New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-12-12

WAS the youngest man on the DtiiSii' on"
that his opportunity for promotion would
come later. when he would have had
the advantage OF the maturing expert
>r1ce of having served several years on
the bench.
President Wants Court Reform
II is known that the President sees in
Governor Hughes most Of the qualities
that he believes essential in Chief
Justice. Young, vigorous. possessing
great executive ability and with progress
xss-e ideas Mr.. Hughes was looked on
as the man who could do much 10 bring
sbout reform in judicial proceedings
81, this country. Mr.. Taft regards court
reform as an imperative necessity in
TIRE United States He has made strong
representations the subject i'm his
message 10 Congress and is hopeful that
something substantial can be accom-
plished during his administration. If
the President could have his way, his
administration would be notable in his
tory for having accomplished something
toward making court litigation less
costly and less tedious.
Mr. Taft has been most careful in
making his selections Of Judges and he
>rasliy was impressed by the objection
Of inexpericnce OF Justice Hughes. espe-
cially inexperience on the bench. AL
w5Ys coupled with the criticism of Mr..
Hughes as chief justice was the high
est praise for the former Governor as a
man and as an associate justice. No
appointment the President has made ha.
caused mere favorable comment
The opposition TO Mr.. Hughes as Chief
Justice at this time the ground OF in
experience came not only from the
Presidents advisers il Washington but,
on the principle of the proposed appoint
naent, from The bar and from among the
Judges of the various courts Justice
Hughes already is very popular among
the judges OF the Supreme Court. and it
IS not believed THAI they took any part
in the arguments placed before the
President.
Eliminating Justice Hughes from pro-
motion. and eliminating all suggestions
made from outside tire court, President
Taft IT IS said, turned naturally TO Jus
-ice White. IN doing 80 he tiisregarded
all political considerations
So far as Washington could recall to-
right this is the first time that a Chief
Justice Of = political faith opposite TO
that Of the administration has ever been
appointed
Took Part IN Standard Oil Case.
Judge Van Devanter. who IS pretty
generally conceded tonight to be one
o. President Taft's selections as an as
sociate justice of the Supreme Court.
took part in the now famous Standard
Oil decision rendered In the Eighth Cir
cult Mr. Taft debated for some time as
70 the prorriety of taking a judge from
this circuit and elevating him 80 the
Supreme bench. where he must pass
again Oh the evidence in the Standard
OIL cases. But as courts often reverse
themselves. Mr.. Taft felt that If new
evidence justified such = course, a man
might also reverse himself
Judge Van Devanter is regarded as
.minently fair and just Those were
Inc qualities the President was seeking
in his candidates. Judge Van Devanter
is regarded 2s = high authority in land
eases. lie served on the Wyoming Su-
l.re:ac Court for 4 number Of years and
for seven years was an assistant attor-
10y general.
Illage Lamar. OF Georgia. the Demo-
crat Who is said 10 have been selected.
has personally been known 10 the Presi-
d.nt for a number Of years. Mr.. Taft
early decided that one OF the new as
sociat@ justices should be q Democrat
J1dre lamar served TWO and a half
Years the Supreme Court OF Georgia
and now Is one of the leading members
\ 81 the Southern bar. His appointment
II Uiil bring The Democratic representation
on she Supreme Court up TO three mem
hers. the others being the new chief
justice Mt White, and Justice Lurton,
Of Tennessee. The total membership Of
tho court j. nine.
The new Chief Justice is regarded ny the
bar Of the Supreme Court of the
sbiaEt and fairest men who ever occupied
place the nations highest court. He
was sixty-fye years old last month. a man
of very positive character. he has taken
prominent part in all The great cases which
have been before the court IN his time, and
has written some OF the ablest opinions in
she leading cases decided ny the court in
giae lest fifteen years.
Justice White WAS corn IN the parish Of
Lafcurche, Ia. in November, 1876. His edu-
cation was acquired AT three wei known
institutions of the Roman Catholic Church:
Mount St Nary's School, near Enmetts-
burg Mo: tlae Jesuit College. in New Or
leans. and Georgetown College. in the Dis
rrict OF Columbia. Before ne reached man.
mood the Civil War broke out and he en-
tered and served IN the Confederate Army.
ON the return of peace he began the study
Of law and in 1865 was admitted 10 the
har in Louisiana. Six years later he was
elected &c the Senate OF that state, 10 which
BODY he ranked among the leaders; and in
1875 he was appointed an Associate Justice
OF the Supreme Court Of Louisiana. tie was
elected 10 the United States Senate. as d
Democrat to succeed James b. Eustis, and
look his seat on March 4. 1891
when he was still q young man, scarcely
ont OF his teens his father died leaving
g mortgage of SO. 600 on his plantation IN
Louisiana There was q flaw IN the mort
gage. witch young White might have taken
advantage OF and avoided payment This
H. refused 10 do, and offered To give the
entire plantation, q most valuable prop
s4-,,. 70 extinggIish his fathers debt The
-reditors. pleased with the young man