The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-12-01
SENATORS SPLIT
ON LURTON CASE
Judiciary Committee Not
United on Presidents
Candidate.
TWO REPUBLICANS
MAY OPPOSE CHOICE
Private Car Charge Will Be Thor
oughly Investigated Before
Action Is Taken.

Tho senate Committee on Judiciary IS |
not a unit in favor of confirming the
nomination Of Judge Horace H. Lurton
"a he United states Supreme Court
Judge
President Taft has been explaining MS
attitude to members of the committee
and II is not known that any Of them
have committed themselves IN their
talks with him, I'm opposition TO Judge
T.urton. Nevertheless, It is known that
some members Of the committee are
not pIeased with the selection, and that
certain objections which have been
urged against Judge Lurton are being
investigated with view TO their pre-
sentation as reason for rejecting the
nomination.
Two Directors.
Al least two members Of the commit
tee are named In the current gossip
about this nomination, who are quoted
as being far from pleased with the Pres
dents selection Whether there Will be
a fight against confirmation Is sth IN
certain: but there has been positive
statement in one quarter, that II certain
objections prove as serious as they have
been represented, the nomination Will
not be confirmed.
The two Senators who are named IN
this connection are both Republicans. \
recent editorial in a Memphis newspa-
per contained allegation that Judge Lur-
ton, previous to the passage of the Hep
burn act. was In the habit of doing his
travelling in private cars provided toi
him by the railroads in his district
Members Investigate.
This editorial was brought to the at
tention of some of the members OF TIT
committee and has caused desire 70
more information as to the charges
While IL is recognized that PRO
10 the passage of the Hepburn act
there was nothing in, the laws inter
fering with this indulgence by Fedora
Judges. and while It is conceded tina
since the passage OF that act JudB
Iurton has been punctilious in Oh
serving it. yet there Is frank expires
sion OF the opinion that the use
private cars by judges at least raise
a question of prOpriety worth inquir
ing into
senator Nelson OF Minnesota IS
member Of the judiciary commute
who had his choice and rtcommenos
lion for a Federal judgeship rejected
the case Of a Minnesota vacancy, on u
around that his candidate was too old
Nelson Stands Pat.
AS the Nelson candidate. Judge Hal
was not so old as Judge Lurton Is, an
vas urged FOR a place OF less impol
lance. It is the subject Of some wonde
ment whether Senator Nelcon will Z
willing to support the confirmation
J.urton-
one Senator is alleged 10 have sa
that 81 It were true that Judge Lurt'
used private cars provided by the RAJ
roads, he would make IL his person
business to have an effective fight o
canized against the confirmation of q
nomination.
That President Taft is determined
name Judge Isurton is understood to
settled. The friends OF the Tenness
furist protest that Judge Lurton h
been guilty Of nothing more than mo
or certainly many Of what the FEEDER
Judges did prior 10 the passage OF {
Hepburn act. There was ot that tin
II is pointed out. no general public OPT
ion I'm opposition TO the practice, a.
II violated no law: therefore Il is urg
that objection on this ground ic unf'
and unreasonable.