The Washington herald., 1912-08-09
TO ND
HARLAN S WIDOW
Bar Of thee. Supreme Court Asked
to Contribute $40, 900 for
Her Relief.
BOTH SONS HAVE FAMILIES

The bar Of the Supreme Court Of the
United States has been asked to con-
tribute $4,000 for the relief of the widow
and daughters Of the late Associate JUS
tice John M. Harlan.
This procedure was made necessary be-
cause of what Is described as ''the desti-
tute" condition Of Mrs Harlan and her
girls. More than l.00o lawyers through
out the country were asked 10 make con-
tributions of $500 each. and II is the belief
Of the men behind the movement, from
the returns already received, that no dif-
ficulty will be experienced in providing
the NEST egg desired.
Mr.. Harlan was known In legal circles
as "the honest judge" Upon his death
he left less than $500. Congress will ap-
propriate s1.,50o-equivaient to years
salary-for the benefit of Mrs. Harlan.
The Associate Justice left two sons-one.
John NJ. Harlan. who Is a practicing law
yer of Chicago, and the other. James ..
Harlan. a member of tie Interstate Com
merce Commission. who receives a salary
OF $4,000 a year.
Sons Have Families.
1t is explained, however. that both the
sons have families to support, and that
1t is desirable that Mrs. Harlan and
her daughters should have an independ-
ent income.
The Harlan case is regarded as proof
of the necessity of providing a pension
for the widows of public officials. Con-
gress will not make such a grant IN
Mrs. Harlan's case, however. because
precedent would thereby be established
which might be embarrassing in the fu-
ture.
The letter in the interest of Mrs. Harlan
sent to lawyers practicing before the
Supreme Court Is signed by Joseph H.
Choate Lewis Cass Ledyard. Elbrtdge T.
Young, William d. Guthrie. Victor Mora
witz Francis l.. Stetson. John l. Cad
wallader. William Nelson Cromwell. John
G. johnson, and Elihu Root. 1t says:
I'VE are credibly informed that Mr..
Justice Harlan, after his long. laborious,
and distinguished career OF thirty years
and more upon the bench. died leaving
his family wholly unprovided for, the
house In Washington, their home. being
mortgaged up to its full value. Outside
of that equity there is, as We are told,
less than $3.50. to which Congress prob
ably will add. as 1t did in the case of
Mrs. Brewer. a years salary OF sl2,5oo.
but that will only yield about $50 or
500
Propose to Give $500 Each.
I'VE do not think that the bar of the
Supreme Court should allow such a state
Of things to continue, or that the wife
and two daughters of the late justice
should be permitted TO remain in this
really destitute condition. Although We
did not always agree with Justice Har-
lans decisions. there is no doubt Of his
earnest and patriotic desire to discharge
the great duties Of his Office according to
his best lights.
Under these circumstances, We pro-
pose each to contribute. for the relief of
his family-that Is to say, of his wife and
two daughters-the sum of $500 in the
hope of raising for~eheir benefit not less
than $4,000. the same TO be placed in the
hands OF Charles Henry Butler. reporter
of the court, and OF the marshal of the
court jointly. in trust, to'apply the same
in their discretion to the use and benefit
of Mrs. Harlan and her daughters. either
principal or interest. or both.
Mrs. Harlan Is an aged lady, not much
younger, we believe, than her husband.
and the two daughters are of middle age,
but have not been qualified for any pro-
fession or business by which they could
earn their living. although they are now
struggling to do So"