River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1890-05-22
NOT a GOOD LAW.

rhe Supreme Court Decides That the
Minnesota Authorised Beef statute
Is n Violation of the Constitutional
Decision Against the MORN on Church.
WASHINGTON, May 20. The Supreme
COURT has rendered an opinion holding
20 be unconstitutional the law of Min
,esota requiring that all fresh meats
sold in the State shall BIO cut from ami
mails slaughtered within the State and
inspected twenty-four hours before
slaughter. The case is entitled state
If Minnesota against Henry ID. Barber
md is of great interest to dressed beef
men, who win the case.
Barber was convicted of selling fresh
beef slaughtered in Illinois and which
lad not been inspected before slaugh-
;ered, as required by the law of Mime
sofa. He alleged that the law was an
lnconstituti onalinterference with inter-
State commerce.
The decision also practically decides
similar cases pending in Indiana, Colo
,ado, New Mexico and Virginia, as
we'll as the invalidity of the
.ity ordinance OF Topeka, Kan, which
was declared unconstitutional by Judge
Brewer, of the Supreme Court, while
serving as District Judge. The dressed
beef interests of Chicago made
two test cases by means of habeas
corpus proceedings in Indiana,
two in Minnesota, one in Colorado, one
in New Mexico and one in Virginia
where the law. though slightly different
from tho others, was passed for a SINH
lar purpose, that of preventing the
consumption of Chicago beef In
all these cases the Federal courts have
uniformly decided in favor of the Chi
cago people and now the court of last re-
sort has affirmed the soundness of their
findings.
AGAINST THE MORMON CHURCH.
WASHINGTON, May 20. The Supreme
Court of the United States yesterday
rendered an opinion OF vital interest TO
the Mormon church in the suit of the
Church of Latter Day Saints against the
United States, which comes here on APP
peal from the decision of the Supreme
Court of Utah in favor of the United
States This court affirms that iudg-
ment
The case grows out of the passage of
the Edmunds anti-polygamy law by the
Forty-ninth Congress. This law, among
other things, dissolved the Mormon
church corporation. annulled its char
ter, directed the appointment of a
receiver to wind up its affairs, and
escheated TO the United States all the
real estate owned by the church in ex-
cess of $50, 900 which was not on the
date Of the passage of the act held for
purposes of worship or burial. In its
inion the court says:
distinguishing feature Of MormonisEl Ii
ell known TO be polygamy and an absolute
ecclesiastical control OF its church members
Notwithstanding all the efforts made to sup
press this barbarous practice OF polygamy the
sect perseyeres in defiance OF law in
propagating and promoting this nefarious
doctrine. The existence OF such Q
propaganda Is a blot our civilization
The question, therefore, is whether the
promotion Of such an unlawful system is to be
allowed TO continue and whether the enormous
funds which have been accumulated shall be
welded for the propagation OF the obnoxious
practice-for the promotion of an organized re
beliion against the laws of the United States
After an elaborate historical review
of the CON mon law the court comes t.
int cOHCluSlOH budb NOiElSSc hdo VIC
right to seize the property. Justice
Bradley delivered the opinion. Chief.
Justice Fuller said that be and Justices
Field and Lamar were constrained tc
dissent from this decision.
INDIANA LOSES A CASE.
WAsHINGToN, May 20. In the SUI
preme Court Monday the case of the
State of Indiana against the State OF
Kentucky to settle the ownership OF
Green River island, located in the
Ohio river, was decided in favor of the
latter State. on the ground that for many
years after Indiana became a State
no claim was made to the island, that
no officer of the State of Indiana at
tempted to exercise jurisdiction on the
island, nor had any of the residents
upon the island claimed voting priv
ileges in Indiana.