Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-01-24
An Important Decision.

THE CASE OF KILBOURN Vs. SPEAKER RANDALL
AND sEkGEANT-AT-AKMs TaoMPsoN-THE U. s.
SUPREME COURT DECIDES THAT TIE HOUSE
HAD NO RIGHT TO IMPRlSON KILBOURN.
The case Of Hallett Kilbourn against Ser.
geantatArmS Thompson, OF the House of Rep
fesentauVes, Speaker Randall ct al was to-day
decided by the United States Supreme Court
The Court simply announced the decision, say
Ing the opinion would be delivered hereafter
Mr.. KilbOurn sued for damages because he was
imprisoned for refusing to deliver up certain pa
and to the
pool, s0-called. In the District Supreme Court
lhe Ce 1endantS set up the special plea tnat they
hao obey ed the orders OF the House OF Repre-
sentatives In imprisoning Ktibourn. The latter
demurred and the court Overruled his demurrer
knbonrn appealed and to day the United
States supreme Court reversed the judgment
OF the @ District Supreme Court, and sent the
case back for further proceedings. This decis.
ion, SO far as 1t goes, Is favorable to Ktlbourn
as the United States Supreme Court Virtually
held that the plea OF defendants for imprlson-
as the Senate proposes TO investigate the pub.
lcation OF the Chinese treaty. and imprtson
witnesses who refuse to answer, the newspa-
Per men regard the Supreme Courts decision Of
Today as specially favorable to Them
The reversal OF that judgment by the Supreme
court OF the nited States, would seem, now,
10 nave set limits to the power OF Congress to
order the seizure OF private books and papers
and imprisonment OF private individuals for
contempts not committed IN it's presence
Chief Justice Cartier and Judge Wylie 1t is
Dut proper TO say. dssented from thu judgment
which has just been reversed.
Mr.. BLAINE AND THE STATa DEPARTMENT
A [. S. Senator, who is an intimate tsienj
Senator Blaine's, said yesterday ne was satisnel
that the latter had not been rendered the ss:
ttary ship Of State by Geperai G irfleid. Yni-
senator ADDED, however, that he believed III.
Blaine would be appointed to that position;
ina, .'wnar rnc people have universally en-
isiration and all sections and ell classes o. mi,
&C tuntIy have endorsed Tie suggestion ot tbs
appointment OF Mr.. Blaine as Secretary O:
State" The Senator further said thar !:;s va
satisfied Mr. Blaine would ac3erG the ap2oint-
ment II rendered him. but that "B!a,ne is Io,,
great a man TO even Intimate in advance OF the
offer that &c wants the place"
ARMY OKDERs.--The following court martial
Is appointed to meet at Rock Island arsenal,
Illinois, On Wednesday. the 26th OF January,
1881, or as soon thereafter as practicable for
the trial OF second class private Geo. Spencer,
ordnance department, and such other prisoners
as may be brought before ii t:-MaJor D. w.
flasler, ordnance Department.; Capt. W. L.
Kellogg, 10th infantry; Capt F. z Lacey, 10th
infantry; Capt. g. w. Mckee, ordnance depart
Lieut.: c. s: Burbank. 10th infantry; 1st Lieut..
L. L. Bruff. ordnance department.; and lat Lieut..
Frank Baker, ordnance department, Judge advo-
cate of the court Leave for six months on sur
geohs certificate OF disability is granted lst
Lieut.. d. h. Bellas, 4th cavalry. 1st Lieut.:
Walter 8 Wyatt. 9th infantry, acting signal of.
fcer, will proceed to Delaware BreakHater
Del, and comply with such special Instructions
as he may receive from the chief signal ef1lcer
SENTENCE APrRovsD. The President has ap-
proved the findings and sentence of the court
martial In the case OF Paymaster j. II. Nelson,
U.SA. The sentence is dismissal from the
service. two yours at hard labor in the peniten-
tiary and q t1ne Of s., 500.
SENATORS BECK AND BLAINE UHoN THE SarP-
PING QUEsTIoN.-Senator Beck is preparing q
speech in favor OF ships which he VIII deliver
in the Senate this week He will advocate the
policy OF permitting foreign built ship; to sail
under American registry. 1t Is whisp, red that
this speech may extract some remarks from
Senator Blaine on the same subject; that In
view OF Mr.. Blaines probable appointment to
the secretarysn1p OF state there ia desire to
have him state, once more, emphatically, what
he believes 10 be the best policy for the restcra
t1on OF American ocean commerce. Senator
Beck Will put some questions that iI Is suD.
posed MI. Blaine will be willing to answer