The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1910-01-10
Judae o. N. Barber.

President Taft's appointment OF o.
NJ. Barber rs one of the judges OF the
new United States customs court OF
appeals is a recognition OF merit
which will be received with satisfac-
ton wherever the gentlemm
ton wherever the gentleman from
Bennington is known Judge Barber
is highly qualified for the duties OF
his new position and is in the prime
of mature manhood at 80 years OF
age. He as a wide and accurate
knowledge of law, gained as the rep
resentative of personal and corporate
interests through a long term OF
years, and he possesses the grasp,
poise and analytical qualities of mind
and the fairness and discrimination
in reaching conclusions which will
make him a valued member of the
newest federal tribunal. Judge Bar
Der was born in Jamaica, attended
Leland and Gray seminary and other
educational institutions in his boy
hood. studied law at the office OF }.
X. Batchelder in Arlington and in the
Albany law school and was admitted
TO the bar in 1882. He practiced In
Arlington until 1896 and since then
mis- office has been in Bennington. II c
has been before the public as a mem
| ber~o both branches of the legisla-
| ture. railroad commissioner and state
| auditor He was a member OF the
commission TO revise the Vermont
statutes i'm 1924 and chairman OF
the committee which published them
/ in 1894. His activities outside Of his
! law practice have also brought him
prominently before the people and
he has been generally recognized as
a strong, energetic and progressive
man.
His associates in the new court
will be A. c. Coke, federal justice in
New York City and an expert judge
on customs eases, chief, James f.
Smith, until recently governor gen
eral of the Philippines; Federal
Judge Hunt of Montana, formerly
governor of Porto Rico and Marian
Devries of the board of general ap
praisers of New York.
The customs court of appeals will
sit wherever it may designate but it
is probable that New York as the
main port of entry Of the country,
will be the place where it is called
upon to do much Of its business The
court will be the tribunal of last
resort in cases involving large sums
Of money paid in duties. The judges
will receive $4,000 a year or $4,000
more than is now paid the federal
circuit court judges.
Judge Barber's appointment re-
fleets credit upon the Vermont Con
gressional delegation which backed
| his candidacy enthusiastically. Gen.
Frank S. Streeter of Concord. n. H.,
formerly a Republican national com
mitteeman, was regarded as a strong
candidate but the New Hampshire
senators seemed to be Indifferent to
him. Gen. Streeter by the way, is a
former Vermonter and is president
of the Connecticut River Power com
pany, which has spent over $3,00O,00O
in establishing the Vernon-Hinsdale
plant which will develop $4,000 horse
power
The sturdy rock-rlbbed town Of
Jamaica maintains its reputation as
the mother of judges in the appoint
ment of Judge Barber. 1t was the
birthplace Of the new Judge, Judge
Watson of the present Vermont su-
preme court, Superior Judge e. L..
Waterman and +. NJ. Butler and the
late Hon. l.. NJ. Read of Bellows
Falls for many years Judge of pro-
bate. The late Judge Hoyt II.
Wheeler was not a native of Jamaica
but he practlced law there before en-
tering upon his long career as a
Judge in the state and federal courts.
-Brattleboro Phoenix.