Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-16

Court is to have building all Its
III own, on one of the most historic
sites in the District of Columbia,
where has stood for many years
what remains of the Old Brick Capitol, erected
by citizens of washington to house Congress
after the burning of the Capitol, August 3D. 1914.
Congress passed joint resolution on De-
cenber 81, 1893, that a marble monument be
erected to the memory of George Washington.
AS we well know, it took close to half cen
fury even to lay the corner stone of this me-
mortal and 81 years longer to complete the
structure we see it today.
The Supreme Court has not even been treated
as well as this, for though, as early as 1916, a
committee of the House of Representatives re-
ported that "a building for the judiciary was
among the objects yet to be accomplished -
indicating that this great tribunal was in its
mnd-yet 1873 years have passed by since that
statement was made, and the matter is just
beginning to show definite shape. If the pres
ent members of the court can live but year
or two longer, no doubt they will be able to
realize a long cherished desire and hold court
in most magnificent building, erected espe-
cially and exclusively for themselves.
The first meeting place of the Supreme Court
was in the Royal Exchange Building at the
foot of Broad street, in New York City, where
it met on February /, 1890. 1t continued to
meet here until it moved to Philadelphia and
opened court in February, 1891, in the City
next to independence Hall. Elias Bondinot of
New York, Thomas Hartley of Pennsylvania
and Richard Harrison of New York were the
first lawyers admitted to practice before the
court.
THE first court, as appointed by President
- Washington pursuant to the judiciary act
of September "a, 1889, consisted Of John Jay
IF no "
then in his forty-fourth year, and the follow
ing associate justices: John Blair of Virginia.
aged 81; William Gushing of Massachusetts,
also ST; James Wilson of Pennsylvania and
native of Scotland, who was just 10 years the
Junior of these two justices. Robert Hanson
Harrison of Maryland was next selected. He
was A years old and resigned the Office just
five days after he had been confirmed to be-
come chancellor of his State. James 1redeH
was appointed to Judge Harrison's place. He
was from North Carolina and was the youngest
member Of the group, being but 80 years old.
Another appointee to the bench was John Rut-
ledge, South Carolinian who however, never
attended a session of the court. In 1871 he
resigned to become chief justice of his State.
His place was filled by the appointment of
Thomas johnson of Maryland.
Perhaps you viii recall that Gen. Thomas
johnson was one of the commissioners deSig-
= mated by President Washington to make ar
rangements for laying out the Federal city and
that it was he and DR.. David Stuart and Daniel
Carroll who met in Suffers Tavern, Georgetown,
September 9, 1891, and agreed that the terri
tory selected should be named the City or
Washington" AS is historically well known,
johnson was an ardent admirer of the first
President and availed himself of every oppor-
tunity to display his loyalty. 1t was on Thurs
day, June is, TITS, that he nominated Wash
ington to command all the Continental forces
raised or to be raised for the defense of liberty:
rfCN1H
contributed largely in causing Gen. Washington
to accept the presidency. 1t is upon part OF
his once vast estate near Frederick, Md, that
President Hoover is reported as intending to
spend week ends in fishing.
THE Supreme Court did not come to Wash
- ington with the other branches Of the
Government, but delayed putting in an appear
ance until February 2, 1901, its last session
being held in August, 1900, in Philadelphia, as
usual. 1t was but a short while before its
coming here that temporary" accommodations
were provided by the Commissioners in one OF
the rooms in the Capitol, known as the Senate
clerks Office and now occupied by the marshal
of the court. 1t was on the main or first floor,
over the basement east entrance hall; and here
it remained until 1903, when, during the max
ing of repairs, the court sat in the room on
the west side of the main floor which had
previously been occupied by the House of Rep
resentatives.
Latrobe, In referring to the repairs being
made at this time, states that for part OF
time tho cnitrf met in q tavern IN Wash