Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-18
New Yorker Has Been Spe-
cial Assistant to Solicitor
tieneral for Seven Years.
TAKES POST COOLIDGE
HAD GIVEN TO CLASSIC
Nomination Is Sent to Senate,
Which Is Expected to Confirm
Selection Without Difficulty.

President Hoover today appointed Al
fred A. Wheat of New York. for the past
seven years special assistant to the So
licitor general, a judge of the Supreme
Court of the District of Columbia. Mr.
Wheat's nomination was sent to the
Senate and the White House has rea-
son to feel that no dificulty will be ex-
perienced in having 1t confirmed.
Mr.. Wheat was appointed to the place
on the bench created during the last
session of Congress and to which Henry
H. Classic of Chevy Chase, Md, was
nominated by President Coolidge last
January, but who failed to be confirmed.
Since Attorney General Mitchell was
elevated to his present post from that
of solicitor general of the United States,
Mr.. Wheat, as his special assistant in
the solicitor generals office, has been
acting as solicitor general.
He has been engaged recently in
arguing cases before the United States
Supreme Court, and it is thought likely
that he will be ready to assume his
duties with the District Supreme Court
within the next two weeks. This will
permit him to finish arguing several
important cases before lne United
States Supreme Court.
WashingtOnians Suggested.
A number of Washington attorneys
had been suggested for the place, one
of whom had the Endorsement Of both
the Republican State committee Ior the
District and the Bar Association Of this
city. Mr. Hoover is understood to have
appointed Mr.. Wheat to this position
proncipally upon the recommendation
of Attorney General Mitchell.
Mr. Mitchell has been closely asso-
ciated with Mr.. Wheat for several years
in the solicitor generals Office and
therefore was we'll acquainted with his
legal qualifications.
Although Mr.. Wheat Is credited to
New York, he is native of New Hsmp-
shire. in which State he was born 81
years ago. After graduating from Dart
mouth College in 1889. he came to
Washington to study law at Columbia
Law School, which since has become
George Washington University Law
School.
Helped Form Business High.
While studying here he obtained a
position as instructor at Central High
School, being assigned to the business
course at that school. There was no
Business High School then, and with
Allan Davis, the present principal of
Business High, Mr.. Wheat organized
the business department of the school,
which has since developed into the
present institution.
In 1892 Mr.. Wheat severed his con-
nections with the school and having
been admitted to the bar here, went to
New York City and entered the practice
of law.
In 1922 he was appointed to the
solicitor generals Office Of the depart
ment, where he has remained. During
the past seven years Mr.. Wheat argued
more than 100 cases before the United
States Supreme Court.
While practicing law in New York
City Mr. Wheat had considerable prac-
tice in dealing with land condemnation
and with railroad rights of way, and it
is believed his knowledge of the law
dealing with condemnation was a con-
tributing factor in his selection for the
District Supreme Court. This addi-
tional iudgeship for the District was
created for the purpose of handling the
condemnation proceedings that will
grow out of the acquisition by the Fed
eral Government of privately owned
land in the Avenue triangle.
Moreover, Mr.. Wheat is said to have
q knowledge of the Districts code Of
laws. These qualifications are said to
have singled him out as the most deslr-
able man for the post.
Justice Peyton Gordon when advised
of the nomination of Mr.. Wheat, re-
called that he had been member OF
the same law class with him.
The name of Judge Wheat was sent
to the Senate by President Coolidge
for appointment to judicial position
in Brooklyn, but did not reach the SEN
ate until after that body had announced
that no further nominations for judge
ships would be acted on at that session.