The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-04-26
Appointment of New York
Governor to Supreme
Bench Commended.
IT STARTS A NEW
PARTY LINEUP
Removes g Presidential Possibility
and Makes Roosevelt Domi-
na1t in New York.
By JOHN SNURE.

Widespread comTendation is heard IN
Washington today. among Republicans
and Democrats alike. over the action Of
President Taft iu appointing Gov.
Charles +. Hughes. OF New York. 70 Ell
the vacancy IN the Supreme Court left
by the death Of Justice DAVID J. Brewer
II IS doubtful II any act - 2Ir- Taft
since he has been President 4 as been 80
generally commended
II is recognized everywhere that the
appointment IS one OF tremendous i'm
D0rtanCe- II IS Impossible as YET TO es-
riDiare its consequences It comes at z
time when the Supreme Court has before
Il some OF the greatest cases IN its his
tory. A rehearinr has been ordered in
the Standard Oh case and the Tobacco
trust case. two causes that VII cal for
Interpretation Of The Sherman antitrust
law IN many phases never passed on By
the Supreme Court
As justice, Gove-nOr Hughes viii par
ticipate IN these cases With the court
about evenly divided. the question OF
how the cases viii go may practically
rest on him
Important Pending Cases
II is probable the validity Of the Heu-
burn law VIII be passed on without his
participation, but there VIII be railroad
law controversies q The utmost no
ment before the court in no great length
OF tine. especially = Congress- ussSas
the railroad BIZ which IS now pending
IN both houses
The next few years are likely to bring
before the court cases involving the
relations Of the great corporations and
combinations O wealth OF more imDo-.
r4ree tn at any Previous tine IN shs
historz -of ha couutry- how far Con
sress can so with constructive Iezfslz-
ton touca.'=ss such questions win n
ehe last ANALYSIS rest with the C p
The income tax question ray co--a
before tlu court again at no diz.ant
date
Effect on New York Politics.
Not only with respect 70 the question
Of how the appointment VIII affect the
bench but on account Of its political
effect n New York State is the appoint
ment or Governor Hughes looked on here
as OF unusual interest and Importance.
Governor Hughes VIII not 20 on the
bench until the October term He wal
Be confirmed without delay. but Uiu
remain in the gOvernOrshl2 through he
ne WIN be elinf1xted after next fan
as q political factor in New York BY
reason Of the fact he Is 20 50 On the
bench It IS not expected he VIII cut
much figure N the coming campaign Ia
his State The view generally taken
here IS Ihat with Hughes eliminated
the hand Of Roosevelt vli bee iu unre-
stricted charge OF the Ne@ Io-E cam
Caign.
Under Roosevelt win be men who are
close in his confidence It Is expected
especially that Collector William loeb.
jr-- VIII have a prominent par1 in the
campaign He may be chosen 20 lcad u
and fl would cause no surprise here tr
ne were picked on for the go ernorshin-
Might Have Been President
Governor Hughes friends have looked
On him az q man who would some dav
be nominated for President His ap-
pointrnent TO the Supreme Court re-
moves him from such consideration
Had he not been appointed. and had Mr.
Taft not been reR0minated IN 1912, Gov
ernor Hughes would undoubtedly have
been a factor IN the next Presidential
pre-cOnvention situation
The appointment Of Governor Hughes
has come as a surprise tp the extent
that Z vas not believed here he would
accept the appointment. II was known
that the President would teTder him the
place. But many OF the admirers OF
Governor Hughes thought he would con-
slider himself too poor to go on the
bench at the present salary and that he
would 70 into the practice OF law gain
and earn some money for the support OF
his family In his old age
Tired Of Politics
It appears. however. that Governor
Hughes IS tired Of the turmoil Of poll
tics for which he never had am. great
taste and that he had no linking for the
idea OF going back 10 New York city
and building Up a law practice again
President Taft rendered the appoint
ment 70 Governor Hughes april 2
Governor Hughes accepted by letter.
dated April q The President himself
had not been very sanguine that Gov
ernor Hughes would accept He was
anxious to have him 10 al the place
Of Justice Brewer, and ~ the Cabinet
meeting last Friday II was The feeling
Of the members without exception that
Governor Hughes was the man for the
The President received word Of the
acceptance at 3 O'Clock yesterday after
noon. and ne lost no time IN sending the
nomination 10 the Senate Il was re-
ceived by that body about 4.30. The
news soon spread around among the
Senators and aroused great interest IL
also soon found its way to the Supreme
Court and caused the justices to dis
cuss it IN animated fashion and favor
sTi7e nomination has gOne to the Senate
Judiciary Committee, where il viii be
ordered reported favOrably without any
great delay. i vii then Dc confirmed
BY the Senate before the session Of Con
gress ends. but not before the end OF
the Nav term OF the Supreme Court
No opposition TO confirmation IS looked
for
The question which IS being widely
discussed BY lawyers and members
OF Senate and House in general is
whether. as justice, Governor Hughes
will be lined up with the cOnServa tfveS
OF the bench. or the liberals. In some
quarters. there is a fear that he viii
prove conservative
This fear is based on the fact that
I