Evening star., 1925-05-01
BECK'SSUCCESSOR
SOON TO Be NAMED
Solicitor General Lauded by
Coolidge in Voicing Regret
at Resignation.

Formal announcement of the resig
nation of James NJ. Beck as solicitor
general and its acceptance was made
at the White House last night, and
at the same time 1t was intimated
that a successor will be named by
President Coolidge without any great
delay.
Concurrently Solicitor General Beck S
letter to the President and the lat
ter's answer, in which he expressed
deep regret at losing Mr.. Beck, and
in which he commended the latter
for faithful and distinguished service,
were made public.
These letters follow:
Dear Mr.. President:
Next month / shall have completed
Al years in the practice of my pro-
fession, of which Is have been given
to the service of the Government in
the Department of Justice.
During the last four years 1t has
been my great privilege to be the
solicitor general of the United States.
No position, to a lawyer, should be
more enviable; but when l explain
to you that l have had charge for
the Government of 983 cases in the
Supreme Court during the last four
years, and have at times, through
force of circumstances, performed the
double duty of Acting Attorney Cen
eral and solicitor general, you will
appreciate that the work has meant
a very great strain to my eyesight,
which has never been of the best.
Stayed Through Loyalty.
"Tt was for this reason that about
a year ago | explained to you my de-
sire to retire from an office which
otherwise it would be a great salts
faction to me to continue to hold. Cir
20, -flh MI
made it a matter of loyalty for me to
continue in my Office during trying
period, when the Department of JUS
tice was under attack.
LAS that has now ceased, with the
confirmation of the new Attorney Gen
eral, l am writing to tender my resig-
nation as Solicitor General of the
United States. AS l want to be of any
assistance that is in my power to the
new Attorney General in the first days
of his administration, l suggest that
my resignation be effective at your
convenience.
Under other circumstances, l
should prefer to remain as Solicitor
General until the completion of the
present term of the Supreme Court in
June, but after the hard work of the
last four years l want to get a good
rest before resuming the practice of
my profession in Washington and
New York.
with an abiding appreciation of
your many courtesies 70 me, and with
the hope and expectation that, in or
out of public office, l can continue in
some way to serve your administra-
ton and the public, l am, dear Mr..
President,
Yours faithfully,
(SignedD JAMES NJ. BECK"
Coolidge Regrets Loss.
The Presidents reply follows:
"My dear Mr.. Solicitor General:
"I have your recent letter express
ing once more your desire to retire
from the post of Solicitor General as
soon as may be convenient. On sew
eral earlier occasions within the past
year you have indicated to me your
wish to retire. and l am, therefore,
constrained to acQuieSce, much as
regret your loss from the public serv
ice.
Having in mind that there are
some important cases which you
have prepared for presentation in the
Supreme Court, and recalling your
generous assurance to me of your
willingness to remain until they may
be argued, I accept your resignation
to take effect when your successor
shall have been appointed and shaN
have qualified This arrangement
will insure to the Government the
advantage of having you represent
1t in the pending important matters.
Beck's Work Inspiration.
''In accepting your resignation 1
wish to make particular acknowl-
edgment of the faithfulness and dis
tinguished ability with which you
have discharged the duties of your
high position. Your record as Solic-
itor General will stand as one of the
notable proofs that the Government
is so many times fortunate in being
able to enlist the most eminent of
talents and highest fidelity, not be-
cause of the compensation but be-
cause of the fine sentiments of
patriotism which animate these who
thus do honor to the public service.
At a great sacrifice to yourself in
everything save only reputation, you
have given your splendid energy and
exceptional capacity to the further
ance OF the national interests. Con-