Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 16.pdf/455

The Green Bag, The President of the United States has again appointed a non-resident to the bench of the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia. This Court is composed of a Chief-Justice and five Associate-Justices. The Court of Appeals is composed of a Chief-Justice and two Associate-Justices. Of this entire number there are but two who were residents of the District of Columbia at the times of their appointments. Of the balance, three are from Maryland (two of whom still reside in that State), two are from Ohio, one from Texas, and one from North Carolina, who is to be succeeded by one from Vermont. The citizens of the District pay one-half of the salaries of these judges. Among other official positions filled by non residents, appointed by the President or by the Commissioners of the District under Congressional "pressure," are the following: the Recorder of Deeds, the City Postmaster, the Superintendent of Insurance, the Sealer of Weights and Measures, the Superintendent of the Board of Associate Charities, and the Intendant of the Almshouse.

The salaries of all of these officials, except the city postmaster, are paid exclusively by the citizens of the district. With these facts in mind, it is not remarkable that indignation was expressed at a mass meeting of the Bar, convened for the purpose of uniting upon a candidate for a vacancy upon the District bench, when, in spite of the fact that the retiring justice was to remain upon this bench for at least a month: in spite of the fact that the Senate had adjourned; in spite of the fact that the President knew of the prospective meeting, he appointed an other non-resident less than an hour before the time fixed for that meeting.