Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-06-06
VOICE OF LOCAL BAR
Declares for District Man for
Judge.
A COMMITTEE NAMED
TO BE INFORMED OF
ASSOCIATIONS VIEWS.
Declaration in Favor of Home Rule
Principle-Remarks by Lead
ing Lawyers.

The bar of the District Of Columbia. prac-
tically as whole, has placed itself on rec
ord as being emphatically opposed to the
appointment of any one other than a local
lawyer in active practice as associate JUS
tlce or the District Supreme Court to fiji
the vacancy caused by the death of Justice
Bradley. resolution was adopted urging
the President to appoint a local man. and
representative committee was named TO
call at the White House at 10 o clock to-
morrow morning and personally put the
matter before the President The commit
tee comprises Mr.. Henry f. Davis. chair
man; and Messrs. A. S. Worthington. Chas.
A. Douglass, Henry T.. Blair and John b.
Larner.
The resolution sets forth that il is the
sense of the Bar Association that the Presi-
dent be urged to appoint a successor TO the
late Mr.. Justice Bradley from among the
members Of the legal profession in active
practice a. the bar of the Supreme Court of
the District of Columbia: and that COM
mittee of five members present to the Pres
ident the resolution and in connection there-
with a suitable memorial in support there
Of
Action by Bar Association.
Practically the entire bar. as stated, as
semblod in the rooms of the Bar Associa-
ton at 3:l5 O'Clock yesterday afternoon in
response to the call for a special meeting
to consider the judgeship appointment
Vice President ]. Holdsworth Gordon took
the chair. in the absence of President Ben
jamin F. Leighton, who is one OF the candi-
dates. Mr.. Percival NJ Brown served as
secretary. Mr.. Henry f. Davis was first
recognized. He referred to the suggested
possibility of an outside man being selected
to fill the vacancy on the bench. adding
that an excuse which had been advanced
for such a course was that the District was
now legally governed by code of law that
any one can understand. In support Of the
argument that the new justice should be
selected from among the local practitioners
Mr.. Davis offered a resolution to the effect
that the lamented death of Andrew c. Brad
ley, late an associate justice of the Supreme
Court of the District of Columbia has
created vacancy in that tribunal about 10
be filled by executive appointment; and as
II is of the highest interest to the profess
sion and the community that his successor
shall be as nearly as possible one possess
ing his high talents and unique equipment
for the duties which he so long. 50 eff
GENTLY and satisfactorily discharged.
the Bar Association of the District Of CO.
lumbia should resolve that committee OF
five be appointed by the chair to present to
the President a respectfA hut earnest sug-
gestion in the premises as follows:
The Laws Governing District.
Prior to the enactment by the Congress
Of the United States Of the existing code Of
law for the District of Columbia, which
went into effect and operation from and af-
ter the LIST day of January. A ID. 1902. the
District had for its body Of laws the Eng
lish common law the British statutes deem
ed and adjudgod to be in force; the law Of
the state of Maryland, statutory and judi
cial, in force the 9th day OF February, A.
/ he la MS Of 81 la lltre on
acted for the District and those general in
their character not locally inapplicable; the
laws of the late assembly of the District
of Columbia. and the laws and ordinances
of the late corporations of Washington and
Georgetown. and the late Levy Court Of the
District Of Columbia, sides the regula-
tions, police and otherwise, OF the Commits
Sioners of the District of Columbia author
lied by Congress. in order to the due knowl-
edge and understanding Of all which not
only wide learning, but also much study
and long practical experience in their adj
ministration were necessary. The hetero-
geneous mass of judicial and administrative
rules and principles involved were attempts
ed by the existing code to be put into sys-
tematic form and supplemented by the en-
actment of new rules adequate to the Dis
trlct's present advanced social and legal
situation. On the familiar principle that
a proper comprehension new laws in
wolves a thorough knowledge of the old,
and the appreciation of the defects and
shortcomings which the new is intended TO
cure, it is at this time peculiarly requisite
that the local judiciary should be- far as
possible, composed Of lawyers who have
grown up under the old system and become
imbued with its spirit and a knowledge Of
its constituent elements.
For these reasons. in addition to the
fact that the lamented jurist, whose place
is shortly to be filled, was one Of the local
complement of the bench which he adorned.
it would seem most fitting that that place
should be supplied from the bar of the Dis
Tot oil &c
that the President may, in his good judg-
ment, find among the members of our pro-
fession identified with the bar of the Dis
trict suitable person for appointment 10
the vacant office"
Home Rule Principle.
Mr.. Charles II. Merilat proposed resolu-
ton that placed particular stress on the
home rule principle. Next Mr.. Henry w.
Sohon submitted a suggestion, brief, but
most aggressive, TO be forwarded to the
President. It's keynote was that District
wards for politicians The suggestion OF
Mr. Sohon was laid on the table.
Remarks were made by Mr.. Worthington
and Mr.. Franklin III. Mackey. Mr.. Worth
ington Endorsed a substitute resolution pre-
pared by Mr.. Merilat and ii was adopted,
with few minor changes. II appears In
the foregoing. In drafting its memorial
the committee will probably embrace, in
part the language Of the statement offered
by Mr. Davis.
After the meeting. which was enthusiastic
and brief had adjourned Vice President
Gordon announced the personnel Of the
committee.
Naval Orders.