Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-30
Federal Judges to Be Chosen
for Their Fitness.
MADE PLAIN BY PRESIDENT
Senators Notified Not to Expect Con-
troll of Judicial Patronage.
WILSON ASKS FOR A DECISION
Secretary Submits Case of Referee
Board to White House-In-
vited to Baltimore.

Judicial appointments will not be par,
of the patronage of United States SEN
ators. That is the determination of Pres
ident Taft expressed to callers today and
on other occasions recently.
The President does not propose to have
judges made through political deals and
influences. He considers that he is com
petent to pass upon the fitness of men
for the bench, and he will do so. A,
the same time he will be glad to receive
suggestions from senators and representa-
tives as to the qualification of applicants
for judicial places.
Mr. Taft's reiteration of his attitude was
made today to Representative Humphreys
of Washington. who called to talk about
the judgeship appointment in that state.
Congress provided a new judicial district
for Washington, and the President has
been considering the merits of a half
dozen good men who are In the fielId
Senator Piles has conferred with the
President several times regarding the diff
ferent candidates. Senator Jones has not
taken up the matter. The Washington
together upon one man. believing this
will be the best way to secure man
satisfactory to them
Upon all other matters of federal ap-
pointments the policy of the new Presi-
dent is to place upon the senator's the
responsibility of first-class selections In
a way he will defer to their recommends
tions more generally than did his prede-
cessor. Mr.. Roosevelt frequently depart
ed from senatorial recommendations and
was often in hot water with senator's
over nominations not suitable to them.
This will not be SO with Mr.. Taft. He
will take 1t for granted that recommen-
dations made by senator's will be of rep
"a u-in be In,
vestigations to ascertain whether these
recommendations are proper.
The Presidents attitude as to judge
ships comes into sharp conflict with the
Minnesota that he must have a say in
the judgeship situation in that state. He
prevented confirmation of Milton D. Purdy
as district Judge at Minneapolis and
sun stands In the way of Purdy's nomi-
nation. which the President greatly de-
sires to make. 1t remains to be deter
mined whether Mr.. Purdy will be named.
Is Referee Board nleeale
Secretary Wilson has submitted to the
White House and to Attorney General
Wickersham the question whether the
referee board of the Department of Ag-
riculture is inhibited, under the provisions
OF the sundry civil bill directed against
the various commissions created by Presi-
IL.
headed py President Remsen of Johns
Hopkins University. was appointed by
President Roosevelt to consider appeals
from the decisions of DR.. Wiley in pure
food cases.
The appointment of the board reduced
the authority of the chemist of the de-
partment. but 1t was claimed that there
was no authority Of law for such an ap-
ment of the members of the board. At
torney General Wickersham is to be asked
to settle the question of the legality. If
the board Is to go out of business DIR.
Wiley will again become supreme in
authority in all pure food disputes.
Cassel Is q Citizen.
Representative Cassel Of Pennsylvania
has filed with the White House and Post
Office Department papers showing that
his son, Howard Cassel, has been a citi-
zen of Florence. s. c., for five years. has
voted there in past elections and owns
property in adjoining counties. Among
the papers Is a certified copy of the regis
tration certificate Of young Cassel. 1t Is
also understood that the young man is
engaged to marry the daughter of a citi-
zen Of Florence. The filing of the papers
has been made necessary by the declara-
tion OF Representative Ellerbe to Presi-
dent Taft that the people OF the town
of Florence objected to the appointment
of Cassel. which had been decided upon
by the administration, because he was
not regarded as citizen there and was
not identified with the interests of the
people Of the town. There is no fault
with the character of the young man. and
the whole case will probably rest upon
whether he is regarded as a bona tide
citizen Of Florence.
The President promised to hold up the
appointment until Mr.. Ellerbe had op-
portunity to present facts bearing upon
the matter
Mr. Leupp to Remain.
Francis E. Leupp. commissioner of In
dian affairs. today told President Taft
that he would agree to remain in his po-
sition permanently II his health will per-
nit Mr.. Leupp some months ago de-
cided to retire from his position. and noti-
fled the White House. President Taft
personally asked him to remain IL possi-
BILE. Mr. Leupp went to the White House
today with Secretary Ballinger. who has
earnestly desired him to continue his
work.
Senator Perkins. who is a director of
the College for Deaf Mutes. called on the
President today with DIR. f. NJ. Gallau-
invited the President to attend the ami
versary exercises cf the college in May
The President is the patron or the insti-
tuition. He said it would give him pleas
ure TO be present some time during the
exercises.
The President has withdrawn the nomi-
nation of Thomas r Lyon to be Judge
of the district court of Alaska. first di-
vision. and will hold the nomination pend
ing an investigation of charges made
against Mr.. Lyon.
Good Roads Convention.
Representative Pearre of Maryland
called on the President today to extend
an invitation to the chief executive to be
present at the annual convention of the
national good roads convention In Balti-
more some time in April or May, the date
TO be fixed to suit the convenience OF the
President. The officers Of the association
and the people OF Maryland greatly desire
the Presidents attendance, believing that
IL will give Impetus t. the good roads
movement. At the convention the bill of
Representative Pearre for national
memorial road 10 Lincoln from Washing
ton to Gettysburg will be considered
Mr. Pearre did no. see the President
owing TO the cabinet meeting and will
formally present the invitation tomorrow