The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-11-22
The United States Supreme Court
By Frederic ,. Hasl<in.

violent opposition to the Supreme Court. and ruled practically all of the time for the ensuing sixty years. Then the Republican party was born in Pronunciation of the Supreme Court. and 1t has ruled practically all of the time for the past fifty years.
 Furthermore. Congress exercises limited power over the Supreme Court in that it can increase or decrease the number of members, of the court al- though it could not legislate justice off the bench. This power has been exercised for the express purpose of political effect--to pack the court Originally composed of chief justice and i've associate justices, the court now has eight associate Justices. At one time 1t had nine. making ten in all. The court was. increased by the Democrats in the Andrew Jackson re- gime for political purposes. In recon struction days 1t was decreased in or- der thae Andrew Johnson might not be permitted to fill three, vacancies which had occurred. The party favor ing the extreme reconstruction pro- gram was much afraid of the Supreme Court as 1t stood and 1t could not permit Johnson to add to 1t men of his way of thinking.
 The last time the Supreme Court buoWeu poSAtANely phftlShh pOuticAt division was in 1870, when the elec- toral commission was created to de- eide the contest between Rutherford B. Hayes and Samuel J. Tilden for the Presidency. Congress provided for . commission of five members of each house, and for five members of the Supreme Court. The ten Congressional commissioners were equally divided between Republicans and Democrats. Two Republicans and two Democratic Supreme Court Justices were selected and they were to choose the fifth judge.
 It had been the original plan to se- lect Justice David Davis of Illinois. an independent. But he resigned from the court when elected to the Senate by the Illinois Legislature. Then Justice Bradley was chosen. He was a Republican, On every vital ques- ton that came before that commission, the vote was, eight to seven--the eight Republicans, including Bradley. voting for the Republican contention and the seven Democrats supporting their partisan claims. So the great contest President. ia
 There have been nine Chief Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States. although most lists give but eight. The first was John Jay who served six years During that time he was envoy. to England. He was suc- ceedsd by John Rutledge. of South Carolina, who had formerly served as associate justice. The Senate refused to confirm him, and he held but one term of court Then William Cush- ing, of Massachusetts,. an associate jus tice; was nominated. confirmed and commissioned to be Chief Justice. He resigned after one week. not having held session, of the court. His name ls usually omitted from the roster of chief justices. Then came Oliver Els worth, of Connecticut. He served four years and was part Of the time abroad as q minister to France. He was suc- ceeded by the great John Marshall, of Virginia. who served for thirty four yeags and five months. the long est service on record except that of Associate Justice Stephen J. Field. of California. who served thirty-four years and eight months. Then came Roger B. Fancy, of Maryland Salmon P. Chase and Morrison R. Waite, both