Evening star., 1901-11-12
President Names Ten Justices Of the
Peace for District.
SEVEN now IN OFFICE REAPPOINfED
Selections Were Made by the De-
partment Of Justice.
PROVISIONS OF THE CODE


today 1t was announced by Attorney Gen.
eral Knox, at the direction Of the Presi-
dent. that the following men had been Sc
lected for appointment as Justices Of the
peace OF the District of Columbia under
the new law regulating judicial matters:
Thomas H. Callan, Luke c. Strfder. Charles
g. Bundy, Samuel c. Mills. Lewis l. O'Neal.
Emanuel Hewlett (colored), Samuel r.
Church. Hafbert e. Paine. Henry Randall
Webb and Robert H. Terrell (colored). The
first seven are reappointments, while the
hast three are new men. Under the exist
ing law, which will not change until jan
uary 1, there are fifteen justices Of the
peace, and eight Of these fifteen men there
fore lose their places under the new law.
The selections Of these men were made
several days ago by the Attorney General,
who has given about month to the mat
ter Of listening to the friends of the va
ri0us candidates and going over the papers
Of the applicants. 1t Is probable that the
appointments would not have been an
nounced so soon but for the publication of
the fact that the ten men had been agreed
upon.
This was likely to cause renewed pressure
upon the Attorney General and the Presi-
dent for change in the list. To avoid this
and to prevent further hearings, 1t was
agreed to make the appointments now,
month and half in advance Of the time
when the men will enter upon their duties.
1t was recently announced that practically
no appointments would be made by the
President before Congress met, when nom-
nations would be sent in, but this rule
was broken in the local cases las a matter
of self-defense," 1t was stated today.
Referred to Attorney General.
President Roosevelt some time ago re-
lieved himself of the burden Of deciding
upon these appointments by turning the
whole matter over to the Attorney General,
who has sifted the ten from an immense
number of applicants. The President heard
a few local people in the interests Of cand-
dates, but after that he sent all persons
having business in that line to the Depart
ment of Justice. There will be general dis
appointment among the candidates, Of
course, and especially among the eight JUS
tices who have failed of reappointment.
Had the matter been postponed until Con-
gress met congressional influence might
have made some changes.
Failed of Reappointment.
OF the present justices the following
failed OF reappointment: Terrence Duffy.
S. Herbert Giesy, Oliver P. johnson, Fran
els Carroll Mattingly, j. Barton Miller,
John H. O'Donnell. Anson s. Taylor and
Albert L.. Richardson.
The matter of filling the offices Of ten
justice. Of the peace provided by the code
has been Of deep interest to members of
the bar. The names Of the appointees as
announced at the City Hall this afternoon
by Star reporter received favorable COM
mendation, although in some directions sur
prise was expressed that certain Of the
present justices were omitted from the
Presidents list.
The principal change as regards the JUS
tices of the peace which is provided for by
the code is that each shall receive an an
nual salary of $1,000 and the further sum
OF S2,D annually for rent StafianpFpN
other expenses. The present justices are
paid by fees. For the new justices 1t is
stipulated that the Supreme Court of the
District OF Columbia shall divide the Dis
trict into ten subdistricts, and prescribes
the place in each subdistrict where the
justice thereof shall have his Office.
Trial by Jury before justices Of the peace
to have exclusive jurisdiction, when the
amount claimed for debt or damages or
the value Of personal property claimed does
District Supreme Court when 1t exceeds
$50: At present the amount is $10O instead
Of $50.
The Qualifications Prescribed.
Under the code the barristers appointed
to be justices in the District shall be man
who shall have been bona fide resident
of the District Of Columbia for the contin-
uous period Of at least f1ve years imme-
diately preceding his appointment. and
shall either have held the office of justice
| Of the peace in said District for period Of
at least two years. or shall have been en-
gagged in the actual practice of law before
the Supreme Court Of the District for Pc
riod of at least five years prior to his ap-
pointment."
The provision which stipulates that each
Of the justices of the peace shall try causes
arising In his own district only is thought
to be somewhat ambiguous. 1t Is not
known definitely whether the Office Of the
Attorney General the District Of Colin
Supreme Court or some other judicial body
should designate the justice of the peace
districts. At recent meeting of the Su-
preme Court Of the District this matter
was gone over, however, and decision
reached that the Supreme Court was the
body designed by the law to describe the
districts and locate in each district the Of
flee Of the Justice.
These appointments were made from over
sixty applications and the selections were
made, 1t is understood, largely repre-
sentations from distinguished members of
the District bar as to the experience abfI-
ity and temperament Of the applicants.
Personal Sketches.
Mr.. Thomas H. Callan is a native of the
District of Columbia has been a member
Of the bar of the Supreme Court of the Dis
trict for upward Of twenty years, and of
the bar Of the Court of Appeals since its
organization, and has held an appointment
as justice of the peace since the 2sd day of
January. 1900 His application was sec
onded by an unusually large number of at
torneys prominent In the legal affairs of
the capital.
Justice Strider has been in commission
for fifteen years, during all of which time,
it is claimed, the justice Of his decisions
has never been questioned. He is believed
to possess In a marked degree the qualities
and qualifications which go to make up a
good and successful judicial officer. An
unusually large number of Endorsements
were sent to the President and Attorney
General in his behalf.
Justice Mills has served the District in
the capacity Of judge Of a minor court for
thirty years. He Is one of the ad interim
Justice Judges of the Police Court. The
officers Of several banks, Judge Mills os-
sociates of the District Police Court and a
number of well-known lawyers appeared
before the Department Of Justice as his
indorsers.
Mr.. O'NeaFs appointment as justice of
the peace dates back twenty-five years. On
the expiration Of his term of office last
December his application for reappoint-
ment was recommended by the United
States district attorney. the attorney for
the District of Columbia. the president OF
the Bar Association. the District Commits
sioners and many OF the most DISTINGUISHED