The same questions are presented here that were determined in
McAllister v. United States, ante, 141 U. S. 174, and
it is affirmed on the authority of that case.
This appeal brings up for review a judgment by the Court of
Claims sustaining a demurrer to a petition filed by the appellant,
in which he claimed as due him from the United States for salary as
Associate Justice of the Supreme court of the Territory of
Washington the sum of $1,964.55 from December 11, 1885, to August
5, 1886, inclusive, and $1,543.03, from August 24, 1886, to
February 27, 1887, inclusive -- in all, $3,507.58.
The petition shows that on the 27th day of February, 1883,
appellant was duly appointed, by and with the advice and consent of
the Senate, and commissioned to be, Associate Justice of the
Supreme Court of the Territory of Washington for the term of four
years from that date and until his successor should be appointed
and qualified, with all the powers, privileges, and emoluments
appertaining to that office; that he took the oath of office May
11, 1883, and entered upon, executed, and fulfilled the duties of
such office; that he was at all times, from and after May 11, 1883,
until February 27, 1887, ready and willing to perform those duties;
that on the 3d of December, 1885, President Cleveland transmitted
to him a communication which declared that he was thereby
"suspended from the office of Associate Justice of the
Supreme
Page 141 U. S. 202
Court of the Territory of Washington, in accordance with the
terms of section 1768, Revised Statutes of the United States, and
subject to all provisions of law applicable thereto;"
that on the day last named, the President issued to William G.
Langford a document reciting the suspension of the appellant from
his office in "virtue of the authority conferred upon the President
by section 1768 of the Revised Statutes of the United States," and
the designation of said Langford "to perform the duties of such
suspended officer in the meantime, he being a suitable person
therefor, subject to all the provisions of law applicable thereto;"
that, on the 11th day of August, 1886, the President sent to the
appellant and to Langford, respectively, communications similar to
those of December 3, 1885, the one to appellant being a second
order of suspension by the President under section 1768 of the
Revised Statutes, and the one to Langford showing his designation
to perform the duties of the office in the meantime, that Langford
was commissioned January 29, 1887, as Associate Justice of the
Supreme Court of the Territory of Washington for the term of four
years from that date, and until his successor was appointed and
qualified, subject to the conditions prescribed by law, the
commission showing that he had been nominated and appointed to that
position by and with the consent of the Senate, and that Langford
performed the duties of the office from December 11, 1885, to
August 5, 1886, and from August 24, 1886, to February 27, 1887,
under and by virtue of said several written appointments issued to
him.
MR. JUSTICE HARLAN, after stating the facts in the foregoing
language, delivered the opinion of the Court.
Substantially the same questions are presented in this case that
have been determined in
McAllister v. United States, ante,
141 U. S. 174,
just decided. Upon the authority of that case, and for the reasons
stated in the opinion, the judgment is
Affirmed.
MR. JUSTICE FIELD, with whom concurred MRL JUSTICE GRAY and MR.
JUSTICE BROWN, dissenting.
Page 141 U. S. 203
I dissent from the judgment of the Court in this case on the
grounds stated in my dissenting opinion in
McAllister v. United
States.
I may also add to those grounds the fact that, by the laws of
the United States applicable to all the territories, it is provided
that for each territory there shall be appointed a Governor, a
Secretary, a Chief Justice, and two Associate Justices of its
supreme court, an attorney, and a marshal , and that their terms
shall be four years, and until their successors are appointed and
qualified, with this difference: that it is declared with reference
to all the officers, except the justices of the supreme court, that
they shall hold their offices for that term unless sooner removed
by the President, but that qualification is not added to the term
of the justices. Rev.Stat. ยงยง 1841, 1843, 1864, 1875-1877.
It is also to be observed that the acts of Congress organizing
the different territories of the United States and providing for
judicial tribunals therein, from the foundation of the government
down to the present time, with three exceptions, have fixed the
term of the judicial officers of the territories at definite period
absolutely, without any conditions, or simply with the condition
"upon good behavior." In two of these exceptions, where the words
"unless sooner removed" are added, the power of removal is not
vested in the President, but left to be exercised under the general
law of the country applicable to such officers -- that is, by
impeachment or by the joint action of the President and Congress
after full opportunity is given to the accused of being heard upon
the grounds of complaint. In the third exception, the words added
are, "unless sooner removed by the President with the consent of
the Senate of the United States," which implies a previous
consideration by the Senate of the grounds of removal, and this
would usually be accompanied with notice to the accused and an
opportunity afforded to him of being heard thereon.
