Mr. WILLEY. I think there is a great deal more in this proposition than the Senate perhaps are aware or appear to think about it just now, and I should be glad to attract the attention of Senators to it. I do not meanin regard to whether better appointments can be made by the district courts or by nomination of the Chief Justice, although it seems to me very evident that it would be exceedingly inconven ient on the part of the Chief Justice to make nominations for these registers all over the country. There is to be at least one register in every congressional district. That would involve the appointment of upward of 200 registers, and it might amount to 300, because there may be more registers in some congressional districts than one. Now, look how the thing. would operate. Here is the Chief Justice engaged in the discharge of his duties. Here are 240 or perhaps 300 districts in which registers are to be appointed. There will be competition for these offices no doubt, and hence will come up a swarm of applicants or recom: mendations to the Chief Justice of the U.S. from 241 districts in the U.S., out of whom he must make a selection of men with whom he has no acquaintance whatever. What does he know about the qualifications in California? What would he know about the qualifications of men in Maine? He must depend at last upon the recommendations of others, and as he would most likely depend upon the recommendation of the district courts, why not give authority to the district courts to appoint their own officers, for these are in some sense officers of the district courts.. My friendfrom Indiana said that he did not feel disposed to discuss the political aspects of this question. Sir, there, it seems to me, is the importance of it. No man has a higher opinion of the Present distinguished gentleman who Presides over the SCOTUS than I have; no man would less resume than I to intimate that he could be influenced by any improper feelings or considerations; but, sir, he is a man, subject to human infirmities, subject to the influence of human passions and motives. Besides, he is not to live forever, and there will be a successor. I ask Senators to reflect one moment whether there is not danger in taking this 1st step, for that is always the fatal step in a wrong direction, whether there is not danger in doing that which will bring, in the remotest degree, political influences into contact with the SCOTUS It was the object of our fathers in organizing our judicial system to place that august tribunal as far as possible from all these influences. Sir, are we not instructed by the agitation of the public mind at this time, are we not instructed by the newspapers, and by what I am pained to see, harsh criticisms upon that court already for leaning toward political influences, or at least being subject to them in some degree, are we not warned to do nothing which would bring them directly in contact with political influences? Sir, it is in vain to say that political influen ces will not be brought to bear upon these nominations. It cannot be avoided. It will be vain to attempt to escape bringing these political influences to bear more or less upon the Chief Justice in making these nominations. This will be the 1st step. If we never make it, there never will be any danger in that direction; and inasmuch as, it seems to me, these appointments can be as well made, if not better made, by the district courts themselves, I beseech Senators let us avoid this great danger of inviting the judiciary into the political arena, or of bringing political influences in any contact with the Supreme Court.