
its report. they explained. would be exhi-
bitfon of bad form on their part For the same
reason they declined to divulge the names T.
tached TO the letters and affidavts which they
had brought with them. All those documents
they sad had been left in the possession of the
committee.
ID TT