Nineteenth report of the State Civil Service Commission
(Nineteenth report of the State Civil Service Commission T...)
Nineteenth report of the State Civil Service Commission This book, "Nineteenth report of the State Civil Service Commission", by Wm. Miller Collier, Cuthbert W. Pound, John E. Kraft, is a replication of a book originally published before 1902. It has been restored by human beings, page by page, so that you may enjoy it in a form as close to the original as possible.
Cuthbert Winfred Pound was an American jurist and politician.
Background
He was born on June 20, 1864 in Lockport, New York, United States. His father, Alexander, a pioneer settler of Lockport, was a descendant of John Pound, a Quaker from Yorkshire, who settled in Piscataway, Middlesex County, New Jersey, in 1680. His mother, Almina Whipple, was a native of Gaines, Orleans County, New York.
Education
He was educated in the public schools of Lockport and attended Cornell University in 1883-84, where he studied chiefly history and political science. Returning to Lockport he studied law with his brother, John E. Pound.
Career
He was admitted to the bar in 1886. With his brother he practised as partners until 1895. Pound was city attorney of Lockport, 1889-91.
In 1894-95 he was a member of the New York State Senate. He ran again in 1895 but was defeated. He was chairman of the committees on state prisons, the manufacture of salt, and a special committee to investigate charges of bribery made against certain senators. He was a member of the Lexow committee set up to investigate the police department of New York City. He introduced bills on compulsory education, an amendment to the corrupt practices act prohibiting bribery at caucuses and elections, and creating a state prison commission. He had charge in the Senate of the constitutional amendment granting suffrage to women which passed both houses in 1895. From 1895 to 1904 Pound was professor of law at Cornell University. He taught criminal law and procedure, civil procedure, corporations, partnerships, evidence, and constitutional law. He was a stimulating and popular teacher.
In 1904 at the death of his brother he resigned from Cornell to resume the practice of law in Lockport. In 1900 he was appointed by Gov. Theodore Roosevelt to the New York state civil service commission, was reappointed by Gov. Benjamin B. Odell, and served as president of the commission from 1903 until he left it in 1905. In that year he became counsel to Gov. Frank Wayland Higgins.
Pound's judicial career began with his appointment in May 1906 to the New York state supreme court for the 8th judicial district. In November 1906 he was elected to that court for the term 1907-20, succeeding Judge Henry A. Childs. In 1915 he was given a temporary appointment as associate judge of the New York state court of appeals to help that court to clear its docket. In November 1916 he was elected to that position for the term 1917-30. He was reelected in 1930 with the endorsement of both political parties. In 1932 he was appointed by Gov. Franklin D. Roosevelt to the chief judgeship to succeed Judge Benjamin N. Cardozo. In November 1932 he was elected to this post, again with bipartisan endorsement.
He retired from the bench December 31, 1934, having reached the constitutional age of retirement. The Supreme Court sustained him in Marcus Brown Holding Company vs. Feldman. His opinion in People vs. Nebbia, upholding the state regulation of the price of milk, was followed by the Supreme Court in Nebbia vs. New York, and his opinion holding valid the Gold Clause Resolution in Norman vs. Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company, was upheld in the Supreme Court.
While Pound was on the bench his other activities were necessarily limited. He served in 1921 as permanent chairman of the constitutional convention called to submit amendments to the judiciary article of the state constitution. In 1934 he was appointed to the New York state judicial council. From 1913 on he was a trustee of Cornell University, a position eliciting his keen and constant interest and one in which he exerted strong influence.
His death was due to a cerebral hemorrhage. He was stricken at a dinner in his honor given by the Tompkins County Bar Association in Ithaca, New York, and died the following day.
(Nineteenth report of the State Civil Service Commission T...)
Views
His liberalism was evidenced by his broad tolerance of legislative discretion in cases involving the constitutionality of statutes, by his disposition to see justice and fair play extended to underprivileged groups, and by his vigorous defense of civil liberties.
Personality
He was a man of splendid physique and strikingly handsome. He had extraordinary personal charm, warm-hearted companionability, and a generous interest in people, which brought him hosts of friends from all walks of life. He was an accomplished speaker, both wise and witty, and was in demand for addresses before bar-association and law-school audiences.
He declared that he had no hobbies, but he was an omnivorous reader.
Connections
In 1887 Pound married Emma Frances White, daughter of Robert White, of Lockport, New York, who died in 1925. Three children were born, Alexander White, Mary White, and Cuthbert White.