New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-04-01
IMPORTANT SUPREME COURT DECISIONS.

IMPORTANT SUPREME COURT DECISIONS.
RIGHT OF STATES TO LEVY TAXES IN CONSTRUCTING
RAHRoADs-EITRO-GLYCER AS AN ARTICLE
FOR Observation-Disclosures or GOVERN
MENT GRANTS TO RAILROAD.
lBY TELEGRAPH THE TRIBUNEl
WASHINGTON, March 31.-The entire session
OF the Supreme Court today occupied in the read
ing Of opinions about having been disposed Of
Among the more important and interesting were the
following In the OF Aleott ag The Supervisors OF
Pond Du Lac County Wisconsin, appealed from the gu
prene Court Of that State. the important question
whether State night to levy taxes for the purpose
o. aiding in the construction Of railroads or o. was in
volved II Is the opinion of the Supreme Court that
railroads. are public highways, matter whether they
are built operated by the State or by private cor
porations The building Of railroads Is therefore mat
Ger Of public 70 aid which It is just az lawful TO
levy taxes as for the building Of wagon road or any
amer public WORK and the collection Of these taxes can
not be resisted by authority of Article V. Of Amend-
meuts to the Constitution Of the United States winch
provides that private property shall not be taken for
unbIie use without just compensation
Another ease decided today had its origin IN the great
ritro-glyeerne explosion in San Francisco, in APRIL
tsSs small box, indicating in no way by ts outward
appearance what It's contents were was shipped from
Kew York TO Gan Francisco by the Pacific Mail Steam
,hp Inc in March, 1886 on It's arrival In California
snsanoe resembling sweet oil found 20 be oozing
trotntbe The package taken 10 the office of
he express company, and a0Orer iD the presence OF
the agents Of the express ao steamship companies and
other FarsOos, undertook 70 open IL with hammer and
naIet fot the purpose Of ssceraDing which company
was responsible for the damage 10 the goods.
The contents Of the box exploded instantly, killing
all thOse who and greatly njuriDg the build
ing Fmiar box exploded Oh board a steamer at
Aspn val al about the time destroying the vessel
and other property. The Of the building brought
cut reeSver damages from the express company.
allogrg negligence the part OF The latter. II
shown that niiTo-glycerne article Of commerce
vas at tAst time almost unknown; that there
nothing abost the box 70 indicate IL dangerous charac
taT aud th6 the agents OF the company treated 10
t,ey would any other merchandise The plaintiff held
fiat u was the duty Of common carrier 10 know the
character o! tbe goods ntrs ed to him. and the
most Important question Law involved In the case
The Eupreme Court held that require this knowledge
OF common carriers where there was nothing about
package 60 arouse EuspciOn would he impraencable
aud that such knowledge could he required OF
Tue right u a State tax the lands granted by the
United States railroad where THAI corporation has
ohaiBed full title the question which arose In
saAe 10 which the Kansas Pacific Railroad party
Sne charter OF this road requires the cost Of surveying
anf conveying the lands in question be paid TO the
United states by the railroad company. by the party
b. interest, before final patent shall be issued, and
further directs al lands not sold by the railroad com
eopanY within three years to be open for sale 20 bona dc
efffers n the minimum price Of q % aOre. the
money obe psid by the United States 10 the railroad
company Tie Supreme Court holds that State cannot
such lad FIRST II 10 could tax them
aud sell then for DELINQUENCY the United States Gov
er1ments rCt 20 receive the cost OF the eys and
lfore losing is title TO them would be inter
fered WITH sd second because IL would interfere with
the rsht Of settlers purchase the lands 80 the MIN
ipum price Of u 40 a acre.