The Washington herald., 1910-12-18
MOST DIGNIFIED TRIBUNAL
Hall of the Supreme Court flushed and NoiseIesS
CathedraI-Its History and It's Justices.

had provided no adequate punishment for
this terrible offense and the justices
were forced to condone il. but as Justice
Washington afterward solemnly said:
II believe Henry Clay TO be the only
man in the United States who would
have dared to take such a liberty"
A Slight 40 the Justices.
Nobody has taken a liberty with the
Supreme Court since. but a catastrophe
happened al the White House during the
Roosevelt administration shortly after
the ministers of ten great nations were
raised 10 ambassadors. II was the Gus
tom until President Taft entered the
White House to give a special reception
in honor of the Supreme Court during the
official season. This had been preceded
by reception 10 the diplomatic corps. in
which the ambassadors, being the guests
Of honor, had precedence. 1t was noticed
that there was a sparse sprinkling Of the
justices on the occasion. On the evening
of the reception in honor OF the Supreme
Court the justices assembled. ready, as
guests Of honor. TO be received by the
President and Mrs. Roosevelt To their
horror. however, along came string OF
ambassadors, who coolly walked in and
We're presented IN advance of the SUI
preme Court
But that was not the worst OF IL All
diplomats arc fierce stickiers for prece-
dence, and as the tail Of the last ambas-
sador's coat passed into the Blue Room
the minister next in rank was treading
on the ambassadors heels It became
impossible TO check the line OF diplomats.
who followed each other rapidly, while
the nine justices OF the Supreme Court,
II whose honor the reception was sup
posed TO be given, were cooling their
heels on the other side OF the door.
His Cutting Apology.
The Chief Justice made a cutting apOl-
ogy for the delay. and every justice as
he shook hands with the President did
the same. The next day Chief Justice
Fuller and Justice Harlan. the senior
justice on the bench, went to the White
House and had an interview with Presi-
dent Roosevelt They did not do a thing
TO HIM President Roosevelt explained
that 1t was an accident. but the Chief
Justice and Justice Harlan in their turn
carefully eXr ,-ined that il was an acct
dent that coGid not happen twice. Presi-
dent Roosevelt assured the Chief Justice
and Justice Harlan that the catastrophe
should not happen again Since then no
further catastrophes have occurred.
At the New Years Day receptions at
the White House an arrangement is
made which puts the Supreme Court aft
er the ambassadors. but the Vice Presi-
dent and the Cabinet have precedence
over the ambassadors and diplomatic
corps, so that the ambassadors DO nc.
have II all their own way.
Strictly a Judicial One.
When the President entertains the Su-
preme Court at dinner no ambassadors
are asked. and the dinner is strictly a
judicial one. The ehairmen of the House
and Senate Judiciary committees and
members OF the committees are asked,
the Attorney General and other distin-
g1ished judges and lawyers In seating
| justices of the Supreme Court at dinner
private or Official. they take precedence
! OF Cabinet officers and OF every one ex-
| cept the Vice President. If there are two
OF more justices at dinner they are given
precedence in the order Of their seniority
on the bench.
The salary Of the Chief Justice is SIS
| 500 and that OF the associate justices Sl2-
co. This. of course, leaves no margin
/ for extravagant living, and unless a jus
/ tlce mas private fortune ne Is compelled
70 live modestly. Comparisons are often
made between the splendid salaries OF
| English judges and the modest stipends
| of the Supreme Court of the United
States, but there has never been any diff
! hculty in getting lawyers Of the highest
ability to accept seat upon the Supreme
! bench. The idea has always been that
the honor is so great the emolument is
secondary.
Justices are eligible for retirement on
| full pay at seventy years of age. There
are two retired justices living-Justice
Brown. who lives in Washington and
Justice Shiras, who lives in Pennsylvania.