The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1910-07-29
HUGHES MAY REVERSE
ORDER OF THINGS
First Chief Justice Resigned to be
Governor of n. Y.-Hughes to
Resign to be Justice.

Nhid = IL. s resign The COVER
norship of New York to become cn,-,f
justice of the United States it would
prove that history, which repeats IT.
self, also reverses itself for John jay
the first chief justice of the United
state I, signed that honorable lob
in order to accept the govcrnorship
of New York. That was back IN
1875.
While the talk of Hughes In con-
nection with the appointment IS
mostly favorable. there is also some
opposition. One objection to Hughes
is based on the claim that he lacks
experience in the supreme court.
having tried only n case before
that great tribunal. His friends,
however, point out that this should
not bar him from consideration IN
view of the fact that Chief Justice
John Marshall. whose decisions gave
life to the Constitution, had tried
only one case in the court before Re
was chosen as its presiding Judge.
When President Taft names the
lev chief justice he will create a
world figure. The position will con-
fer h a distinction on the man even
though he be not renowned for nj,
own talents. The appointment will
place him at the head of one of the
three coordinate branches of the
government, a station more exalted
IN the minds of many men that the
presidency itself.
The term Of office will be subject
to the pleasure of the chief justice.
He may retire at the age of 70 years
or continue in the service. until
death. Whether active or retired he
will receive, full salary which, under
existing law, is $4,000 a ear.
\ Hn1 prescribed f.. the chief
justice, aside from those pertaining
to the court, is that he shall pre-
side at the impeachment of a presi-
dent. That experience came to Chief
Justice Morrison r. Waite, who wss
called upon to preside at the i'm
peachment of President Andrew
Johnson.
A salute of II guns is accorded tn
i'm by the military regulations.
lie is a central figure every four
years when, in the presence of count
less thousands of his countrymen he
administers the oath to the incoming
president of the United States. His
presence there helps to dignity the
inauguration ceremony but it is not
essential. An oath taken by the pres
ident before a notary public would
be Just as binding.
Honors come to him in many
ways. He is chosen to arbitratc
controversies between nations and 1.
assist in the negotiation Of treaties
Great institutions feel honored b.
his patronage.
h oath subscribed to by a chief
justice of the United States at his
installation, is as follows:
II do solemnly swear that I vii.
administer justice without respect t.
persons. and do equal right to tn.
poor and to the rich, and that I will
faithfully and fmpartially discharge
ahi perform all the duties incum
bent on me as chief justice of tn.
United States according to the hes
of my abilities and understanding
agreeably to the constitution AMI
laws Of the United States, So het,
me Cod"
1t is an Interesting coincidenc,
that several of the chief justice.
have entered upon their duties a
times when new questions of tn,
gravest importance confronted tn,
country. In the time of Ma-.hal
who became chief justice in 1901
the great problem was the construc
ton OF the constitution. and his de
cisions shaped the course of the re
public. 1t developed upon Marshal
to place in effect the intentions o
those who made the constitution
Some Of the men who assisted :,
the construction of that great instru
ment differed with the Judge as t,
what the intention of the construct
ors had been but it was MARSHALL
opinion that counted.
1t vas Marshall who first assert
ed the right Of the supreme court t
declare invalid acts Of congress that
in the opinion Of the court. were i,
conflict with the constitution. H
created the American system of 1nris