*
Page 141 U. S. 204
From this statement it is apparent that the general legislation
of Congress has been against making the tenure of the
Page 141 U. S. 205
judicial office in courts of record of the territories subject
to the will of the President. The last exception is the only one in
which any authority in that respect could be exercised by him, and
that is to be with the conjoint action of the Senate.
I am authorized to say that JUSTICES GRAY and BROWN agree with
me in this dissent.
* The following list exhibits the terms of the judges and the
organic acts for all the territories:
Northwest of Ohio: "During good behavior." Ordinance of 1789, 1
Stat. 51, note; Rev.Stat. 2d ed. 13.
Mississippi: "During good behavior." Act 7 April, 1798, Sec. 3,
1 Stat. 550.
South of Ohio: "During good behavior." Act 26 May, 1790, Sec. 1,
1 Stat. 123.
Indiana: "During good behavior." Act 7 May, 1800, Sec. 3, 2
Stat. 59.
Orleans: "Four years," absolute. Act 26 March 1803. Sec. 5, 2
Stat. 283.
Louisiana (District): "During good behavior." Act 26 March,
1804. Sec. 12, 2 Stat. 287.
Michigan: "During good behavior." Act 11 January, 1805, Sec. 3,
2 Stat. 309; Act 30 January, 1823, Sec. 1, 3 Stat. 722.
Illinois: "During good behavior." Act 3 February, 1809, Sec. 3,
2 Stat. 515.
Missouri: Four years, "unless sooner removed." Act 4 June, 1812,
Sec. 10, 2 Stat. 746; Act 27 January, 1814, Sec. 1, 3 Stat. 95.
Alabama: "During good behavior." Act 3 March, 1817, Secs 2 and
3, 3 Stat 372.
Arkansas: "Four years, unless sooner removed." Act 2 March,
1819, Sec. 7, 3 Stat. 495.
Florida: (Judges not appointed by the President.) Act 30 March,
1822, Sec. 6, 3 Stat. 656; Act 26 May, 1824, Sec. 1, 4 Stat. 45;
Act 21 January, 1829, Sec. 4, 4 Stat. 333.
Wisconsin: "During good behavior." Act 20 April, 1836, Sec. 9, 5
Stat. 13.
Iowa: "Four years," absolute. Act 12 June, 1838, Sec. 9, 5 Stat.
237-238.
Oregon: "Four years," absolute. Act 14 August, 1848, Sec. 9, 9
Stat. 326.
Minnesota: "Four years," absolute. Act 3 March, 1839, Sec. 9, 9
Stat. 406.
Utah: "Four years," absolute. Act 9 September, 1850, Sec. 9, 9
Stat. 455; Act 25 June, 1888, Sec. 2, 25 Stat. 204.
New Mexico: "Four years," absolute. Act 9 September 1850. Sec.
10, 9 Stat. 449.
Washington: "Four years," absolute. Act 2 March, 1853, Sec. 9,
10 Stat. 175; Act 4 July, 1884, Sec. 10, 23 Stat. 102.
Nebraska: "Four years," absolute. Act 30 May, 1854, Sec. 9, 10
Stat. 280.
Kansas: "Four years," absolute. Act 30 May, 1854, Sec. 27, 10
Stat. 286.
Colorado: "Four years," absolute. Act 28 February, 1861, Sec. 9,
12 Stat. 174; Act 2 March, 1863, Sec. 3, 12 Stat. 700.
Nevada: "Four years," absolute. Act 2 March, 1861, Sec. 9, 12
Stat. 212.
Dakota: "Four years," absolute. Act 2 March, 1861, Sec. 9, 12
Stat. 241; Act 4 July, 1884, Sec. 2, 23 Stat. 101; Act 9 August,
1888, Sec. 2, 25 Stat. 398.
Arizona: "Four years," absolute. Act 24 February, 1863. Sec. 2,
12 Stat. 665.
Idaho: "Four years," absolute. Act 3 March, 1863, Sec. 9, 12
Stat. 811.
Montana: "Four years," absolute. Act 26 May, 1864, Sec. 9, 13
Stat. 88; Act 10 July, 1886, Sec. 1, 24 Stat. 138.
Wyoming: "Four years," "unless sooner removed by the President
with the consent of the Senate of the United States." Act 25 July,
1868, Sec. 9, 15 Stat. 178.
Alaska: "Four years," absolute. Act of May 17, 1884, 23 Stat.
24.
Oklahoma: "Four years," absolute. Act of May 2, 1890, 26 Stat.
81.
