The Morning herald., 1876-06-03
CORRESPONDENCE.
Notes OF interest.
WASHINGTON, d. c., June 2, 1876

ponnblicans are unwilling to believe In th'
story that Speaker Kerr, when in Congress
some wears ago, accepted $3.50 for the ap
nonrment of one Green to lieutenancy II
The regular army. In conversation will
Judre j. NJ. Edmunds, Secretary of the Re
nuhlican Congressional Committee, las
evening. he related the following incident
Rut first let me say that Edmunds is {
radical of the most ultra stripe, and, as Z
rule. would rejoice in the downfall OF any
prominent political opponent. Said he: 81
confess am doubtful about Kerr's guilt
otwthstanding the positive testimony o
Harncy that he paid Kerr $3.50. The case
It is true, looks ugly; but although Kerr is
a Bourbon, he has always borne an enviablt
reputation for personal integrity. Last
nirh - continued Judge Edmunds, "while
several of us were discussing the matter or
the Post Office steps, Edmunds is city post
master,) John D. Detrees came along. Da
frees, SIS you know, is Republican, was
Government Printer under Mr.. Lincoln and
Mr.. Johnson, and skilfully procured, as
YOU all remember, the nomination at
Chicago for the Vice-P Presidency, Of Schuy-
Ter Colfax, in 'GS. Well, we asked Dcfrecs
if he had read the testimony taken that
dav (o9th inst.) in Kerr's case. He said
he had not, and we gave him the points.
Dcilecs, who in an Indianian, was mad,
and said, Il don't believe Kerr guilty. ]
have known him for the last twenty five
wears and although have always been op-
posed to him, politically, truth compels
me to say that no one who has known him
has ever doubted his personal integrity.
will not believe the story unless it is cor
roboracd.'"
All good men here, irrespective of party,
hope that Mr.. Kerr will be able to disprove
the charge. Should he be found guilty, he
could not be impcached; members Of Con-
gress not being regarded in law as officers
of the Government. His punishment would
therefore be either the censure of the House
or expulsion. If the charge against him is
false and malicious, no punishment would
be too severe for its author Mr.. Kerr is in
delicate health. and the annoyance to which
he is being subjected is certainly not calcu-
lated to improve his physical condition.
The United States Supreme Court has
just declared that the inaction of Congress
in prescribing rules to govern Interstate
commerce as required by the Constitution
is equivalent to Congressional declaration
that such commerce shall be free from any
restrictions. This is one of the most i'm
poltant decisions ever rendered by the Su-
prcme Court of the United States, and
ought to do away at once, with all the an
noyances to which commercial travellers
are subject in travelling from one State to
another with their samples of goods. 1t
was one of the arguments in favor of the
Union Of the States that commerce among
them was to be entirely free, and clause
was put in the Constitution requiring Con-
gress to pass laws to regulate it. Although
we are in our Centennial year. Congress has,
up to date, failed to perform this duty. The
Supreme Court properly interprcts this re-
nissness into declaration in favor OF ab-
golute freedom of trade.
1t will be intesesting to our readers to
learn the comparatively trivial circumstance
which directed the official attention of the
[ s. Supreme Court to this subject, and
brought forth from that august body de-
cision that affects the individual interests,
directly or indirectly, of every man, woman
and clld in the country. This is how 1t
came about The State of Missouri having
passed law discriminating in favor OF the
good wares and merchandise, which are the
product and manufacture of that
State against those Of other States, a sewing
machine peddler was arrested and indicted,
under that law for selling without license,
his wares, which were manufactured beyond
5he limits of Missouri. On conviction, he
was fined $50, and committed until pay
ment. The Supreme Court Of Missouri al
frmed that judgment. The case was
brought up, in error, to the the Supreme
Court of the United States, which overrules
The decision of the Court below, and decides
as follows:
A license tax required for the sale Of
goods, is in effect, a tax upon the goods
themselves. A statute of Missouri which
requires the payment of license tax from
persons who deal in the sale of goods, wares,
and merchandise which are not the growth,
produce, or manufacture of the State, by
going from place to place to sell the same
in the State, and requires no such license
tax from persons selling in similar way
goods which are the growth, produce, or
of the State, is in conflict with
the power vested in Congress to regulate
commerce with foreign nations among the
several States. The power was invested in
Congress to ensure uniformity of CONNER
cial regulation against discriminating State
lcSlslallOn. IL covers ploPeitJ "uleh ID
as an article of commerce from
foreign countries, or among the States, from
hostile Or interfering State legislation until
it has mingled with and become part OF
the general property of the country, and
protects it, even after it has entered state
from any burdens imposed by reason Of its
foreign origin. The inaction of Congress
III prescribing rules to govern Interstate
commerce is equivalent to its declaration
that such commerce shall be free from any
restrictions.
49,
Fatal Fond.