New-York tribune., 1910-12-18
This Nations Most ADJUST Tribunal and It's Traditions
VetU| Chosen
Ninfbin UIuSfriouS of Eacb
Whom Hos JealousLp Guarded Dignity and
ON Court

7 tention with the argument of an attor-
ney
AS the bench grew in size it's dignity
seemed to increase, and the justices
either allowed the pangs of hunger to
/ remain unappeased or dropped out of
/ sight behind the bench and made off to
/ the nearby Senate restaurant. 1t was
not unusual for two or three of the court
to feel the necessity of food at the same
time and it was this that led to the
adoption OF a new rule.
An eminent attorney had been address,
ing the court for about two hours when
he suddenly stopped his argument and
announced that he could not continue
unless he was sure that he might have
the attention of his jury. THE per-
sCrnel Of the court" he said, "has been
changed twice since 1 first started my
argument 4 few days later it was an
nounced that a recess for luncheon
would be taken every afternoon from 2
to $50 o'clock.
The question of body servants is one
that has perpleXed many an appointee
to the Supreme bench. Just who
wished" the body servants on the jurists
is not known. These servants are much
in evidence and will probably be Off
ciating for years to come. They are a
, mighty galaxy. When one is appointed
he holds his position as long as he is
able to do the work which is required Of
him, which means until he dies. for his
sole duty seems to be to act as coat
carrier FOR the justice and at other times
as his mentor and tyrant. When
member of the court dies his body SER
want accepts the new justice. The new
Justice has no choice in the matter. He
must allow himself to be accepted and
huIIied and intimidated until such time
as he chooses to assert himself Then
things go along more smoothly.
Justice Woods once said that his body
servant was the one man in Washington
OF whom he was afraid and that he had
been for years summoning up his cour-
age to sass him" This has a tinge
of jocose eXaggeration, but it serves to
show that these nine negroes have alb
sorbed some dignity Of their own from
constant association with stern brOWs
and austere demeanor. Justice Hughes
is attended by the negro who served the
late Justice Brewer.
When the court is sitting the justices
wear black silk crowns which have been
made by the same tailoring establish
ment for wears Wigs were long ago
discarded, but to this day each justice
and lawyer finds at his place daily a .
freshly cut quill pen.
The duties of the Chief Justice are
more arduous than those of the asso-
ciate justices. He receives all the mo-
TONS which are made on Mondays, and
Gisposes of them. This often requires
many hours of work. All the members
OF the court however, consider every |
case. There is no specialization. Every |
word of testimony in each case is re- |
viewed by each member of the court. |
When the testimony has been digested |
2 series of conferences is held, at which |
the learned jurists sometimes exploit |
their different views with heated argu- |
ments Then the decision follows the |
vote.
In an article on THE Supreme Court |
of the United States in The Inde |
pendent" J. F Haig, who was the pri- |
vate secretary of Justic- H5rewer until |
the latters death, says:
"The Supreme Court of the United |
States, the court of last resort and pos |
sessing the power to overthrow an act of |
Congress by merely declaring it to be |
unconstitutional, is tucked away in a !
small room in the middle of the Capi- .
toI. between the Senate and the House |
of Representatives. The space within |
the rail reserved for counsel is so limited |
that when a big case is being argued |
there is barely room for the dozen coun-
sci at the tables. 1t would be difficult to |
find even a police court in any city SO |
poorly provided.
cZ CZ--