Evening star., 1940-04-07

At THE end of turbulent decade in
Supreme Court history, Charles
Evans Hughes is man dedicated to his
job.
The stately, white-haired Chief Justice
has let it be known that few of WASH
ington's glittering social affairs will lure
him from his rest at night.
All Of his strength, friends say, will 60
into the gruelling task of giving the last
word on the law Of the land.
Despite siege of illness last fall, the
Chief Justice-who will be 78 this week
appears still alert and keen on the high
dais of the marble columned courtroom.
Bent on keeping the court abreast of
its heavy burden Of cases, he has no pa
tience with lawyers who talk past their
allotted time. He bangs his hand on the
desk and says sternly:
THAT will be all! Your time is up!"
Fires Sparkling Shots.
But he will tighten a heavy days
work with well-paced quip. When
utilities lawyer, in rebuttal, argued that
the rate-making question was left in
a state of confusion" Justice Hughes
snapped:
1T was left in the State of California,
wasn't 1t? I think we understand that
the California commission sets the rates."
Every one laughed, and the lawyer
sat down.
Attorneys who know the court are not
afraid to quip back. One tax case turned
on the question of whether jig-saw
picture was game or puzzle. Justice
Hughes broke into the argument.
Would the court in that case be
gamer" he asked.
mo, your honor" drawled the attor-
ney, the court is puzzle
memory that still retains the poems
he learned in college lights up the legal
arguments with moot facts and citations
OF case and number. Lawyers arguing
over the diversion of water from the
Great Lakes were startled by Justice
Hughes knowledge Of the subject
gained IL years ago as a master in
chancery.
When q legal argument holds his in
terest, the Chief Justice sits engrossed,
his sculptured head resting on his left
hand, three fingers lightly on the line
where his mustache meets his upper lip.
An Uncommon Dignity.
His short chin -whiskers no longer have
the starch" of earlier days, but, with his
long, straight nose and deep-set eyes,
they give his countenance dignity not
common in this day of electric razors.
Many a tourist thinks of gods that
walk on the earth when first he sees the
black-robed figure behind the long, high
bench, fanked on each side by four
robed associates.
But the children of the exclusive
neighborhood where he lives know Jus
tice Hughes as friendly, cane-carrying
elder and sometimes chat with MIN dur.
ing his morning walks.
Justice Hughes is Republican and a
Baptist. Beyond that, he battles the
label-lovers OF Washington. As Chief
Justice he has bafled liberals" and
conservatives" alike.
Ten years ago. when Chief Justice Taft
lay deathly i'll, Justices Butler and Van
Devanter travelled quietly to New York
to call on MIR. Hughes. They wanted to
know whether the leading advocate of
the land would accept appointment as
Mr.. Taft's successor.
Returning to Washington with Hughes
consent the pair called on President
Hoover. Soon afterward, Mr.. Taft re-
signed and Mr.. Hughes was named Chief
Justice.
But in the years that followed Justice
Hughes voted as often with the liberals"
of the court as he did with Justices But
Ter, Van Devanter, McReynolds end
Sutherland :-.r-.
Soon Joined on, the. bench by. Justice
Roberts, another so-called corporation
lawyer" Mr.. Hughes held the balance Of