Evening star., 1940-01-05
Murphy 10 Clean Up
Drives Before Goinq
On Supreme Court
Attorney Expects
Present Work to
Require q Month

Faced with the self-imposed task
Of cleaning up several matters that
are we'll under way at the Depart
ment of Justice, Attorney General
Murphy expects a month will elapse
before he assumes the place on the
Supreme Court for which he was
nominated yesterday by President
Roosevelt-"provided am con-
frmed by the Senate"
At a crowded press conference a
short while after his nomination
had gone forward with those OF
Solicitor General Robert H. Jackson
who is to be Attorney General, and
Judge Francis Biddle, slated as Mr.,
Jacksons successor, the Attorney
General outlined his plans for a
speedy windup of pending actions
in the campaign against "crime and
corruption" "subversive activities
and antitrust violations.
He made it clear he did not want
to inconvenience Mr.. Jackson and
Judge Biddle, but that he felt he
should clear up his present work as
far as possible and also get a plan
for structural reorganization of the
department. into operation. Il be-
lieve you'll see some interesting de-
velopments shortly" he said.
Continuance Along Present Lines.
He emphasized he expected to see
the work of the department con.
tinued along present lines by Mr.
Jackson, whom he praised for pu.
rity of character and intellectual,
courage" Declaring there is no one
in the country better fitted to be
Attorney General than Mr.. Jackson
he said the prospective incumbent
of the Office is "a real progressive;
a genuine one"
AS possible successor to Judge
Biddle, former head of the labor
board, who is coming here from the
Third Circuit Court of Appeals, the
Attorney General named Herbert F
Goodrich, dean of the law school o1
the University of Pennsylvania. ano
j. Warren Madden, chairman of the
Labor Board.
The interview practically served
as a valedictory for the Attorney
General, who said he was Sad" tc
leave the department. but HAPPY
to go to the court. Repeating ar
earlier declaration that he felt "un.
worthy" Of the appointment, he sale
it was an honor of which he was
appreciative.
No Further Politics.
One Of the questioners asked him
jokingly If he expected his assump-
tion of judicial duties barrier tc
further political activity"
Unless an appointee can divorce
himself completely from politics
Mr.. Murphy responded gravely he
has no business on the bench.
He said he regarded the cleanup
of the Pendergast machine in Kan
sas City as an outstanding accomp-
lishment Of his tenure as Attorney
oSAiCA az UuI duNlCo llC IOOh Sd us
faction also in the departments S
work in New York and New Orleans
Mr.. Murphy paid warm tribute to
the support he has received from
President Roosevelt, declaring the
President was primarily responsible
for a series of excellent appoint
ments in the lower courts. In glow
ing terms he also spoke of j. Edgar
Hoover, director of the Federal
Bureau of Investigation. and ex-
pressed the hope that the F. B. I
would be continued on non
partisan, non-political basis"
AS nominee for the Supreme
Court. Mr.. Murphy attracted the
attention of brilliant party at the
White House judicial reception last
night He attended AS Attorney
General. Both he and Mr.. jack
son also were present at a small
dinner party earlier at the White
House.