New-York tribune., 1900-05-30
BAR HEARING ON HAZEL.
ASSOCIATIONS COMMITTEE LISTENS To
ARGUMENTS FROM BUFFALO
LAWYERS.


The COMMITTEES on Judicial Nominations Of this
Bsr Association continued it's investigation last
night into the fitness Of John r. Hazel for
United States District Judge for the Western
District Of New-York. The committee has
once twice in the last few days. and last
night IL gave hearings TO representatives Of the
Buffalo bar. one delegation being opposed TO the
confirmation Of Mr.. Hazel and the other speak
ing in favor OF his nomination. The COMMITTEES
will make report TO the Bar Association at
special meeting called for tomorrow night TO
register it's opinion Mr.. Hazel's fitness for
the Office for which he has been nominated
At an early hour this morning the COMMITTEES
on Judicial Nominations still sitting. and
such information obtainab,a from time
to time left it clean that the committee had not
formally decided upon the nature of the report
which would be read to the association tO-rnor-
night The whole time of the committee.
in fact. had been taken up with hearing the
arguments of the opponents and friends of Mr..
Hazel and it seemed probable that the MEM
bers Of the committee would not attempt 20
deliberate among themselves upon the question
which confronted them until to-day to-mor-
morning.
The committee met soon after O'Clock at the
Bar Association No. - West Forty-fourth-st-
Soon after convening ex-Judge Frank Brundase
and Charles B. Wheeler of Buffalo. ad-
mitted 10 the meeting. Both are opposed to the
confirmation of Mr.. Hazel Judge Brundage. in
addition to addressing the committee. sub
mitted a large number of letters and afidavits
from prominent lawyers of Western New-York
objecting to the appointment OF Mr.. Hazel
Among these communications was one from
John G. Milburn, who is regarded by many as
the leader of the Buffalo bar. and Ansley VIII
cox
Judge Brundage when he was seen by Trfb-
une reporter after leaving the committee room
declined to make public the names Of those who
had signed the letters and affidavits. but ad-
mitted that they large in number and rep
resented the best elements OF the profession IN
the western part of the State
In his oral arguments Judge Brundage SAID
that if the United States Judgeship was po-
IiticaI office he would interpose objection TO
Mr. Hazel filing 1t. but if. he believed. such
a high and responsible judicial position de-
manded lawyer rather than an experienced
and able politician. then he deemed IL his duty
to protest against the confirmation OF Mr.
Hazers appointment.
That protest. he explained. founded solely
upon the unitness of Mr.. Hazel for the place
| During seventeen years of active practice at the
bar Judge Brundage said only once had he
known Mr.. Hazel to appear in court counsel
in a case or to be associated as an active attor-
ney in any case in court of record
1t was stated that Judge Brundage did not
suggest any other candidate for the Office TO the
committee. He contented himself with showing
| that Mr.. Hazel not qualified for the posi-
| tion for which he had been named
| Charles 3. Wheeler spoke in a somewhat SIM
! nar strain contendIng that Mr. Hazel should
not be confirmed in the judgeship. He referred
| also 10 the fact that Mr.. Hazel had never ap-
peared in United States court and added that
he had never heard even those who had in
dorsed Mr.. Hazel attempt to justify their course.
About IL o'clock another delegation of f1ve
lawyers from Buffalo. friends Of Mr.. Hazel.
arrived at the building of the Bar Association
Their purpose 20 support the claims OF
Mr.. Hazel before the committee These lawyers
reached New-York shortly after 10 o'clock.
After brief stay at the Hotel Manhattan they
proceeded TO the home of the Bar Association
That they were earnest and vigorous in their
efforts to dissuade the committee from reporting
| adversely upon Mr.. Hazel apparent from
| the fact that AT 80 O'Clock the first OF the
FIVE delegates all of whom We're expected
speak. had not closed his address Before going
into the committee room. the delegates were seen
by a Tribune reporter. but each one of them
| fused TO speak upon their mission. They
planned that it would be indeEcate for them to
do until they had made their arguments
before the committee.
Ex-Judge William y. Cohen. member OF the
Committee on Judicial Nominations, left the
meeting
information of the nature of the report the
| committee would probab bly, make 10 the meeting
| would be made public in advance. Asked for his
personal opinion TO the recommendation the
committee was likely 10 decide upon, he de-
| clined commit himself 10 any statement
The special meeting of the Bar Association to-
morrow evening will receive the report OF the
Judicial Investigating Committee II is expect
ed that the association viii send delegation 70
Washington on Saturday 10 appear before the
Judiciary Committee of the United States Senate
and oppose the confirmation of Mr. Hazers ap-
pOintment.
Colonel MunrOe. who is a member of the COM
mttee. said early this morning that there would
not be any final action taken by the committee
then. II is be inferred that a subcommittee
will be appointed to meet tO-dav and draw up
| a report, which will be submitted To the aSSO-
| citation tomorrow. One OF the speakers in Op-
! position TO Hazel said that Judges Wallace.
| Shpman and Lacombe had written letters 10
| President Mckinley. advising against HazeIs
| appointment. This speaker also said that
threats had been used 10 eXtOrt support for MT
! Hazel among those who had received political
| favors from the party which is behind him.
The Lake Carriers Association. II was said,
! is against Hazel
At O'Clock this morning the committee was
| still in session.
NtIfJyTr