Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-06-04
Judicial Appointments.
Editor Of The Evening Star:

To the Editor Of The Evening Star:
Thanks are Dire to you for your able and
courageous editorial of the Both ultimo In
regard TO the vacancy the Supreme
bench of the District.
When the history of our period is writ
ten and the administration of President
Harrison comes under review, il is already
apparent that nothing will contribute more
to give it rank among the best than the
high character of his judicial appointments
He was a great lawyer and appreciated
their Importance. and he let no consdera-
lions sway him in making them out char
acter capacity and training.
There are indications very disturbing to
the friends of Mr.. Roosevelt. and to all
members of the bar solicitous for first
class judges before whom to conduct their
business, that largely perhaps because he
is not a lawyer. there is danger that the
standards will be let down. and that such
appointments will not be men carefully
lected for fitness. but politicians out Of a
job clamorous for n life position. with
strong political backing and with political
consequences and advantages apparently
more in view than the needs of the courts
and the advancement Of justice. This from
a man universally regarded as pledged
to the highest ideals for the civil service
is a great shock to US. IL for these high
positions other reasons than fitness are
openly to have weight. how can he expect
that appointments will be urged on him
only on that ground? Why does he pro-
claim that only fitness will be recognized
in military appointments. and at the same
time give weight to Political considera-
tions, as he is plainly doing, in a sphere
where their bad influence must be much
more pernicious and far reaching? You
have well expressed what is to be said
to the District Court. Let me say word
as TO the Court OF Claims.
In the variety and difficulty Of the ques-
tions with which il has to deal and the
magnitude of the amounts involved IL
stands second to the Supreme Court of the
United States alone. In speaking of an
amendment which he had offered To bill
in the Senate to make the pay of the judges
$1,000 the late Mr. Bayard sad: II cannot
imagine how it has been that in providing
an advance of the salaries Of the judges Of
the Supreme Court. an equally meritorious
class of men, those whose line OF duty is
upon quite as high grade, whose respon-
sibiities are just as great, requiring al
most If not quite high a degree Of pro-
fessional skill. much labor. and Ger
tainly as high qualifications. the judges of
the Court of Claims should have been
wholly omitted The Sc facts not gen.
orally understood. but Mr.. Bayard was on
the Judiciary committee and knew whereof
he spoke. To a bench demanding such
qualifications 1t is proposed to appoint a
man not known lawyer. because II is
said he has made sacrifices for the prin-
ciples of the republican party and ought
ment is simply a reward for services. or a
piece of pure personal favoritism.
The Court of Claims, above all others.
should be constituted ON non-partisan
basis Its Judgments must be appropriated
for by Congress. and IL should be so made
up as to command the confidence Of Con-
gress. The government should make the
only court to which il subjects it's SOW
ereignty to suit strong and respected. As
II now stands three of the four judges are
republicans. and looking at 1t as a life
long republican and a member of the
bar of the different courts. I am confident
that all interests concerned would undoubt-
eddy be best served by the appointment OF
an able vigorous. straight democrat or
high character and known to be learned In
the law.
If the President is seeking for votes In
making his appointments. he VIII gain more
by doing his best to keep the character OF
the judiciary. high and spotless than by
regarding them as personal perquistes.
with which to acquire the wares OF politi-
cal hucksters ATTORNEY.