Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-02-04
LILLEY, KELLOGG AND BURPEE.
Three Men Who May Dictate the Appointment oi
 One or More Judges for Some of Our Courts

One or More Judges f Waterbury has always been in tht
 background during the legislature except in matters pertaining to char.
 ter amendments, but this year it has
 been brought conspicuously to the
 front by the rivalry between republi-
 can lawyers for judgeships of the dis
 trict and superior courts. All those
 who are looked upon as on the inside
 Of the race have different slates and
 different opinions regarding the can
 didates, but it appears to De admitted
 by all that the stumbling block to a
 selection lies between three men,
 Judge l.. F. Burpee, Attorney John F.
 Kellogg and large
 George L. Lilley. Incidentally, the
 republican party is on the verge of
 disruption on account of the rivalry,
 and memories of the legislature that
 appointed Attorney Gager of Derby
 and Judge Case of Hartford judges of
 the superior court have been revived.
 The republican party was im bad
 state locally that year. and 1t threat ens to be no better this year if what some of the leaders want is not &C., complishad.
 incidentally, again, the taxpayers are paying the fiddler and before t1fe end is reached they may have a pretty bill to shoulder. The scramble for the judgeships is the talk of the state and many people are beginning to talk or It as unseemly, to say the very least.
 Senator Paige of Bridgeport has filed bill for the increase of the mum. per or judges to the superior court, and also an increase in their salaries, They are now paid $4OOO a year and MT Paiges bill would increase that sum to H,O0O and put the chief jus. tice on salary of S65OO.
 It IS well known fact that had the republican party been unanimous on choice four or five years ago Wa terbury would have been given a Judge of the superior court. At that tune MT Kellogg was mentioned for the place, everybody agreeing that he had the necessary Qualifications. But lhere were obstacles in his own party to ms success and the appointment went to Derby.
 MT Burpee and MT Kellogg have been life long friends, they have never disagreed about anything but this su- )erior court judgeship. Both want he position now, but both can't have t, and Governor Roberts is in the worst fix that he ever experienced in lls life, because of fearing that he will llsrupt the local republican ranks by whichever candidate he may select,
 MT Kellogg and Mir Burpee are Lfraid that if Judge Peasley is re-ap- 'ointed associate judge of the district ourt, with salary of S3,OOO or S4, GOO
 year, nothing can prevent him from ucceeding to the senior judgeship, of hat court a few years hence when udge Cowell is retired on account of ge, for that would mean for him a ig step toward the superior court ench. Neither Mir Kellogg nor Mir 'urpee could afford to have Judge | 'easley take such leap as that over heir shoulders. But that is precisely
 here the rub comes in. For if Judge 'easley falls of renomination Mir Kel- ,gg is very likely to loose the city ttorneyshlp. Judge Peasley is the nly republican lawyer in the city ligible for that office as he will have racticed the necessary ten years in Waterbury about the time Mir Kel- 'ggs term expires this summer.
 MT Lilley is supporting Judge Peas- y with all his influence, and, it is lid that Mir Burpee is not heartily in ivor of the slate drawn up by the lr association favoring Cowell and armody. There is no question that IT. Burpee would like to be judge of
 high court, and it is common talk mong the lawyers that if he is not Dpointed to the superior court there
 nothing left him but to accept the strict court. But he does not wish appear as antagonistic to Judge owell, and he says he is not.
 There have been deputations of lay en to see Governor Roberts for and ,ainst Judge Cowell and the latter's lances are entirely unknown.
 The time is ripe however for Mir f urpee to take step ahead and as lie
 ambitious he will not let the chance } by. But it would never do for him
 succeed Judge Cowell, no matter w innocent he may be in that dge's dethronement, for the down. Il of Cowell would mean serious . each in the republican party. But would it Greater men than
 have gone down and they were re- only for day. It is said c plan is to give the city court to dge Cowcll with an increased sal y. That would certainly be sop of ; mfort. But would it suffice It is mitted that the judge has done a eat deal for his party. but those op- sing him ask if he has not been we'll { i'd for his services. Has he not been
 the bench for thirty years they ' k. and what man has had a steadier Il on the public treasury than he , ring that period. He has only q few , ars more of official life to live, any $ ". It is said again about Judge Burpee. ft It if given the district court. he 'nld hardly he able to attend to it's ties on account of his own personal airs. that the district court would
 conducted much as the city court [ at present when several times every ek there is q chase for q judge all 1T the city. and court is not held s the proper time in consequence. lot later than yesterday morning rrn N- has occurred so often that one uld imagine that the matter of ming their salaries is the last thing ! f occirrs to the mind oe Waterbury ges. This matter has become com. (