Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-24
At THE WHITE HOUSE
Judge Smith Discusses Condi-
tions in the Philippines.
DISTRICT JUDGESHIP
PROBABILITY OF AN OUTSIDE
CANDIDATE BEING SELECTED.
The President Will Have to Deny HIM
self to Callers Hereafter
This Week.
DISTRICT JUDGESHIP

Judge E. Finley Smith of the Philippine
judiciary, formerly of Michigan. called on
the President today and talked with him
about matters in the islands. Judge Smith
has recently been elevated from the CIR
cult to the supreme bench in the islands,
and has an excellent record as Jurist In
the new possessions. The supreme court
of the Philippines consists of seven JUS
tees, three of whom are Fflipinos and four
Americans.
II established the first American courts
in six provinces in the archipelago, said
Judge Smith to a Star representative. AT
each place where / held court called to-
gether the mayors and justices Of peace
Of the provinces and gave them instruc-
tions as to the American government and
American methods of court procedure. ex-
employing the working Of our court meth
DDS in this country by trying some cases
that had been reserved for the purpose.
/ found the minor judicial officials of the
islands greatly interested and materially
benefited by this system of primary schools
in law and courts. In the Philippines q
church festival is always the center OK
everybodys thought and interest, but on
one occasion when we held court In town
where a church festival was In operation
l was surprised to find the court room
crowded. tried 500 cases In the lslands
in the two years was on the circuit bench.
l am glad to say that the Philippine people,
despite occasional outbreaks among out
laws, are taking kindly to American gov
ernment and l believe l can make the pre-
diction that three-fourths of the people
would not accept any other form of gov
ernment If offered 1t.
THE greatest monument to American
government in the islands is the PUBIC
school system. When this government went
into the archipelago in August, 1888. there
was not a single school throughout tho
islands devoted to common school educa-
ton except in Manila. Today there is not
a town or city of size anywhere in the
vast territory without school ana many
scholars Thus are the Filipinos being
taught under proper auspices
Successor to Justice Hagner.
Senator McComas today presented to the
President John Writ Randall and ex-Repre-
sentative Barber of Maryland. Mr.. Randall
is Senator McComas' candidate for the va.
cant judgeship on the supreme bench OF
the District. The matter of making the ap-
pointment was not discussed while MT.
Randall was present Senator McConaS
merely desiring to present him to the Pres
ident 1t has been practically decided Dy
the President, 1T is believed, that the va
cancy will not go to District man, put
that the selection will be made from among
the many outside candidates. The Presi-
dent is being urged to give the place to any
one of fifty candidates and is in some per-
tend however, as already stated in The
Star, to hasten the appointment, and II Will
probably be a number of months before an
announcement is made.
Many Louisiana Appointments.
H. Mccall collector Of the port of New
Orleans, and F. B. Williams, chairman or
the state central committee of Louisiana,
were callers at the White House today.
The President was busy and made an ap-
pointment with them for this afternoon, at
which time he will confer with them about
a number of important appointments pend
ing in that state. Messrs. Mccall and VIII.
Jams ARE the referees of federal appoints
mentS in Louisiana. The terms of office OF
the subtreasurer. surveyor of the port. sur
veyor general, register of the land office.
coiner of the mint and two appraisers at
New Orleans have expired. and their re-
appointments or the selection of new men
are necessary. MeSSrS. Mccall and WILL
Jams will probably present a slate to the
President for the filling of the offices. There
is hot fight over number Of the places
Secretary Cortelyou. Secretary Hitch
cock and Admiral Taylor. chief of the bu-
reau of navigation of the Navy Depart
ment were among THE visitors who had
conferences with the President.
Some Of the Days Callers.
Secretary Moody talked to the President
for a short time and presented some friends.
Miss Jennie Smith. the well-known rail-
road evangelist. called on the President on
business.
The President will be compelled to deny
himself to all visitors except those hav-
ing important business during the next two
days. His departure for Oyster Bay SAT-
urday morning allows him only two moro
days in his office tomorrow and Friday to
dispose of work. and he will be compelled
to make his list of callers short as pos
sible. During his stay at Oyster Bay the
will cor Ia
will send for cabinet officers when he de-
sres to talk with them on public business,
but outside of these officials few engage
ments will be made.
An Indian Territory Commission.
Representative Boutell of Illinois saw the
President today to ask him to appoint F.
s. Peabody of Chicago a member of a
commission of five that is to be appointed
to segregate the coal lands of the Indian
territory. The commission has not yet
been named and there are number Of
candidates.
Dinner Guests Of the President
The President will entertain at dinner
tonight at the White House Secretary and
Mrs. Hay, Ambassador and Mrs. Jusserand
and Benjamin Ide Wheeler president OF
the University of California. President
Wheeler will spend the night with tho
President as his guest. The dinner will be
informal.
The Case Of e. F. McSweeney.
The case of Edward F. McSweeney for
mer assistant commissioner of immigration
at New York, has been before the President
again. By the Presidents direction, on Mr..
McSweeney's request United States Attor.
uey Burnett of the southern district of New
York has heard McSweeneys exclamation
of the charges against him of absuacting
public records and documents of the United
States immigrant station at Ellis Island,
upon which complaint had been filed
with United States Commissioner Shields.
General Burnett, after reviewing the facts
ELECTED and the arguments of counsel, re-
ports substantially as follows:
''The facts are not disputed that Mr..
McSweeney took from the room where ho i
performed his official duties assistant ]
Commissioner. and removed from their
usual official places, about 1000 so-cafled
Quasi official papers which were clear
ly official papers and records; that among
this number were 1876 official document
bearing official file numbers. and a large.
number of other original official documentsl, |,