Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-05-29
FROM THE DISTRICT
Successor to Justice Bradley
Should Be Appointed.
SENTIMENT Is STRONG
PROFESSIONAL AND BUSINESS
MEN UNIT ON SUBJECT.
Board of Trade Has Ever Been in
Favor of the Home Rule
Principle.
SENTIMENT IS STRONG

ne interest in the appointment of q
member of the local bar to the place on
theebench of the Supreme Court of the Dis
trict of Columbia made vacant by the
death of Justice Bradley is not waning in
the least
Members of the bar are unit on the
question and they are reinforced by busi-
ness and professional men throughout the
District
Inc District has never neglected an oc-
casion to express itself against the ap-
po1ntment of outsiders to local offices. It's
protests have been voiced even when the
immediate traditions of the office to be
filled have surely indicated a prospective
executive violation of the home-rule prin-
ciple. 1t has sought to keep it's record
straight.
The Board Of Trade has on several oc-
casions passed resolutions formally de-
claratory of this sentiment. On January 9,
IS99, 1t adopted the following expression
of the principle, which applies strikngly
to the immediate eXigency with local
Judgeship hanging in the balance between
District man and an appointee from the
states:
Whereas the official affairs of munich
pality are necessarily conducted by resi-
dents thereof, acquainted with local senti-
ment, which finds voice in the praise or
blame of their neighbors. while the i,npor-
exposes a municipality to the tender mer-
cies of officials often ignorant of local af-
fairs, and unrestrained by respect for
wholesome local sentiment;
Let Appointments Be Local.
And whereas the nation has wisely rec
ognized the applicability of the above
stated principles to local appontme in
the District of Columbia, and has through
Congress- enacted that three years resi-
dence is essential to eligibility to appoint
ment as a civilian District Commissioner
and has In the platform of both the great
pofticai parties extended this condition Of
eligibility to the other local federal Offices
by declaring either specifically concerning
the District or generally concerning the
District under the classification of terri
tories that all the federal officers appointed
for it should be selected from bona fide
residents thereof; therefore be 1t
Resolved, That the Washington Board of
Trade, mindful of the welfare of this mu-
nicipality, heartily indorses this action of
the political parties and of Congress, In the
1rm conviction that these assurances
against the use of the local offices as re-
CARDS to non-residents for national and
partisan political services rendered. should
never be violated either in letter or in
spirit
Business Mems Opinions.
The interviews printed in The Evening
Star yesterday afternoon gave only a faint
idea Of the feeling that exists that Presi-
dent Roosevelt should recognize some men,
Der Of the bar in the District.
Not one of score or more of prominen.
citizens visited today was other of the
opinion than the President would be doing
the right thing to name man who is from
the District and who is familiar with the
practice, the wants and the needs of the
District
Mr.. D. j. Kaufman said he thought the
residents of the District ought to have
some consideration from the President in
regard to appointments for local offices,
and that every District office should be
filled by District man if we have men
qualified for the places. He said he felt
confident that there were a number of men,
residents of the District, competent to fill
the position of Judge of the Supreme Court.
Mr.. Kaufman declared that in his opinion
favors, and that when it did ask for what
it had a right to receive that the request
should be granted without opposition.
Mr. H. b. Parker of Parker. Bridget
Co. said: II think there are plenty of men
i'll the District competent to administer its
affairs. and to fill the position on the bench
Of the Supreme Court made vacant by the
death Of Justice Bradley. There Is no ne
cessity for going outside the boundaries to
secure man who would discharge the du-
ties of the office with competence and sat.
iSfaction." ..
Some knowledge Needed.
Attorney c. H. Turner suggested that
District man would be better able to oc-
cupy the position on account of familiarity
with the peculiar laws Of the District.
James L. Pugh, jr. II am in favor Of
the President appointing a District man to
fill the vacancy on the bench caused by the
death of Justice Bradley, because the laws
of this community are distinctly different
from those of other sections Of the country
and 1t would be almost impossible to select
an outsider who is fully acquainted with
the District laws. The position calls for a
man who is familiar with the duties
through practice in the District"
Frank A. SebrIns: THE peculiar laws in
vogue in the District suggest to my mind
the appointment of man who is familiar
through practice in the District courts to
the vacancy the bench, because the
laws here differ to a great extent to those
in force in other communities I am in
favor of the President making a selection
from the District for those reasons
Unfair Treatment
Mr. George C.. Henning. president of the
Traders National Bank, said:
Il think the District of Columbia has
been treated most unfairly in the matter of
appointments to District offices by Presi-
dents of both parties, and in the matter of
the vacant judgesnip it is certainly no
more than fair that we should have a man
from the District in the position. We want
man familiar with our laws, and we have
plenty Of good timber for the place"
Mr.. 1sadore Saks said to a Star reporter
this afternoon: My opinion is that a local
man should be appointed to the vacant
judgeship. Either of the three prominent
candidates would certainly be satisfactory
to the residents of the District of Columbia
think all of them are fitted thoroughly
for the position and their experience in To-
cal law matters would surely be preferable
to judge who would have to gain his ex-
perience after appointment"
Many Rumors Ahoat.
In connection with the vacancy In the
office Of associate justice Of the Supreme
Court of the District Of Columbia, rumors
were plentiful today about the city hall.
None Of them, however, could be substan.
tiated. 1t was reported that the President
had decided to appoint local man to tbe
bench, that he had already named an out-
side man for the place and that one of the
three leading local candidates had formal
ly withdrawn from the race in the hone
that such action would induce the Pres