Elmore County Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1910-1915, 1914-11-21
HAINES APPOINTS
JUDGE BULGE
OXFORD REFUSES TO ISSUE COM.
MISSION UNTIL COURTS PASS
ON DISPUTED MATTER

Alfred Bulge, judge OF the Fifth
JUDICIAL district, was Tuesday appoint
ed by Governor Haines to fill the un-
expired term of Justice Stewart, de-
ceased. He will not take office for
some days yet, however, for Mr.. Glf-
ford, as secretary OF state, has re-
fused to issue his commission. This
action was taken in order to get the
matter into the courts and to deter
mine in that manner the length OF the
term which may be filled by appoint
ment.
Judge Bulge has been in the city
some days in conference with the
governor and other members of the
administration. He was reluctant to
accept the position offered him on ac
count of the possibility that it might
give him that office for only the two
years until the next general election.
He has been assured, however, by
much weight that the appointment
will hold for the full four years re-
naming of the term to which Judge
Stewart was elected.
In order to make the matter GER
tain, his commission specifically stat,
ed that he was appointed to serve the
remainder of Judge Stewards term,
or until January /, 1919. Secretay Gift
ford then returned the notice Of ap-
polntment with a letter stating his
refusal to issue the commission on the
ground that he had no authority to
make the term longer than until the
next general election. To clear up the
matter the supreme court will prob
ably be acked for writ of mandate
to compel the issuance Of the CON-
mission. An early decision is expected
Another peculiar situation 1T raised
In the matter Of appointing success
sor to Judge Bulge ON the district
bench. The present term of the judge
On the district bench expires January
/, but the trouble Lies in that he has
been elected to succeed himself. 1t
thought by some that the appointee
of Governor Haines to fill that va
cancy will serve the remainder of the
present term and the two years of the
term to which Judge Bulge has just
been elected. Other opinion more in
the majority, holds that Governor
Haines, can only appoint to fill the un
expired term and that Mr.. Alexander
will have the full two-year term to
fill.
No applications for the place on
the district bench have been made to
the governor, but a number of eff
cent men have been named as
siOle cand dates. Foremost among
these are Judge Stanrod, who left
hls place On the public utilities com
MISSION just recently in order that he
might have more time to devote to
his private business The home of
Judge Stanrod is in Pocatello and his
devotion to property interests would
be Little interfered with If he should
accept the position ON the bench. The
bulk OF the cases heard in that dis
trict come to trial at Pocatello.
d. c. McDougall, attorney General
during the administration of Governor
Hawley, is prominently mentioned as
q candidate for the place. The gen.
eral would like to have the place on
the bench, say his friends, and 1T is
possible that he will be named. He
Ia a Republican. Should the appoint
ment be for but the six weeks of the
unexpired term, 1t is possible that
there will be no appointment made
until MIR. Alexander takes the oath
OF office and takes over the appoint
Ing power.