The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-10-12
IS DISTINGUISHED AS
YOUNGEST OF HIS CLASS
Duties Entail Much Responsibility
and Cover a Multitude of Matters
That May Arise Between the
Country and its Citizens-Both of
Civil and Criminal Nature.

Charles Surprise, deputy clerk in the
United States court in the district of
Indiana received notice this morning
that the United States commissioner
ship had been conferred upon him yes
terday by Judge A. 3. Anderson, of the
federal court with the approval of the
United States Attorney General Incl
dentally the appointment makes Mr..
Surprise the youngest United States
commissioners in the country.
The honor to the young man was not
entirely unexpected as he has had a
host Of friends in Hammond and all
over the country who have been sup
porting him for this desirable position.
Mr.. Surprise succeeds Judge V. S Reiter
who resigned shortly before he was ap-
pointed judge of the Lake County Su-
perior court
While the appointment rests with the
Federal district judge. no federal officer
may hold it with the exception of the
clerk of the Federal court or one of the
deputies and then it can only be gained
with the consent of the United States
attorney general
Immediately after Judge Refers
resignation from the commissionershfp
friends of Mr. Surprise began to busy
themselves in his behalf and althuugh
Judge Anderson was In Europe at the
time the work had so well progressed
that 1t needed only his signature upon
his return last week. Mr.. Surprise now
holds both offices, that of deputy clerk
in the United States court and as United
States commissioner and has his head
quarters in the Federal building
The office to which Mr.. Surprise was
appointed yesterday is a fee office. That
there is considerable responsibility at
ia ched to it can be seen from the fol-
lowing outline of his duties.
Duties are Varied.
To issue warrants for offences
against the United States; to cause of
tenders to be arrested and imprisoned
cr held for trial and to order the re
moval of offenders to other districts
to hold to security of the peace and fol
good behavior; to carry into effect the
award or arbitration or decree of any
consul of any foreign nation; to sit a.
Judge or arbitrator in such difference,
as may arise between the captains anC
crews of any vessels belonging to the
nations whose interests are committed
TO his charge, and to enforce the obed
lance by Imprisonment until sucl
award arbitration or decree is com
piled with; to take bail and affidavit
in civil causes; to discharge poor con
victs imprisoned for payment o
fines; to take oaths and acknowledge
ments: to institute prosecutions unde
the law relating to crimes against tn
elective franchise and civil rights o
citizens. and to appoint persons to ex
ecute warrants hereunder; to author
ize search warrants authorizing in
ternal revenue officers to search prem
ises where a fraud upon the revenu
has been committed; to issue warrant
for deserting foreign seamen; to sum
mon masters of vessels to appear be
fore him and show cause why pro
cess should not be issued against sue
vessel: to issue warrants for and ex
, animation of persons chared with beini
fugitives from justice. and to take tes
timony and proofs of debt in bank
ruptcy proceedings.
Mr.. Surprise comes originally fror
Lowell. and has been in Harmon
slightly over a year and consequent
his advancement is all the NOR
marked.