Evening star., 1902-08-19
ATTORNEY GEN'L KNOX
PROBABLY NOT TO RETURN THIS
WEEK
Report That He is to Succeed Justice
Shiras Cannot Be Con-
frmed.

Attorney General Knox, whose return to
Washington was expected today, is still in
Pittsburg, and is not now expected at the
department this week No confirmation can
be obtained for the report that he is to
succeed Justice Shiras of the supreme
bench, whose retirement before many
months has for some time been anticipated
and was announced in a Pittsburg dispatch
this morning as coming from an interview
with his son.
It is known that the President would prob
ably like to have Mr.. Knox on the supreme
bench. aside from his regret at losing
cabinet minister sympathetic and eff
cient. Whether Mr.. Knox himself would
like the place is a question much debated
among his closest friends. They point not
only to his prominence at the bar and its
compensation, but to the deep interest
which he has taken in the great projects
now before the Department of Justice. CAB
met offices as such rise and fall in promi-
nence with the national conditions, just as
do the committees in Congress
Important Work Now on Hand.
Just now the Department of Justice is do
ing work of perhaps the most important of
auv of the executive bureaus; it's work in
helning to shape a suitable antitrust policy
for the republican party may prove of his
torv-making value. It's Responsibility in the
Panama canal enterprise is very great. The
number of new questions arising from the
constitutional relation to the insular pom
cies now in formative shape, is notapiy
large Mr. Knox properly estimates the
value of this work. and it is said, would
dislike to leave 1t. Some embarrassment
might, moreover, be occasioned should cases
coming before the court sof which ne were
a member involving the Interpretation OF
Low hi io1 no hal e.
This situation is, however, still conJectural.
Too much emphasis has been placed in es-
timatng the probability of Mr.. knoXs ac-
cepting this appontmentFlpon observations
regarding his home hereand his law part
nership. 1t is true that he has bought
house in Washington and that he mas
dropped all his law connections in PittsDurg
and many business connections. But most
of these changes were made some time ago
and those relating to business and profess
sional relations should be ascribed to SEN
sitiVeness regarding the propriettes OF MS
position rather than to an anticipation of
long residence in Washington. He still re-
tains ownership OF his residence in Pitts
burg and he bought here about year ago,
it will be recalled, the former residence OF
Mrs Childs
Pennsylvania Recommendation.
The Pennsylvania senators and the repub-
lican organization of the state, have long
desired to have Judge j. Hay Brown Of the
Pennsylvania supreme court receive this ap-
pointment. But Mr.. Roosevelt will be much
less influenced n celecting members of the
highest court by the recommendation OF
the organization influences of the state to
which the position nomnally belongs than
were he filling petty Offices
Few responsibilities of the President un-
der the Constitution, are more eXactlng
than the making of this great court 1t IS
probable that President Roosevelt, especial
ly if he should be Reelected, would have
the filling Of an unusual number of places
on the supreme bench. Besides the one to
which MIR. Justice Holmes has recently
been named and the forthcoming Shiras
vacancy reports are persistent that Chief
Justice Fuller intends to retire not long af-
ter he reaches seventy years, which Will
be on February II next. He has been on
the bench since 1883. Associate Justice
Harlan vii. also reach the seventy-year
landmark next June. He has been on the
bench twenty-five years and would stand
good chance to exceed the late Justice
Field in length of service If he cared to re-
main But mis- health. 1t is reported, has
shown some slight signs of tagging ana
ne may not care to serve many years long
er. Justices Brown. and Brewer will not
reach the age of retirement until 1906 and
1907, respectively