Waterbury Democrat., 1901-05-23
HAVE NO VACATIONS
Justices of the Supreme Court Busy
 the Year Around.
When Not in Session at washingto. They Either Act as Circuit
 Judges or Else Are Pre- ~- pairing OptRions.

! Especial Washington Letter1
 (6eT~HE United States supreme
 court never takes q yaca-
 tioa." said Senator Stem. art, of Nevada.
 This seemed like paradox. in view of the fact that we were talking about the official announcement that the high tribunal was about to ad- journ, and actually take a vacation. By way of explanation Senator Stew. art said:
 s'I've been acquainted with the SUI preme court for well-nigh 40 years, and have had many cases before that august body. It is, and always has been, an aggregation of great men, all of them great workers. Matt Car penter once said to me: I never knew a body of lawyers who were such gluttons for work. They seem to revel in it. What I mean and what Carpenter meant is that the chief justice and all of the associate jus tices are hard at work every. day in the year, no matter whether the court is in session or not"
 From that view point the sweeping statement of Senator Stewart is cor rect. Young lawyers throughout the land may envy these eminent gentle men who receive S1o,0oo per annum for life; particularly when they read in the newspapers that the court has adjourned for three or four months at time. They do not know that the chief justice, and each member of the court, takes with him a mum Der of cases, upon which time and talent must be expended in order that comprehensive reports may be made as to law and fact, so that their conclusions may meet with the. ap. proval of the court as a body when it reoenyenes for its next session. Their lives are not easy by any means.
 The question of the $1o,ooo year does not weigh in the matter at all, for any one of them could earn five times the sum fn legal practice. which would not take one-twentieth the time he now devotes to his official duty. The honor of the position, the pride they take in filling it conscien. tious1y, and the realization of the service they perform for their .coun- try and the profession is doubtless comPensative to them, and furnishes sufficient inducement for retaining their positions.
 Very few people, in fact very few lawyers, realize to what extent the duties of the members of the su- preme court weigh them down with ardneus and exacting details.
 When the court is in regular sea- sion the chief jus tice and associate justices meet at tho capitol every Saturday for consultation. They aS- sembIe in 3 little room ses apart for that purpose. up to this point the lawyers are well informed concerning each ease; but here the public may not enter, and interested parties can only surnise. Tho consultation cham Der is the holy of holies, where pre- fame foot dare not tread, curious eye may not rest, and, more than all, where no inquisitive ear can listen. What goes on within these walls is a secret locked in the hreasts of the members themselves, and they never tell. It is surmised, however, that in this room and at this time the mem bers of the court express their in dividual opinions upon each case at issue and reach conclusions on it. The chief justice thereupon desig- mates one of his associates to prepare