Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
(800) 937-3880
SELL

Lot #155
William H. Taft

"It is of exceeding importance to have the reports properly prepared"—desirable letter as chief justice of the Supreme Court

This lot has closed

Estimate: $300+
Sell a Similar Item?
Share:  

Description

"It is of exceeding importance to have the reports properly prepared"—desirable letter as chief justice of the Supreme Court

TLS signed “Wm. H. Taft,” two pages, 8 x 10.5, Supreme Court letterhead, December 15, 1928. Letter to Senator Robert F. Wagner, in part: "There is a very great difference between the publication of a report for the West Publishing Company and the official reports that we issue. It is of exceeding importance to have the reports properly prepared and to have the syllabuses made with care. The work was delayed last year by the very serious illness of the Reporter, but he has recovered. We have had to change his assistants and have had a great deal of difficulty in getting a sufficient force for him and sufficient accommodation. There has been, through some influence which I do not recognize, a considerable bitterness and opposition to the Reporter, on the theory that the reports ought to be furnished at an impossibly low price, and there has been manifested a feeling, which has now disappeared, I am glad to say, directed toward embarrassing the Reporter as much as possible by limiting his force and the space for that force. Now that has all been straightened out. The detail and care necessary in the preparation of these reports are hardly realized by the ordinary practitioner. No one knows more about the delays in the reports than the members of the Court, and we are constantly pressing the Reporter for as great speed as possible. I hope that the Senate will not think it necessary to make an investigation in a matter that the Court itself makes at every convenient time. One of the sources of delay has been the Printing Office, because it has so much to do. I shall be glad to send the Reporter to see you, if you would like it, because I think he can explain more fully perhaps than you could care to have me do what have been his difficulties in the past." In fine condition, with two pin holes to the upper left corner.

Auction Info

  • Auction Title: Fine Autographs and Artifacts
  • Dates: #578 - Ended March 04, 2020





This item is Pre-Certified by PSA/DNA
Buy a third-party letter of authenticity for $75.00

*This item has been pre-certified by a trusted third-party authentication service, and by placing a bid on this item, you agree to accept the opinion of this authentication service. If you wish to have an opinion rendered by a different authenticator of your choosing, you must do so prior to your placing of any bid. RR Auction is not responsible for differing opinions submitted 30 days after the date of the sale.