Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-01-11

GBEC JOURNAL, THURSDA
sturgis. Portland; R. o. Brewster. J. H
Howe, Portland; Leroy S. Hight, Herbert
Locke, James Boyle, Ralph Leighton,
Harold E. Cook. NJ. E. Sawtelle, Frank
Southland. Burleigh Martin, all of
Augusta; Ernest Goodspeed, Charles A.
knight. Everett H. Maxcy of Gardiner:
Guilford B. Butler, Rockland; G. A.
Hutchins, Mexico; A. l.. Blanchard,
Bangor; w. F. Merrill, Skowhegan:
Walter A. Cowan. Winterport. and H c.
Buzzell of Belfast. The reading of the
names by chairman of the membership
committee, Judge Wing, was approved
and handed to the secretary
Election Of Officers
Then the election of officers was an
nounced, and the list was read in the
following order:
President, John A. Morrill, Of Au-
burn; vice presidents, Augustine Sim
mons of Arson; Charles S. Cook of
Portland and Cyrus Blanchard of Will
ton. Secretary and treasurer, Norman
l.. Bassett of Augusta; executive COM
mittee. Ralph T, Parker of Rumford;
John w. Manson Of Pittsfield; Wallace
w. White, Jr., Of Lewiston; Edward F.
Merrill, Skowhegan, and Frank G.
harrington Of Augusta.
Following the casting Of the ballot
for the election of the officers by Sec
rotary Norman Bassett, a resolve was
introduced by Frank Southard, which
had been prepared at the suggestion Of
State Librarian Dunnack, as follows:
L move that the president Of the
Maine State Bar Association appoint
committee of three members of the
association to make survey of the
State law library and recommend such
alterations as in their Judgment
would increase the efficiency of the IL
brary." This was passed. but the APP
appointments We're not made at that
trime.
Whitehouse Resolve
A resolve was also introduced by
Former Chief Justice William Penn
Whitehouse in regard to the appoint
ment of clerks OF the judicial courts,
and Judge Whitehouse spoke at some
length on the resolution. which favor
ed the appointment of the clerks by
the court. Judge Wing also spoke
| briefly III favor of this resolution. and.
after Benedict F. N1aher of Augusta
had moved that the resolve he extend
ed so as to include the reporter of de-
clsiors, Hon. l.. T. Carleton moved
that committee Of three be appointed
| by the Chair to present the resolution
, to the Legislature. This was carried,
but the appointments for the commit
tee were not made at that time
The resolve introduced by Judge
Whitehouse follows:
Resolved, that it is the sense of this
meeting that the clerks of our judicial
courts should hereafter be appointed by
the Justices of the Supreme Judicial
Court or majority of them, and hold
Office for the term Of four years unless
removed by said justices for cause: all
such clerks now in office to continue to
hold office. until the expiration of the
term for which they were elected. or
until a vacancy occurs from some other
cause.
If this resolution is adopted as
hope it will be, | shall move for the
appointment of committee of the
members of this Bar Association to
present the matter to the committee Of
the Legislature to which the bill may
be referred.
1t is provided by existing statutes
that clerks of the judicial courts shall
be elected by the people in the same
manner as is provided respecting coun-
ty commissioners. but to hold office for
the term of four years; and that the
clerk of the judicial courts shall be
clerk of the county commissioners
l am assured that this resolution is
| in no respect inspired by any partisan
spirit, and that there is no objection
to it whatever on the part Of any Of
the clerks of the judicial courts now in
office whatever their political afilia-
lions may be; all recognizing an ap-
pointment by the justices as not only
the most appropriate method of creating
these coordinate agencies Of the court
but the method manifestly designed to
attract capable and suitable applicants
for the Office and to elevate the stand
ard of efficiency after they are indicted
into office.
The simple statement Of the propo-
sition would seem to be the only argu-
ment required in it's support. From
the establishment of our government to
the present time. the administration of
justice has been properly deemed the
highest function and the chief end and
purpose of human society 1t has been
the steady aim and constant care of all
! thoughtful and judicious people to keep
their judicial courts and all the i'm
portant agencies of the courts absolutely
removed from the domain and influence
of partisan politics Clerks of the Fed
eral Courts have uniformly been ap-
pointed by the Federal Judges, and
have been prohibited from active par
ticipation in the conflicts of political
parties; and they have been subject to
removal. for cause, by the Federal
Judges.
Thus the clerks of the Federal
Courts depend for their appointment
upon their qualifications for the office,
and for their continuance in office upon
their proven efficiency in that service,
end not in either case upon their politi-
cal activities in support of any party.
The relations between the court and
the clerks are of such an intimate and
confidential nature that inefficiency in
a clerk is liable to involve the efficiency
of the court itself. 1t is common
knowledge that matters Of a most i'm