The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-01-30
WANTED GRIGGS
Voorhees, Said to Have
offered Him the Chief
Justiceship.
GOVERNORS DENIAL
Declares Mr.. Pitney's Coming
Appointment Is Not the
Outcome of a Deal.
Especial to s.The Jersey citv Nevs..,1

Especial to sThe Jersey city News.~1
TRENTON, Jan. 80, 190L-The CHIEF
topic of conversation about the STATE
House yesterday continued to be thu
degradation of the Supreme Court in this
interests of political deal It was said
that Attorney General John w. Griggs
was rendered the Chief Justiceship Of ths
Supreme Court before the Contamination
OF the deal that led to the appointment
OF justice Gummere, and had the Pater-
son man accepted, Governor Voorhees,
would have been saved no end of un.
pleasant notoriety.
The juggling of the judicial appoint.
ments is said to have been exceedinsly
distasteful to the Governor personally,
and it required no little urging to bring
him to regard such a course as a po-
htical expediency. in the interest Ok
Franklin Murphy. The Governor it Il
said was anxious that Attorney General
Griggs should take the place. but Me-
kinley's law adviser declined because Of
the greater opportunities that the prac-
tice of the law seems to be offering.
The manipulating of the courts for po-
htical purposes is regarded with very
grave fears by some leading Repubn-
cans. and at the State House yesterday
there were many hushed expressions Of
disgust at the action of the men who
had brought about the deal. They argus
that this sort of jobbing win only cause
a revulsion of public feeling against Mr..
Murphy when he is nominated.
There were others, too, who were neth-
ing loathe to express their displeasure
over the deal. These were chiefly friends
of Senator Charles A. Reed of Somerset,
who has been very eager for a place in
the Supreme Court. The Reed Champions
did not work openly for the Somerset
man. but rather discouraged the idea Of
Senator Pitney getting out of the Guber-
material race. Even had Pitney declined
to become a party TO the DEAL Reed
would have had no chance, as the Gov
ernor is known to have his eye on other
Republicans for the Judiciary.
That the Governor has some twinges of
conscience over the matter is manifested
in statement which he made yesterday.
'I have noticed in the news columns of
several newspapers" he said, state
ments that this appointment was
political bargain to remove from the
field one who has had aattering mention
as a Gubernatorial possibility. but this is
not so. Senator Pitney has been con-
sideresf by me for several weeks and
had not spoken to him because my mo-
tive might be misconstrued. A few days
ago an opportunity offered in which I
could speak without danger of having my
intention miseonstrued. Mr.. Pitney
thought it over for few minutes, and
decided to accept in the same spirit in
which I had offered it. He said he had
always had a professional ambition, ana
this appointment was in line with his
taste I can fully appreciate his am
bition, for position on the bench of the
highest court in the State is the goal of
every lawyers ambition. My motives in
making this appointment may be open to
criticism, but I have no answer to make
to those who impugn my motives. To
honest, fair critics my answer would be.
is there any objection to Senator Pitney
on account of his youth and vigor, or any
lack of ability, experience or learning, or
any reason that he will not make a good
Judge?' / am sure there could be but one
answer. 1t is but fair to Mr.. Murphy,
whose name has been mentioned in con-
nection with this appointment, to state
that he was not taken into my CONFIDENCE
and did not know of my intention until
after the tender had been made and ac-
cepted.''