Omaha daily bee., 1910-12-14
The Indioinl Annointmsnts.

AhV auuANAaA appointments
President Taft in the appointment
OF a chief justice and two associate
justices Of the United States supreme
court discharged one OF the gravest
duties devolving upon a chief execu-
tive. and II must be said that be has
discharged il well, and with as much
cause for general satisfaction as could
reasonably be expected to follow such
an important act His task was en-
iarged by the necessity of appointing
the members of the new court of COM
meree and two new interstate COM
merce commissioners.
Undoubtedly the president surprised
many by not naming former Governor
Hughes as chief justice, and yet the
promotion OF Associate Justice White
would seem to be more in keeping
with the natural dignity and character
of the solemn tribunal. The office
represents no additional power, but is
a recognition of long and able service
on the bench. Such a token would
seem to belong to an old member. In
this connection, of course, the point
will be raised that IL priority is.to gov
ern, Justice Harlan should have been
advanced instead Of Justice White. But
Justice Harlan while he is the Oldest
member of the court in point of serv-
ice. having been appointed In 1877, is
in his 18th year, and this Is undoubt-
eddy one reason why the president
favored Justice White. Both are
southern men, though Harlan is a re-
publican and White a democrat.
Mr.. Whites pro-federal ideas of gov
eminent marks Mr.. Taft's action as
rather a rebuke to some OF his critics,
who have feared he leaned too
strongly to state control in contradic-
ton to national.
The appointment of Judge Lamar of
Georgia gives the south four members
White, Lurton. Harlan and Lamar,
and with Vandevanter added, the west
has a fair representation. OF course,
geography has never been a con-
trolling factor in appointments to this
court any more than has politics. The
political complexion is two democrats,
Lamar end White, and seven rspub-
lieans. Both the new members, Van
devanter and Lamar-whose appoint
ments, II is assumed. will be confirmed
by the senate--have had what might
be regarded as special training to at
them for these high judicial duties,
and both are eminent in the legal pro-
fession. Lamar is a scion of one of
the Oldest southern families, another
member of which, L. Q. c. Lamar of
Mississippi, served in President Cleve-
lands cabinet. Both these appointees
should prove especially strong. Both
men stand high in their respective
communities or sections and are far
above the horizon of the ordinary,
and both have served as members of
the supreme courts in their own states,
Vandevanter acting as chief justice in
Wyoming,
President Taft discounted the fore
bodings that he would take Commits
siOners Lane and Prouty OF the Inter-
state Commerce commission and place
them in the new court OF commerce.
This undoubtedly will crafty the
shippers who have interests pending
before the commission and feel that
they would suffer had this change been
made. Chairman Knapp, who goes to
the new court, has been long in touch
with the problems that enter the great
question OF transportation in this
country, and his fitness from the
standpoint of qualification cannot be
questioned. The west gets another
liberal recognition in the appointment
Of Judge Garland of South Dakota. a
democrat, and Judge Hunt Of Montana
to the court Of commerce, destined to
be one of the most important judicial
functionaries of the country.