The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-09-24
ADOPT MEMORIAL
 FOR SOMERVILLE

Friends of the late Judge IT. M. Somer- vile, who died in New York, will be interested in the following memorial adopted by the board of United States general appraisers upon his death:
 Our colleague and co-worlser Hender- son M. Somerville, died on the 10th day of September, 1915. He had been a mem- Der of the board of United States gen. eral appraisers since it's creation in 1S90 having been appointed by President Har- rison. He was at the time of his ap- pomtment, and for 10 years previously had been, judge of the supreme court o1 Alabama, the court of last resort in that state. His name had been suggested to President Harrison for appointment to fhei supreme court of the United States, and the Attorney General reported to the President, after examining his opinions as reported in the Alabama reports, that they marked him as an able. strong and virile judge, qualified for any judicial position The President was unable to appoint him to the supreme bench, and offered him the position of a United States general appraiser, from which it will ap- pear that the appointment came to him purely because of merit; and we feel that we can truthfully say that no appoint ment to public office has been more amply jutified.
 ''The work for which the board was created, to-wit: the settlement of ques- tions growing out -~of1 customs duties by Judicial hearing and decisions, had never been undertaken either in this or any other country. 1t appealed to Judge Som- erville, and he brought to the task both learning and adaptability, the ripe ex- perience of a judge. and the strong pur- pose of an honest and rugged nature. It fell to him, by reason of his great learning and wide experience, to shape in large measure the policies and prac- tices of the board; and that 1t is today performing a highly important and use ful function in the administration of cus- toms affairs is due perhaps more to him and his intelligent and unceasing ef- forts than to any other person.
 The field of his labors and his use- fitness was varied. His work was always done quietly, modestly and effectively and whether as dean of the law school of the University of Alabama, as a judge of the supreme court of that state, as member of the board of United States general appraisers, or as holder of other public and important positions which he was called upon to occupy. his influence was always for good. He has left his mark upon the pages of the history of his country. so that we can truly say the world is better for his having lived in 1t.
 We. his colleagues. delight to honor his memory by placing upon the record of this tribunal testimony of the high regard in which we held him. We'll be- yond the allptted age of threescore years and ten he has been called to that "un- discovered country from whose bourn no traveller returns" He lived quietly, per- formed his duties worthily without os- tentation or show, and as quietly passed away. leaving us to mourn a true and upright gentleman, a ripe scholar, and a kind and loving friend We will miss him as a friend and companion. as we'll as an associate and colleague.
 Resolved, That the foregoing be spread upon the minutes of the board and an engrossed copy sent to his bereaved wife, Mrs. Somerville."