The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1886-01-06

way impaired by the statute under which
the Commissioners are 10 act. 10 finds that
the Commission is in express terms prohib
tied by the act of the State Legislature from
interfering with the charges OF the company
for the transportation of persons or property
through Mississippi from one State TO
another. The Commissioners have as yet
undertaken nothing in conflict with the
Constitution of the United States. The
great purpose, it says, of the statute
is 70 effect a medium Of charges
and to regulate in some matters of a
police nature of railroads in the State. In
its general scope IL is constitutional, and it
applies equally 70 all persons or corporations
owning operating railroads in the state.
The Supreme Court of the State of Missis-
sippi has already declared that the statute is
not repugnant 10 the state constitution and
in this opinion the Supreme Court of the
United States cOncurs. ut Is difficult to
understand the opinion says in cOnolR-
siCn. precisely on what ground we are eX-
pecied 10 decide that this statute is so incon-
sistCnt and uncertain as 10 render IL absolute
ly void on its face When the commission has
acted, and proceedings are had 10 enforce
what they have done. Questions may arise
as TO the validity OF some of the various pro-
visions, which will be worthy of considera-
ton. but we are unable to say that, as a
whole the statute is invalid" The decree of
the Circuit Court was reversed, and the cause
remanded. with instructions TO dismiss the
bill. The opinion was delivered by the Chief
Justice, Justices Field and Harlan descent
ing from certain Of the opinions expressed
by the Court in this case but concurring in
the Judgment. Justice BlatchfOrd did not
sit in this case, or take any part in the dis
cuSsiOn.
No. 723. John VI. Stone ct al, Railroad
Commissioners OF Mississippi appellants,
vs. The Illinois Central Railroad Company;
| also No. I24, the same appellants VS.. The
| New Orleans and Northwestern Railroad
! Company, were reversed in accordance with
! the decisions in Stone VS.. The Farmers Loan
! and Trust Company. Justice BlatchfOrd
! took no part in these cases.
No. 1.lOS William G. Ford (adminlstra-
! tor Of John G.. Robinson, deceased appel
| liant. vs. The United States. Appeal from
the Court of Claims. This was a suit
| brought TO recover the value of some cotton
| seized during the Rebellion. The Senate
| referred the case 70 the Court OF
| Claims. but that body dismissed it on
| the ground that it was barred bv
| the statue Of limitations. The Supreme
! Court afiirms the Judgment of the Court of
! Claims. The Court says: The Court of
! Claims has jurisdiction TO hear and deter
| mine a claim referred to il by either HOuse
| of Congress because and only because, the
| law has declared; but unless Congress other
| wise prescr.bes, that reference will not in IL
|
his claim is not well founded, or when so
referred was barred by limitation"
TRIBUTE TO SENATOR BECK.
During the holiday recess of Congress,
since the delivery of his speech in favor of
| silver coinage, Senator Beck has received
| more letters than any other member of the
Senate. In fact, letters have come to him by
the hundreds daily, urging him TO stand firm
| in support of the silver dollar While the
| hrrl ~ LOT haV no
| West and South. not few have been sent by
! the East. Among the .-ibutes of commend
| alton that reached Senator Beck by mail dur
| ing the holidays was one from the youngest
| daughter of Mr.. jefferson Davis, of Missis-
| sippi. 1t is a neat little letter, representing
a silvery moon looking down through a sheen
| OF silver upon prosperous landscape. Be
| low the picture is written: "DianaS tribute
| TO the champion of silver" 1t is perhaps
| fair 10 say that all the Communications he
has received failed TO please the Senator as
! much as this little picture.
cone CRRssioNAL FEATURES OF TIE PRESENT
WEEK.
The most interesting and important fea-
| tule OF the present week IN the House of
| Representatives viii be. of course, the an
| nouncement of tn membership of the vari-
| Ous committees which viii formulate the
! work 10 be done b- the Forty-ninth Con-
gress. Throughout the holiday recess Speak
| er Carlisle has been Dusily engaged in form
| ing the Committees, and to-day he occupied
one OF the rooms al the Capitol, and denying
! himself to all callers, devoted himself TO the
! completion OF the task. Unless something
unfOTseen should happen, the result of his
/ laburS viii be announced TO the House to-
! morrow Immediately after the reading of
\ the journal. Then in obedience To the order
\ of the House, tie call Of States for the intro
! ductiOn of bills and resolutions will be re-
sumed at the point where il was INTERRUPTED
/ by the adjournment for the holidays. The
/ call VIII probably not be completed until
/ late Wednesday afternoon. The lOOl bills
introduced the day before the recess were
/ introduced by eighty-niue members an
/ average of over eleven bills TO each Repre-
l sentative. Should this average be kept up
/ nearly 3,0o0 additional measures will be re-
| feucd on Tuesday and Wednesday TO tine
newly-appointed committees. The HOar
/ lresiden tial Succession bill remains upon
J the Speakers table, and though an attempt
| may be made 20 pass ii by unanimous con
! sent, il will in all likelihood be referred to
| the committee having jurisdiction on its
subject matter. Should this be done the
House will find itself on Thursday without
any business before II, and an adjournment
| until Monday Will probably be taken to en-
| able the committees 10 organize and 10 con-
slider and report proposed legislation.
! The bill TO iiX the salaries of Judges of
| District Courts, and the resolutions of in
curry with regard 10 the action OF The au-
/ tnOrteS of DaEOta, are the unfinished bust
! ness of the senate. The committees Of that
| body are expected to begin work in earnest
! during the week, and il is expected that not
much legislative work Will be undertaken in
! the Senate other than the consideration of
| the TWO measures named. Probably a large
| part of the time of the Senate will be spent
| with closed doors in an endeavOr 10 dispose
OF the great number Of accumulated nom
nations.
The President Interviewed.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 3.-Presdent Cleve-
land, in an interview Saturday, said
MY own personal idea about that is, that
the only practicable way to pass bill would