Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-05

foreshadowed in The Star, and had appar-
emily met with a favorable reception in the
District certainly as favorable as could
have been expected in view of the fact that
Mr.. Robb is not actually citizen of the
District The hope was expressed that the
President would choose a strictly local man.
but it has been recognized that he could
not have selected stronger, ADLER or
cleaner man than Mr.. Robb.
AS heretofore stated, the President has
been reluctant to make the appointment of
Mr.. Robb who is one of the mainstays of
the Department of Justice as assistant at
torney general He believed that it would
be difficult to fill the vacancy in the depart
ment that would be made by the promotion
of Mr.. Robb. He finally concluded, how
ever, that 1t would not be fair to Mr.. Robb
to keep him in his present position when he
was entitled to something much better.
Thanked the President
Mr.. Robb called on the President this
morning to thank him for his appointment.
He said that he did not know when he
would enter upon his duties He would do
so at the earliest convenient moment, so as
not to retard the judicial business of the
District. Mr.. Robb is the representative of
the Department of Justice in a case before
the United States Supreme Court involving
about 100000. If he loses the case the
government will have to refund that much
collected from various persons. If he wins,
the government will retain the money. Mr..
Robb would like to argue the case before
the Supreme Court If he is able to do so.
AS the case Is set for next week, Mr.. Robb
will not enter upon the District bench for
q short time.
The case involves the legacy tax law of
the Spanish war period If the collection
of the tax should have ceased July l, 1901,
the government must refund about $780,
600 collected from legacies. If the date
was advanced to July 1, 1902, as Mr.. Robb
claims, the government will retain the
money. Mr.. Robb has conducted the case
through the preliminary stages, and has,
up to this time, been successful, despite the
fact that 1t was regarded that he had
difficult problem.
How Appointment Was Received.
Intelligence of the appointment by the
President of Assistant Attorney General
Robb to fill the vacancy on the bench of
the District Court Of Appeals was received
at the city hall with expressions Of pleas
ure from some, and Of disappointment from
others. Members Of District Supreme Court
spoke in terms of commentator Of the Sc
lection and referred in complimentary Ian
guage to the qualifications of the assistant
attorney general Several practitioners be-
fore the District bar expressed similar feel
Ing, but there were many who, though de-
clining for obvious reasons to be quoted,
were outspoken in their criticism of the
Presidents action. None of the numerous
attorneys who voiced their opinion adverse
ly to the selection had any unkind personal
feelings, it was asserted, against the as
sistant attorney general, but the complaint
Of each was with respect to Mr.. Robb's
qualifications for the position and the pro-
priety of his appointment
Justice Stafford. who was prominently
mentioned for the position on the appel
late bench said to Star reporter: Il
knew Mr.. Robb when was on the bench
in Vermont. where he formally practiced.
His appointment Is no surprise to me. He
has stood very close to the President, and
has doubtless performed his work in the
Department OF Justice with great faithful
ness and efficiency. He rs bright man
and hard worker. and that makes a COM
bination which Is pretty sure to succeed.
The appointment will delight his friends
in Vermont as well as his friends here
We all wish him the best Of success
am just sending him my congratulations"
Mr.. Robb came to the city hall about
noon today and was engaged in CONVERSE
ton for q considerable time with Chief
Justice Shepard and Associate Justice Nc
Comas Of the Appellate Court. They talked
about matters pertaining to the duties of
the position and the business OF the court.
The assistant attorney general will ap-
pear in the court room Monday morn
in. The oath will be administered by
Clerk Hodges Of the Appellate Court.
While Mr.. Robb was at the city hall
he was congratulated by several lawyera
His presence In the building, however was
known to only few people.
Other Justices.
Chief Justice Clabaugh expressed his
wishes for the success Of Mr.. Robb as a
member Of the appellate bench. He said:
Assistant Attorney General Robb is wen
qualified by temperament and attachments
for q judicial position, and have no doubt