J. MILLARD TAWES, Governor                    2163

Judge Soper had a distinguished legal career in the State of Mary-
land, which covered a period of nearly seventy years.

Morris A. Soper was born in Baltimore in 1873. He was educated
in Baltimore schools, attended Baltimore City College, the Johns
Hopkins University, and the University of Maryland Law School.
He was admitted to the Bar in the year 1895.

Judge Soper's career was built in and around the State of Mary-
land. In 1897 he became Assistant State's Attorney in Baltimore City.
In 1900 he became an Assistant United States Attorney for the Dis-
trict of Maryland. In 1914 he was named Chief Judge of the Supreme
Bench of Baltimore City. In 1923 he became United States District
Judge for Maryland, and in 1931 he was elevated to the United States
Court of Appeals for the Fourth Judicial Circuit. He remained at
this post until his death except that for a number of years he had been
in "qualified retirement."

Morris A. Soper was a distinguished jurist. He was universally
admired and respected. Judge Emory H. Niles once observed of
Judge Soper that he had "come closer than any other judge to success
with dealing with the recurring problem of how to reconcile changing
conditions with basic principles." Judge Soper was a man of out-
standing intellect and of broad social vision.

For more than thirty years he served as a member of the Board
of Trustees of Morgan State College. He also for years was a member
of the Board of Trustees of Goucher College. During the 1930's he
was Chairman of the State Commission on Higher Education for
Negroes. He had during his long career impressive physical and
verbal vigor, being extremely active and apparently tireless. He was
in much demand as a speaker and toastmaster.

In his passing the State of Maryland and the entire federal judi-
ciary has lost a truly outstanding and monumental figure; now, there-
fore be it

Resolved by the General Assembly of Maryland, That the deepest
regrets of this body be expressed over the passing of Judge Morris A.
Soper; and be it further

Resolved, That the Secretary of State of Maryland be directed to
send copies of this Resolution under the Great Seal of the State of
Maryland to the surviving family of the late Judge Soper, the Attor-
ney General of the United States, and the President of Morgan State
College.

Approved May 6, 1963.

No. 51
(Senate Joint Resolution 10)

Senate Joint Resolution to request the State Roads Commission to
repair and to maintain a bulkhead in the Town of Chesapeake
Beach running along the Chesapeake Bay.