The New York herald., 1870-11-30
THE C0U R T S.
corv;otiou Under the Now Registry Law
cr.,om House sinecures-Another Erie De.
oidon in an Insurance Case-A Trans
fer Of Stock Case-Denouement In
tho Durand Divorce Case
UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT.

rSe Authority Of Municipalities 20 Regulate
Couucrce-TransDortati Pay II VOlan.
teer Onicers- Texas Land Titles.
WASHINGTON, NOV. %, 1870.
No 2A4. po,cnn am et al. PLAINTIFFS IN Error ps.
ras Cstu council or Aiecandrta-EyTOr to the Dts
srlct court Of Appeals Of Virginia, for the Fourth
Dtst,-ct-In june 1867. the City Council Of Alexan'
aria, in order raise funds to pay on the interest
on debt OF absnt 81 900, and to defray the cur
rent expenses OF the city government, passed an
ordinance whereby, among other tAings, they I'm
posed license tax Of 5000 ION agents and dealers
in beer ana ale by the cask, not manufactured In
Alexandra, but brought there for sale.n The plain
tins IN were liable to this tax. but refused to
pay upon the ground that the tax was unconstitn-
and because it imposed upon the manufacturers Of
ale or beer In other States SPECIAL tax from which
the Alexandria manufacturer II exempt II was
claimed, thercf re, that 1t violated The following
clause OF the c0nstitution:-
Congress- shall have power TO regulate commerce with for
s'sn s'sn tHiSs. aaSSa' anu "'Ds wv A'1 W." D' -
Here, 1t was said municipal corporation had
attempted what State could net do, and what,
from the above clause 1t was manifest only Congress
could do-..reguate commerce. 1.-THE citizens Of
%1ntes ' of % the several siates. And Il was con-
tended that the discrimination IN favor OF the Alex.
was violation OF this provision. The Court Thought
Otherwise and the ordinance was sustained. The
cause is brought here where paintrs In error con-
iaken construction OF the above provisions Of the
constitution. George w. Brent and @. w. Watties
for plamtins, and ID. L. Sweet for the city.
No. 245. Submitted Frt1lfed B,teJS-TRe United
States os. Joseph ". i7ce-Appeal rom the court
or Caainls-ln this case the appellee while resident
OF Ade Iowa, was mustered into the service OF the
United States, as first lieutenant In the Thirty
ninth regiment OF Iowa volunteers, for the term OF
three years or during the war, and continued In
service until January q, 1865, when, having re-
signed, he was at his own request discharged on
surgeons certificate Of disability incurred In the
service. This action was brought ior transportation
pay to Adel. the place OF enrolment, and Judgment
was entered pro forma in favor OF the claimant be-
low and the cause brought here Tor hna determina-
ton, II being one Of numerous class OF cases. In
v0lving large amounts, and being intended rs test
case. The government insists that there Is IN
the statutes no direct allowance OF travel
pay lrom tns p place OF discharge % 70 the place o. en-
for Officers o the regular army volunteer officers
recently receiving It's benefits merely through that
provision OF the act Of July ~, 1861, which places
them ION the footing, as TO pay and allowances Of
similar corps OF the regular army" 1t Is contended
tended to be that established ana known since 1799
aDd not new footing established in contraventiop
e rss ns ss pIssi'S I I'll st tsHsh ssy
M p as s ss & Sss sns sagssa % s1sn an IN
Millions, and for both officers and men il would be
enormous. uniform construction Of the oldest
eSisauOn on ne SUBJECT Is thought to be SUFFICIENT
authority against opening the Treasury TO such
demand Chapman and Hogmer for claimants; As
slstant Attorney General b. Il. Tabo, lor the govern.
YsnL
No. 26l b. T. Mds'crson, Assignee IN Bankruptcy
or j. w. Heradoa, us. Vol,sey n. Hocard et al-Ap-
peal from TIE CacpH Court Of the IHeste,7, District
0I yeras-The libel in this case was filed by one
Howard, citizen Of Louisiana against certain citi-
zens OF Texas and one Mason, citizen Of Pennsyl.
vania IN 1851. II asserts title to tract Of land
which was conveyed by the Spanish government in
177e, TO the Indians Of the mission OF San Jose,
which, by regular assignment OF title was vested
IN the complainant. and that the possession of the
land had followed aud accompanied those con-
SeyaGces. IL asserts that the defendants. ny pre-
tended title have DISTURBED the possession and
seisIn OF the complainant, and prays that thctl
title may be declared void. The decree In favor
oI The complainant and the case comes here for re-
view, the questions Involved being OF fact and prac
lice. w. w. Boyce Tor appellants; p. Phillips for
appehees.
No 256. He,rica, Adnainfst1uto1, rs. Neelep et
0l-EyrOf o. The CyfcU0 court for the Western Dis
irtct Of 7eros.-This action OF trespass to try
lille under the practice OF Texas brought to
a tract Of four leagues or land in Falls county,
Texas. The trial resulted In favor OF the defendant
and the error alleged is In the ruling OF The Court
below IN the admission and exclusion OF evidence.
William e. Hole Tor plaintiff ia error; defendants
not appearing.