The Portland daily press., 1891-01-14
C0NGRESSMEN PLEASED AT THE STEP
They Consider the Appeal a compI,-
ment to the Court.
The President and Mr.. elaine Make
No Remarks.
The lewiston Public Building Gill
Passed,
Especial to the Press.

WASHINGTON, January 13.-The British
governments coup of yesterday was the
subject Of general comment at the Capitol
today Everyone concede, that high COM
pliment has been paid to the dignity of the
United States Supreme Court as a just and
impartial tribunal, but opinions differ MS to
the kind Of compliment dealt out to the
President and Secretary Of State, by the ap-
peal over their heads to the court. Some Of
the Congressman who are interested in the
case, have expressed themselves today as
glad the step has been taken, and hopeful
that 1t will result In Fastening fair settle
ment. Mr.. Adams one Of the leading Re
publican members of the Illinois delega
tion, said he had not looked carefully into
this particular case, but that he had no
doubt of the jurisdiction of the Supreme
Court. 1T it desirable, Think he said,
that the legal question should be settled by
proceed upon the other questions not ques-
tions of law upon which the United States
bases its claims. OF course Mr.. Blaine
could not ask Great Britain to submit the
question OF law to our court. but he will
probably not be at all displeased If it can
properly go there upon Great Britain's own
motion. OF course II II high compliment
to our Supreme Court and one which it de-
serves that Great Britain should appeal to IT.
There Is no such other tribunal in the world.
The questions upon which Mr.. Blaine lays
stress In his content on in behalf of the Uni
ted States are, namely: That for the gener
al public good, Great Britain ought to recog-
niZe the right of the United States to pro-
ttct the seals, and further, that Great Brit
ain had acknowledged by aquiescence the
right of Russia over this sea, cannot get be-
fore the court Therefore, If the court should
decide the question of law against the Unit.
main for negotiation. A satisfactory settle
uent on these points might be reached with
tne technical law question once disposed"
Mr: Adams saia he thought 1t would be up-
1t had no jurisdiction.
MI Andrew, member of the foreign af-
ialrs committee, Democrat, of Massachu-
selts, SAID lie regarded the move as a yery
orlght one on the part of Great Britain, and
ne had no doubt OF the Jurisdiction Of the
Supreme G .urt.
Mr.. Thompson of Ohio, a Republican mem
ber OF the foreign affairs committee
called attention to The ia t that he had intro
duced a bill In the House last summer pro-
viding for an appeal from the District Court
of Alaska to the Supreme Court, the purpose
Delng TO get this question before the court
de thought we could not object to decision
Dy our own Supreme Court, How Mr.. Blaine
ana the PRESIDENT regard it Is not made pub
lie; but they are believed to be not at all
pleased at the turn affairs have takep. Itis
even intimated that the affair may lead to a
serious strainiDg OF friendly relations be-
tween the administrations of the two cOun-
tries, and that Mr.. Blaine may regard Sir
Julian Pauncefote hencefOrth as persona
non grdt0. These are only rumors, however
AT the cabinet meeting today. the affair was
discussed informally only. There is less
need OF action at once, as the case is not yet
fully before the court, as Twas generally in
ferred Yesterday. The petitioners yesterday
moved an injunction, or rather prohibition,
as IL Is termed in admiralty cases. Tue AT
toIney General then arose in his place at
the bar, and objected to this
introduction OF the motion. He did on sew
eral grounds. First, he claimed tn It the Su-
preme Court has no jurisdiction In the case
at issue. which originated in the District
Count OF Alaska. This he argued briefly
that the case In point was a political one
without legal aspects and had no place In
tne supreme Court He claimed that 1t was
unconstitutional for the Supreme Court to
administer upon matters belonging to the
Executive Department. There were several
Otner minor points In his argument. The
court Immediately denied the right of the
petitioners to make their motion and set
DAY, two weeks from yesterday, when the
question OF admitting the motion will be
nually and formally be argued. Upon the
action OF the court in admitting rejecting
the motion wi depend, whether the right to
seize BRITISH sealers on the high seas is to be
sedtled at law or diplUmatIcally.
Inc OIL Tor public building at Lewiston
passed hnally in the House and Senate to-
uay. IL having been delayed in conference
between the two houses