Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1910-12-12
Presidential Appointments.

chief Justice OF the United States, send |
ing the name OF White and the follow
ing additional judicial nominations to
the Senate for confirmation:
Judge Willis Van Deyanter, republi-t
can, now y. S. Circuit Judge in the
Eighth Circuit, to be associate justice
OF tho Supreme Court.
Judge Joseph Rucker Lamar, demo-
crat OF Georgia, former associate justice
of the Supreme Court Of Georgia, lead
ing member OF the southern bar, to be
associate justice Of the Supreme Court
OF the United States.
The following nominations Of new
members OF the Interstate Commerce
COMMISSIONERS to succeed Knapp,
and another to take the place OF COM
missioner Cockrell, whose term expires
on December 31-were also sent in:
Bathazer H. Meyer, OF Wisconsin,
economist and former member of the
Wisconsin Railway Commission.
G. C. McChord, OF Kentucky, now
president OF the National Association of
Railroad Commissioners and member
OF the Kentucky railroad commission.
Tho following to be the FIVE MEM
bers OF the Commerce Court:
Martin A. Knapp, now chairman OF
the Interstate Commerce Commission.
Robert W. Archibald, now U. S.
district Judge for the Middle district OF
Pennsylvania.
William II. Hunt, DOW Judge OF the
Court Of Customs Appeals.
John E. Garland. OF South Dakota.
Julian W. Mack, now judge OF the
Appellate Circuit Court of the First
Illinois district.
The selection OF two democrats, the
one to the highest judicial position
within the gift Of the nation, and the
other to an associate justiceship, en-
phasizes the reiterated statement by the
president that he desired to remove the
judicial department OF tho government
above the plane Of partisan politics. As
made complete by tho appointments OF
White: Van Devanter and Lamar, the
Supreme Court will include three dem
ocrats-Whito, Lurton and Lamar, and
six republicans.
Justice White, who now becomes the
head OF the highest court, is man OF
splendid attachments, renowned for the
lucujity of his opinions and reyered
for his mastery knowledge of the law.
President Taft's choice for the jul
dicial appointments marks the accom-
plishment of task which has been be-
fore the executive for several months.
Until Sunday, the president had made
no selection and was IS far from
choice rs he had been two weeks prev
ious.
He had tentatively determined 10 APP
point Associate Justice Hughes to be
chief Justice, but some protest against
this appointment was made by iurists
the ground of his inexperence ia ju-
dicial work.
It is probable that the Senate will
immediately confirm the presidents
nominations, in which case Justice
White and Judges Van Devanter and
Lamar will be sworn in to their new
places on the reconyeniug Of the
Supreme Court after its holiday recess,
on January =.
The law creating the Commerce
Court, as passed at the last session Of
Congress, provides for the appointment
OF five new circuit judges, and leaves
to the Chief Justice OF the Supreme
Court the designation Of five circuit
judges for she new court. Knapp.
Archibald, Hunt, Denison and Mack,
arc the new circuit judges appointed,
and they will be the circuit judges as
signed by the Chief Justice to the
Supreme Court. Knapp, has been
named by the president for FIVE
year term; Archibald, for four; Hunt,
for three; Denison, for two, aud Mack
for one,
The Interstate Commerce Commits
sion, which is left without its presiding
member by the promotion of Chairman
Knapp, will itself elect his successor.
1t was learned today that President
Taft up to yesterday expected to ap-
point Associate Justice Hughes to the
Chief justiceship. Opposition to
Hughes, it was learned, came from
judicial quarters and it is even hinted
that the members OF the Supreme
Court so far evercame their dignity as
to allow the word to he passed in
round about way to the president that
they would not be pleased. It is also
said that Wall street used its best
offices" to prevent Hughes from being
appointed.
Combinations OF tho nominations OF
Associate Justice White to be chief
justice Of the Supreme Court OF the
United States, and Frederick w. Leh-
mann, to be solicitor general OF the
United States, were voted at the e1ecu
tive session of the Senate today. Halt
an hour was devoted 10 the discussion
OF the two men. The courtesy Of i'm
mediate confirmation was accorded to
Justice White because lie was former
member of the Senate Prompt action
in the Lehman case was due TO the
fact that important cases awaiting trial
demand the immediate attention OF
solicitor general.
Chief Justice White this afternoon
issued the following statement:
The president and Senate have in
deed honored me, the One by nonli-
mating me and the other by confirming
me without reference as chief justice
Thnt il TO preside oyer the sessions Of |