The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-04-26


Albany April 25.-Gov. Charles E.
Hughes has decided TO accept President
Tafts appointment as Associate Justice
OF the United States Supreme Court. in
preference TO returning to the practice OF
the law in New York City on January /
next
Gov. Hughes is on record not only In
favor Of President Taft's succeeding him
self, but against the governor himself &C
ceptlng a third nomination. on the ground
that his personal fortune will not stand
any further drain Of public Office
The salary Of governor Is $4,000. and
that Of a United States Supreme Court
Justice $3.50 TIE latter salary is 20 be
Increased shortly TO 1880. Gov. Hughes
feels that IN accepting this life appoint
ment from President Tart he VIII be able
10 live within his income.
Salary Not Big Enough.
The news that Gov. Hughes had accept
ed President 'Tafts appointment came
with some surprise TO his friends. who
We're always mindful that the governor
felt $4,000 Il year was hardly enough for
a governor 10 live on. and who did not
believe he would accept any other kind
of a position which paid him only $500
more-not even a place on the United
States Supreme Court bench. They have
felt all along that he would be compelled
to run again for governor.
The rank and file OF the Republican or
ganization in this state voiced their sent
ments more freely tonight than they had
done in four years The decision Of Gov.
Hughes 20 go upon the bench OF the
highest tribunal I'm the country was wei
come news. Some OF the Hughes speeches
that were booked for the support OF the
next Republican candidate for governor
may be missed, but Il was the general
opinion among the party leaders that the
governor had not only suited himself, but
had pleased "A large number OF his friends.
and practically all OF his enemies, by get
ting out Of the political situation in this
State.
Tired of New York Politics.
To his friends who were curious TO
know why lie would go 10 Washington
for the judicial Office and not 20 back 10
the practice OF law in New York City, the
governor made il plain that he was not
anxious TO make money. He wanted 10
get out OF the excitement Of public life.
He is sick and tired Of being governor /
Of this state. does not want 10 go 20 the
United states Senate, does not want 20
go down 10 New York and open q law
Office and have 10 be bothered building up
a practice again. and other attending an
noyances which the governor believes
would follow him for a long time al
least into private life. The governor be-
leves the salary Of justice Of the United
States Supreme Court viii be increased
20 $3.50 and with that and the life
tenure IN Office he viii be satisfied.
AS Gov Hughes Will ascend the
Supreme Court bench in Washington at
the beginning Of the second week in
October, he VIII not be a factor in next
fails campaign IN New York State nor
viii he participate IN il IN any way.
When Gov Hughes resigns In October, he
will be succeeded as governor by Lieut.. /
Gov. Horace White. Of Syracuse. who
will act as governor until January next.
Ills purpose E1Ned.
Gov. Hughes Will not say how long he
has had the prefer OF the place on the
Supreme Bench under consideration. or
whether it was suggested TO him NJ the /
time OF President Taft-s recent visit In !
Albany when the President was the gov /
ernor's guest at the executive mansion. /
II any consideration more than others
lob
decision it was that the position he was /
20 take fixed his purposes and his work /
for the remainder OF his life. and that in I
accepting the Presidents offer he was
not prevented from practically being per-
mitteG 10 serve out the term as governor /
Of the State for which the people elected I
him.
Gov. Hughes has told his friends that /
there never was a time when the work OF /
the United States Supreme Court was 1
more important than At this time The I
governor is now in the prime Of his life. /
forty-eight years Old, and the chances are !
that he wiz have twenty or more years
OF work on the Supreme Bench. He is !
thirty years younger than Justice Harlan. |
II was under his first term as governor 1
that Mr.. Hughes vetoed the two-cent /
fare bill for steam railroads at a time
when many legislatures and many ex-
ecutives were yielding TO the clamor for /
such measures. He vetoed It on the
ground that no proper inquiry into
conditions had been made as a basis
for the measure. Gov. Hughes followed
up his veto Of the two-cent fare bill by
MI
opposes Race Track Gambling.
In the second year Of his first term he
declared that open betting on the races
was a disgrace to the State. and then. in
a tour Of the State. appealed TO the people
to demand the law aimed at race track
betting, a law which was passed al a
special session after one OF the hottest
Of regular sessions.
The Public Service Commission law was
another law put through by Gov. Hughes
AT the end Of his first term he declared
In favor Of direct primary nominations.
and again stirred up a fight throughout
the State. Thus far the legislature had
not adopted this demand Of Gov. Hughes.
He won the last campaign over Lewis
Chanler by 69,462 votes. Be
fore making his own campaign in this
state. he spoke for Taft in the Middle
West. and was credited by the Republican
managers with having made
many votes for the national ticket.
IN the course Of his campaign Gov.
Hughes came out for the popular election
Of United States Senators. This was in
answer to some questions put TO him by
Mr. Chanler. his opponent