Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-09
SENATORS ANSWER
W|CKERSHAM BODY
Hold They Are Accountable
for Appointments Within
Their States.

Criticism by the Law Enforcement
Commission of political interference by
the Senate in the appointment OF
United States attorneys has drawn re-
plies from several Senators.
Senator Walsh of Montana; ranking
Democrat on the Judiciary Committee.
said, IF the Senate Is to be accused OF
injecting politics into the selection d
Federal appointees and particularly dis
trict attorneys, it may be retorted that
politics are rarely absent In the noml-
nation of htem by the Executive"
why assail the Senate or Senators
in such a matter and exempt from like
criticism the President. who has sole
power of appointment" he asked.
Senator Bingham. Republican, Con-
necticut, defended the right and the
practice of Senators in recommending
appointments to the judiciary and in
sisted that the Senator's were IN bet
ter position than others to know the
best qualified men in their States and
were held responsible for the appoint
mentS.
Held Political Smoke Screen.
Senator Caraway, Democrat. Arkan-
saS, turned the criticism back to the
commission. He said: That indict-
ment could have come in better grace
from a commission that hadn't thought
itself to be a political smoke screen
from this administrators failure to en-
force the law"
The commissions attack upon the
Senate brought into the open the con-
flict between considerable group OF
the Senate and the executive over the
making of appointments.
President Hoover at the outset OF his
administration announced a policy Of
independence in judicial nominations
However. it was not long before pressure
was brought to bear from the Senate
principally from the Republican regu-
lars. for more attention to their recon-
mendations for judicial appointments.
Dispute Seen Over Nordbye.
The controversy broke again last Win
ter, when the President fatty refused
to name the candidate of Senator
Schall. Republican. of Minnesota, to the
Federal iudgeship in Minnesota. Final
~. Mr.. Hoover sent up another nominee.
The Senate did not have time to act
upon him. That nominee, Gunnar
Nordbye. is now serving under a recess
appointment. Indications are the dis
pute will be aired before the Senate.
The recommendation of the commits
sion for abolition of the grand jury sys-
tenn drew the Endorsement Of Senator
Walsh, who said he had watched State
governments function we'll without the
grand juries.
Chairman Norris of the Senate Judi
ciary Committee also has proposed elm
ination of the grand juries as a means
of speeding up law enforcement and
serving justice as well.
Neither the Senate" Walsh said
NOR individual Senators exercise any
greater or additional authority respect
ing appointment of district attorneys
than with respect to any other Federal
officers
Evidence is not wanting that politi-
cal considerations sometimes enter into
the appointment of the highest judges.
The criticism, it seems to me, is one to
be directed at the entire system Of
naming Federal officers"
Situation Exaggerated.
Senator Bingham said, II think the
situation has been exaggerated as for
Connecticut. The Federal attorney,
while he was very active in politics, Is
one of the ablest lawyers in the State
and We were very fortunate in getting
him and was happy to recommend
him.
II think the Department of Justice
is just as apt to get a good district at
torney by taking the advice of a SEN
ator as by listening to any other man.
After all, I know the men in my State
and assume certain responsibility for
their appointment. 1t is a question of
finding the type of man who likes pub
lie service and who is willing to serve
fer what it pays. 1 am more likely to
know those men,"