New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-06-01
BAR FINDS HAZEL UNFIT.
THE ASSOCIATION OPPOSES HIS NoM1-
NATION

REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON JUDICIAL NoMI-
! NATIONS ADOPTED BY A LARGE
MAJORITY.
Resolved, That, judged by the standard of
judicial requirement which the Bar Assoctn-
! ton of the city of New-York has repeatedly
adopted, this assOcfatfOn does not
| deem John II. Hazel "a fit candidate for the
office of District Judge, and IL Of the opinion
that his nomination should not be confirmed
By adopting this resolution last night by
| large majority the Bar Association Of the City
| of New-York set a stamp of disapproval firmly
upon Senator Platt's attempt to lower the char
acter of the Federal judiciary by elevating
| political henchrnan to the bench. This resolution
embodied in the special report Of the asso-
ciation's Committee Judicial Nominations,
which had framed 1t. after a careful hearing of
all the claims which Mr. Hazel or his friends
could urge in his behalf, and after painstaking
search OF his record in the courts from the day
of his admission to the bar, in 1882, up to the
present time. They could not find any reported
law case in the argument Of which Mr.. Hazel
took any part. but they did find that he had
never at any time appeared In any Federal
court on any question and had never taken
part as lawyer in any matter involving adj
mralty. patent, revenue or bankruptcy law.
With such a record few people will wonder
that the committee reported they unable to
avoid the conclusion that MIR. Hazel's deserts
are political rather than legal, and his selection
a reward of political service and to be explained
as such rather than a recognition of profess
sional prominence merit" In spite of the
opposition of a few speakers like James W.
Halves and John Sabine Smith, the Bar Asso-
citation Endorsed the report Of their committee
refusing to let the real issue be obscured by
Mr.. Smiths representations that the whole dis
pute was merely political one, and declining
to accept the advice of Mr. Halves that the as
ISOLATION should refrain from interfering in the
matter because It's objections to other nomna-
tons had not prevailed.
The association evidently determined not
to let it's high and traditional standard be
smrched by supine submission to the contem-
plated outrage without protest. and not to be
any party to virtual proclamation to the young
lawyers of this city and State that judicial hon
ors longer to be the reward Of marked
ability. legal knowledge, wide experience and
high character. but belong a matter Of right
to any professional politician who may have
been admitted to the bar but who Is virtual
stranger in the courts.
THE COMMITTEES REPORT.
After John E. Parsons. the president of the
association, had opened the meeting and ex-
planned the purposes for which 1t was called
Robert De Forest, chairman of the Committee
on Judicial Nominations read the following re-
port and the added resolution In doing so he
explained that the report was signed by every
member Of the committee who was in town or
accessible yesterday
The recent establishment Of the Federal
Judicial District Of Western New-York has greatly
interested all those specially concerned in the adj
ministration of justice in the Federal courts Of
this, the Southern District of New York-this city
being the great centre of patent, admiralty.
toms and revenue litigation-which is disposed of
only by the aid OF district judges from the
districts Of this circuit, upon whose ability and
learning the enormous interests of this port must
thus largely depend.
Promptly upon the approval of the act establish
| ing the district the nomina ton of John r.
Hazel, of Buffalo, for district Judge therein was
transmitted to the Senate, and it became a matter
| of public knowledge. well of informal COM
| munication to your committee. that his nomination
| was opposed by a large and reputable contingent
of the bar of Buffalo, the ground of his alleged
| lack of essential qualifications For the Federal
! bench
Such representations made to members of
| your committee with regard the fitness of John
| r. Hazel to discharge the duties of United States
| District Judge for the Western District of New
| York. to which he had been nominated by the
| President, that meeting of your committee was
held on May q TO consider whether 1t It's duty
to take any action with regard to this nomna ton
The question whether the Bar Association of the
| City of New-York should properly take any action
| with regard the appoin tment of Judge in The
| Western District of New-York carefully con-
sidered and the conclusion reached that such action
| would be appropriate if this Judge were expected
to sit in the city of New-York for any part of the
year.
| WOULD SIT HERE SEVERAL MONTHS
YEAR.
Your committee therefore deemed II proper be-
| fore considering Mr.. Hazels fitness, to confer
with the United States Circuit Judges of this Cir
cult TO the extent to which the Judge
would hold court here That conference was had,
and WE ARE INFORMED THAT WE MAY
| EXPECT HIM TO SIT IN THIS CITY PROB
ABLY THREE OR FOUR MONTHS OF EACH
! YEAR.
| The objections urged against Mr.. Hazel were so
responsibility pressed that your committee felt it
could little disregard them venture to act
upon informal inquiry. and Friday, 18th inst,
| il telegraphed the Senate committee to which Mr..
| Hazels nomination had been referred. asking If
| opportunity would be given this association be
| heard upon 1t, and alike to the leading friends
and opponents of Mr. Hazel, respectively. among
| the Buffalo bar. asking that might hear them
| Mr. Hazels qualifications.
| At the request especially of Mr.. Hazers friends
this hearing postponed to the evening of Tues
| day 2sth inst. when delegations of the Buffalo
bar representing both advocates and opponents of
| Mr. Hazel. appeared and heard at length. On
that evening the Hon John Laughlin Tracy C.
| Becker. George A. Lewis, Seward A. Smons and
James L. Quackenbush. of Buffalo, appeared before
your committee in support of Mr. HazeI's conirna-
! ton, and the Hon Frank c. Brundage ana Charles
| B. Wheeler were heard in opposition thereto
All of these gentlemen made full and fair
presentation of their views. They fully answered
| of the committee and furnished the committee
with copies of letters and affidavits upon which