Omaha daily bee., 1907-11-15
WYOMING MAN GOES ON BENCH
u. A. Van Orsdel Succeeds McCOmas rs
Judge of District Court OF
Appeals.
CFrom a stan Correspondent

(From a Stan Correspondent
WASHINGTON. Nov. A-~Cspecial Tele-
grsm.)-wyoming today won n 5000 posi-
tion for one of her adopted sons. Senators
Clark and Warren from that state landing
a place on the bench of the court of ap-
peas for the District OF Columbia for
Josiah A. Van Orsdel, an assistant attorney
general of the Department of Justice This
was made possible by the death Of Hon.
Louis +. McComas of Maryland. who rep
resented his state in the senate previous
to his appointment to the bench OF the
court of appeals.
The appointment OF Judge Van Orsdel
came as a tremendous surprise to the peo-
pie of the district, lawyers at the local bar
having gone out OF their way to endorse
local candidates for the vacancy. never
dreaming that forces were at work to bring
about their undoing. After the death of
Judge McComas, Senator Clark saw an
opportunity for the advancement of his
friend and having cabied his colleague,
Senator Warren, who is in Europe and re-
ceiving a favorable reply, set to work to
bring about Van Orsdels appointment,
with the result that the president will
nominate Van Orsdel TO the position.
Judge Van Orsdel was born in Lawrence
of Westminster college at New Whining
ton, Pa. In 1888 he went west and for three
years lived at Blue Springs in Gage county
Nebraska, where ivan" is well known
The fall of 1891 found him located in
Cheyenne and engaged in the practice of
law. In 1892 he was elected county attorney
| of the Wyoming county and in 1894 to the
state legislature In February of 1895 he
was made chairman of the committee to
codify the laws of the state. which pro
vided basis for the present statute laws.
In 1888 Judge Van Orsdel was elected at
torney general and held that position un-
| til he was appointed by Governor Richards
| TO place on the supreme bench. He occu-
| pied that position until 1906 when he was
appointed. through the influence of the
Wyoming senators. an assistant attorney
| general of the Department OF Justice.
Judge Van Orsdel has always taken an
active interest in politics. and when things
were the stormiest in Wyoming has been
| foremost in holding up republicanism. He
was chairman Of the republican state com
mittee in 1898. 1900 1902 and 1901. and helped
| to elect Senators Warren and Clark.
! Miss Frances N Osburn of Huron, n. D..
a clerk in the general land office was today
promoted from s1,2OO to S1.4OO a year. Mss
! Osburn was formerly clerk In the local
! land office at Huron.
/ Complete rural delivery service has been
ordered established in Butler. Cass and
! Grundy counties, Iowa effective December
| 1. The total number Of routes in Butler
! county is twenty-nine, twelve being re-
! arranged. The total number of routes in
| Csss county is twenty-seven, of which four
are new. The toal number OF routes In
Grundy county is seventeen, seven being re-
arranged.
i Iowa postmasters appointed: Fostoria
Clay county. Lars G.. Peterson, vice F NJ
Hansen, resigned; Kent. Union county
Stephen Toland. vice j, l.. Wells. resigned
Kesley. Butler county. Henry Devries. vice
Herman Thomas, deceased.
Rural carriers appointed for Iowa routes
Casey. Route g. Garfield z. Marshall. vice
Frank Mortmere; Stuart, Route 4, Arthur
Little, vice Reuben Tassel.