Evening star., 1928-12-21
PRESIDENT SIGNS
NEW JUSTICE BILL
HaIf-Dozen Candidates Al
ready in FieId-Rover May
Get Attorneyship.

President Coolidge today signed the
bill providing for the additional justice
for the Supreme Court of the District
of Columbia, thus creating another ap-
pointive post which he must fill in the
near future. The other is the United
States attorneyship. which was made
vacant when he elevated Justice Peyton
Gordon to the supreme bench nearly q
year ago, and which has since been
filled temporarily by Leo A, Rover, who
was Mr.. Gordon's principal assistant
in the United States attorneys Office.
There is reason to feel certain that
Mr.. Rover's chances of receiving this
appointment are excellent. 1t is known
that the President looks favorably upon
hts conduct of the Office since he has
been in charge, and Attorney General
Sargent, who has personally watched
MFR Rover's work, has expressed him
self as being pleased with the results.
Committee Backs Proctor.
1t Is known, however, that the Re-
publican State committee has been in
sisting on the appointment OF James
M. Proctor, whom it recommended fol
this important Federal position. Local
Republicans opposed Mr.. Rover'S ap-
pointment when 1t was first known
that he was being considered for ap-
pointment as Judge Gordon's successor
At the time the opposition was based
to some extent, upon the charges that
Mr. Rover was not Republican. But
the insistence on the part of the Re-
publican State committee In its support
of Mr. Proctor was said to have been
prompted solely because the members
of the committee considered their can
didate as the best qualified for the
United States attorneyship.
Mr. Rover was placed temporarily a.
the head of the u. S. Attorneys Office
by an order of the court, and has since
directed the affairs of that Office. /
has been explained at the White HOUSE
that the President postponed disposlnG
of the appointment because Of Mr.
Rover's participation in the pending
oil lease cases of the Government. anc
when Congress adjourned without hi:
having made the appointment he wa!
represented as preferring to wait unit
the Senate was again in session rather
than dispose of the matter for the time
being by making a recess appointment
President Satisfied With Work.
According to the information received
at the White House, Mr.. Rover's con
duct of the u. S. attorneys Office dur
ing the nearly II months he has servec
as its head has demonstrated his abll1-
ty to continue on to the satisfaction Of
the President. Moreover, the claims or
the part of some of the local Republl'
cans that Mr.. Rover was not Republl'
can have lost considerable weight by
Mr. Rover's activities during the recent
national campaign.
Intimates of the President at the
White House, while discussing today his
chances for appointment, said they coulc
not see where there could be any rea-
sonable objection to Rover's appoint.
ment. The President, however, has not
definitely committed himself. He Is
known to have conferred recently With
the Attorney General about this matter
as well as with Samuel j. Prescott
chairman of the Republican State com
mittee for the District. 1t is understood
that 1t has been limited to the Repub-
lican State committee that Mr.. Proctor
might have a better chance for ap-
pointment to the new Supreme Court
judgeship. This hint Is. known not 70
have come from the President, and Is
known not to have made any impress
sion upon the Republican State commit
tee. The latter Is still backing Mr.
Proctor for the United States attorney
ship.
Already Half Dozen Candidates.
Despite the fact that the President
signed the bill providing the additiona
Judge only today, 1t is known that there
are already a hMlf-a- dozen, candidates II
the field for This appointment 1t L
believed, however, that the Preslden
will be in no hurry to make up his mind
He is anxious TO look the field ovel
carefully and to give considerable study
to the available candidates before reach
ing decision. While he may decide a.
any day now regarding the appointment
of a United States attorney, 1t Is no
thought likely that the new judge vii
be appointed for at least fortnight.
The bill providing this additional JUS
tice of the Supreme Court authorize!
the Chief Jus ice of that court to as
sign one of the justices to hear cases
involving the condemnation OF land In
cident to the Governments purchase o.
the property south of Pennsylvania ave
nue. to. be included in the Mall. It i
the intention of Congress that the JUS
tice to be assigned to this condemna
ton work shall preside over all con
domination hearings, and that his worl
in this connection shall not be inter
Tered With by the woek Of his c0urt -