The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-03-11
BY w. w. Jermane.


BY w. w. Jermane.
Washington, March 10.-.In connec~
ton with Secretary, Taft's denial Of
the published story that he has been
selected to succeed Justice Brown on
the supreme bench comes the statement
this evening, on good authority, that
the president is anxious to give this
place to Taft, and that Taft is equally
anxious to accept it, provided some
satisfactory man can be secured to sue
coed him as secretary Of war.
The war portfolio at present is the
most important in the cabinet, on ac-
count of, the isthmian canal and the
unsettled conditions in China, and it
will not be an easy matter to fill salts
factorily the place Of such man as
Taft, who is SO thoroly familiar with
all the points related to these two sub
jects.
Taft May Go on Bench.
The president will give the matter
careful consideration, and if some man,
who promises to be Of sufficient weight
can be discovered, Taft will go on the
supreme bench. in the fall as an associ-
ate justice, and thence to the post Of
chief justice, in the event of Chief JUS
tice Fuller s retirement.
Both, the president and Taft realize
that it is much more important just at
present to have. a strong administration
of tie war see seer Nip that it is to
give gustice Browne place 70 any pan,
ticular individual. nshe president is to
take up the 'tquestiofaI ofaa new secre-
tary of war at his leisure, and it is sbe'
lieved here that his search will be sue
cessful and accordingly that Taft will
go on the supreme bench in the falEDs
! This statemtn of the case in no wise
conflicts with the official denial made
today by Secretary Taft OF sle story
that the president had offered him JUS
tice Browns place.
/ - Grave Issues in Balance.
The retirement of Justice Brown
comes at a time when constitutional
questions involved in the policy of reg
| ulating railway rates by a federal com
| mission are uppermost. Upon the choice
Of his successor grave issues may de-
| pend if the administration rate bill is
put thru the senate. Several of the
most important decisions of recent
years, like those in the insular cases
following the annexation Of Porto Rico
and the Philippines, were made by a
five to four vote.
Both Chief Justice Fuller and Justice
| Harlan have reached the age of volun-
tary retirement, and may be reasonably
expected to withdraw from active duty
| before President Roosevelt $ term ex-
pires. Justice Brewer will be 70 on
June 80, 1907, and Justice Peckham on
| Nov. 8, 1908. The prospect Of five va
cancies perhaps falling so close together
means that before 1909 the power may
be given to President Roosevelt to
make over virtually the: entire court
| He appointed Justice Molmes in 1902
and Justice Day in 1908. .>.@
Sanborn considered.
A number of names have been sug.
gested in connection with the vacancies
on the supreme bench. These are Judge
| Swayze Of the supreme court of New
Jersey, Judge Gray of Delaware, Rep
resentative Parker of New York, San.
born Of Minnesota, Solicitor General
| Hoyt, Lloyd Powers Of Chicago, gen
eral counsel for the Northwestern
railway; Judge Vandeventer Of Wyo:
ming, Of the United States circuit court
and Judge Lurton of Tennessee, also of
the United States circuit court.