The Savannah morning news., 1902-09-09
HIS BIRTHDAY GIFT
HON. SAMUEL B. ADAMS PRESENT
ED SUPREME COURT JUDGESHIP.
ACCEPTS THE APPOINTMENT.
BUT WILL NOT BE CANDIDATE
FOR THE LONG TERN.

Gone to Atlanta for a Conference
with GOV. Gambler as to Date OF
Assuming His Duties-Ad Interim
Term VIII Not lie Longer Than "a
Month-SIr. Adams VIII Not Resig n
City Attorneyship-The Bar Graft
fed over His Appointment.
Gov. Cardler has appointed Hon.
Samuel B. Adams. justice of the Su-
pFeme Court for the interim until a
successor 20 Justice Hal. T. Lewis can
lie elected by the people and quail
fed.
Mr.. Adams will accept the ap-
pointment, and left last night for At
lanta to confer with the Governor
He will serve as associate justice of
the Supreme Court until about Nov.
l, as the new justice to be elected by
the people cannot be qualified until
the meeting of the Legislature. which
will have to declare the result. as in
the case of the vote for Governor.
The Legislature convenes Oct. %, but
il will be several days after that time
before the result of the election can
in.
The other name which Gov. Gambler
had under consideration in connection
with the appointment was that Of
Hon. Thomas Lawson of Putnam, for
merly a Judge of the Superior Court,
and ex-member of Congress from the
Eighth district.
will Not Go on Bench at Once.
Mr.. Adams purpose in going to At
1anta is to confer with the Governor
relative to the time when the appoint
ment will take effect.
It is probable that he will not
be sworn in at once. Coming as
did the nomination, unsolicited and
unexpected, there is much business
which he wishes to dispose of before
accepting the responsibilities of the
judgeship. Mr. Adams said that he
his conference.
Il will state my position to the
Governor" he said, land l have little
doubt but that he will share my views
on the subject. 1 cannot see upon
what ground he could predicate re-
quest for my immediate assumption of
the duties of the office. The court
does not convene until Oct 6, and l
shall ask that my appointment be
made to take effect at that time.
There is really nothing to be done
at present, and it would be to the in
terest of the state and to myself, if
may consider my own interests in the
ma tier, for affairs to take that course.
The state would be saved an expense,
and l would have an opportunity to
wind up some affairs of my own. 1
do not care to be drawing a salary
from the state, and at the same time
be practically idle. However, if the
Governor presents any reasons for my
Immediate acceptance, | am, of course,
at his service"
VIII Hemnin City Attorney.
Judge Adams, it is believed, will not
resign his position as city attorney. He
does not express himself upon this
question, but the general opinion is
that he will retain the position until
his successor is elected by Council.
Upon the occasion of his election near
ly two years ago Judge Adams in
formed Council that he would not
stand for reelection as city attorney.
If he should resign, therefore, it would
be a retirement from a place that he
would, in any event, relinquish within
a few months.
Acting Mayor James M. Dixon was
asked If he thought that Judge Adams
would resign the post of city attorney.
He replied in the negative, saying that
he could see no reason why he should
not retain the position of city attorney
he he af
preme Court
Judge Adams" said Mr.. Dixon.
could easily delegate his duties as city
attorney to Mr.. Davis Freeman, his
law partner. This has been done fire.
quently, when Mr.. Adams has been out
of the city, and it has never operated
TO the disadvantage of the city No,
so far as l can see, there is not the
least necessity for Judge Adams to re-
sign"
The members of the bar are no less
elated over the appointment of Mr.. Ad-
ans than he is himself They are proud
of the fact that a South Georgian, and
Savannahian. has been appointed,
and are confident that in the appoint
ment of Mr.. Adams the bar is repre-
sented by one worthy in every sense of
the office to which he has been nomi-
mated, and eminently fitted for the du-
ties which it imposes.
A Petition From the Bar.
Many of the most prominent mem
bers of the bar when they read in the
Morning News the announcement that
Mr.. Adams would probably be appoint
ed by the Governor to fill the unex-
pired term of Judge Lewis Joined in a
telegram urging the appointment, and
stating that the nomination of Mr..
Adams would be very gratifying to
the Savannah bar The petition was
presented by Capt. Henry C.
names of more than twenty
five. The petition was circulated at an
early hour when few lawyers were to
be found in their offices, but every one
to whom it was presented, without
hesitancy and with great pleasure,
Joined in the request.
While it is known that the Cover
nor, even at that hour. had determined
TO offer the place on the bench TO
Mr.. Adams, and the telegram could
not then have been of any avail, still
II was a source of much qualification
to the nominee to hear of the action
of the members of the bar in sending
the message.
VIII Not Offer for Long Term.
II isAknown that Mr. Adams will not
be candidate for the long term He
said last night that he would not Of
fer, even If he knew that he could
be elected, his responsibilities demand
ing that he remain in Savannah in
fhe Dracffea af bfg r,r0facgion RoC,va