Waterbury Democrat., 1901-01-14
SCANDAL WITHOUT PRECE-
 DENT.

It is unfortunate for President Nc kinley that he should feel called upon to take such tender interest in the sons of two supreme court justices just at the time when the administra- tion is a defendant in q most impor- tant case, involving the constitutions ality of the Porto Rican legislation and the policy of imperialism.
 One of the justices who, although strong republican, is suspected of an inclination to decide against the ad- ministration's contentious, Is Justice Harlan. MT Mckinley has gone out of his way to make a son of this jus tice, who lives in Chicago, United States district attorney in that city-a highly important place. Concerning this appointment the Springfield Re publican says that leading Chicago lawyer writes:
 '"The appointment just at this time of James s. Harlan of this city to be attorney-general of Porto Rico is a scandalous performance. It illustrates we'll MT Mckinley's methods. MT Harlan is an attorney of few years experience and good personal. stand ing. It does him no injustice to say that there are fifty men at this bar of his age and experience who are equal ly well qualified for the position, and there are hundreds of such men throughout the country. There can be no possible explanation of his ap- pointment, ''unrequested," just now, except that the vote of his father, as a justice of the supreme court. Is de- sired by the administration in the pending caes affecting its colonial pol icy.''
 Another justice of the supreme court, whose inclination to side with the administration in regard to the new possessions is less doubtful, is MT McKenna of California. The New York Times says that Senator Petit grew has objected to the confirmation of young Harlan on the score of pro- priety, and, furthermore:
 At the same time it is asserted that he will also ask the senate to consldeE1 the propriety of the selection of a son of Associate Justice McKenna to be made a captain and inspector general in Porto Rico. He had been hrSt lieutenant, having been graduated from the military academy. Just be- fore his promotion, Lieutenant-Colonel R. B. Harrison was discharged rom the post of inspectors general Of Porto Rico because there was no longer any need for his services. Yet, immediate ly after his dismissal by telegraph from a post that army ofhcefs unite III saving he had filled admirably, two officers were assigned to the same ser. vice, Captain McKenna being one or them. Those who comment upon the changes do not question the com potency of the war department 10 fudge of the necessity or desirabillty of making changes, but it is considered unfortunate that in making the changes it was considered important to put a son of a justice of the SUI nreme court in competent officers place. '. ,;,
 Of course. if Justice Harlan is dis posed to decide against Mir Mckinley on constitutional grounds, but takes refuge in the fact of the appointment of his son to refuse to take part ln the decision, the administration Will sue ceed in reducing by one the number of justices who will stand for the re- public against the empire.
 We regard the manner in Whlch the president is plainly attempting to m tiuence the supreme court 1n thls case as probably the most scandalous ana shocking incident in our political h1s- tory. We believe that absolutely no such incident has ever come to the public Knowledge in the whole history of the supreme court.-dartioru Times