Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-02
At THE WHITE HOUSE
Land Fraud Cases in Oregon
Middle.
JUDGEGILBERT'SDETAIL
HIS AUTHORITY TO SELECT A
TEMPORARY JUDGE QUESTIONED.
John Paul Jones' Body to Be Taken
Direct to Satisfactory
to Maryland.
NORTHUMBERLAND

The Attorney General has recently had
several conferences with the President in
regard to the designation of Federal judge
to try the land-fraud cases at Portland,
Ore. The matter reached an interesting
turn when Attorney General Moody sent
a telegram to William B. Gilbert, presiding
| judge of the ninth circuit court. asking his
authority for designating Judge John ].
DeHaven of the northern district of Cali
| fornia for this duty.
1t Is understood that the Department of
Justice seriously questioned this action of
Judge Gilbert, and that the feeling is shared
by the President. for it is question wheth-
er either the President or the presiding
judge of the circuit court has the right to
designate judge temporarily to preside
over the district court at Portland. The
difficulty arises from the fact that Judge
Bellinger of the district court for the Ore
gon district died recently, the eve of
the important 1and-fraud trials President
Roosevelt, it is said. will not make an APP
pOintment Immediately to succeed the late
Judge Bellinger, for the situation is pc
culiar one
To select an Oregon man for the vacant
tudgeshp would be to make appoint
ment from one or other of the bitter fac
tions of the republican party in the state.
and these factions are divided on the ques-
ton of the alleged land frauds which are
about to be brought to trial. Matters are
still further complicated by the fact that
Senator Mitchell. who would naturally be
expected to have some influence in the ap-
pointment of judge in his state is him.
self under indictment for trial in the court
In which the vacant judgeship has occurred.
Had Judge Gilbert not taken the action
which the Department of Justice regards
as premat ure, by designating Judge De-
Haven temporarily for duty at Portland,
lob how dA
temporary designation for the same pur-
pose. He would probably have chosen
Judge Hunt of Montana. Judge Hanford of
the district court for the state of Washing
ton or one of the other district judges in
the far northwest.
The reply of Judge Gilbert to the Attor-
ney Generals telegram is awaited with the
keenest interest. If he insists that he has
the authority to make a temporary designa-
ton of judge to act in place of the late
Judge Bellinger the situation will be an
interesting one. 1t is almost certain that
if the President had his way Judge Hunt.
formerly governor Porto Rico and now of
the district court in Montana. would be
designated to try the land-fraud cases at
Portland.
John Paul Jones' Body.
Secretary Morton, after the cabinet meet
Ing today. said that 1t had been decided
that the body Of John Paul Jones, which
is to be brought from France. will not be
| that have requested this. but that it will
be taken to Annapolis. where it will rest
until inferred. 1t is probable that the body
VIII get to Annapolis about the 4th of July
although the date has not been decided
upon. The ceremonies attending the ar
| rival of the remains in this country and
their disposition at Annapolis will be in
charge of Commander WinsloW, while Ad-
| miral Sigsbee will be sent to France with
| the squadron that will bring the body back
TO the United States. IT the many requests
from states had been complied with the re-.
mains of the old sea fighter would have been
on exhibition for months. They will be
taken to Annapolis and nowhere else.
Senator Hansbrough of North Dakota in.
troduced some friends to the President.
Speaking of the deficit in the treasury, SEN
ator Hansbrough places some of the blame
upon Secretary ShaW's policy of draw
backs. THE treasury returned to import
ers in the last fiscal year over $5.O00,OOO N
drawbacks said Senator Hansbrough,
land the drawback policy is constantly be-
ing enlarged by Secretary Shaw, the recent
wheat decision being an instance How
much more the treasury must pay out by
| reason Of the wheat and flour drawbacks, T
don't know: At any rate. the deficit would
be much less without drawbacks.''
Satisfactory to Maryland.
Representative Pearre of Maryland called
upon the President to thank him for the
appointment of Jerome Bonaparte as Sec
rotary of the Navy. Mr.. Pearre is slowly
good for some time. He will shortly leave
for Maine, where he will spend the sum-
mer in the woods in an effort to bring his
health back to its former satisfactory con-
ditton
There is little belief among Maryland re-
publicans that Mr.. Bonaparte's prominence
in the administration will cause him to at
tempt to assume republican leadership in
the state that he will desire to do so.
He has little liking for politics as they are
frequently played, and If he does engage
In Maryland political affairs 1t will be
| with the object of making his party cleaner
and better.
Speculation has already started that the
President will transfer Mr.. Bonaparte to
the Department of Justice when Mr.. Moody
reason of Mr.. Bonaparte's legal training
and desires such a transfer might be a
welcome one to him, but talk now is en-
tire1y speculative. Mr.. Moody is not ex-
pected to stay in the cabinet any longer
than necessary to wind up some of the
important trust legislation with which he
is identified.
Invited to Ohio Fair
Secretary Taft today presented to the
President an invitation from the managers
of the Ohio state fair asking the President
to attend the fair in September. The Presi-
dent was obliged to decline on account of
other engagements.
oEn n0o rrE Y,1rr-