The Hazel Green herald. [volume] (Hazel Green, Wolfe County, Ky.) 1885-19??, 1891-11-21
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, Nov. Il


No case argued before the Supreme
court for years has had such an impor.
tant bearing upon the fundamental prin-
ciples of this government as the Sayward
case, involving the jurisdiction of the
United States over Behring Sea. The
arguments were concluded this week, but
it will probably be some time before
decision is announced, as the principles
involved are of too much Importance to
be decided without the most cOnsidera-
ton on the part of the eminent gentle
men who compose what has been most
appropriately called "the greatest tribu-
nal i'm the world" 1t involves nothing
less than construction of the constitu-
tional authority conferred upon the three
coordinate branches of our government
executive, legislative and judicial. To
the ordinary mind it appears that the
position taken by the Attorney General,
as the representative of the executive
branch of the government, is the correct
one. He argued that the question of
the jurisdiction of the United States over
Behring Sea was entirely political and as
such it was proper and constitutional
that it should be determined by the
President and that such decision on the
part of the President being merely the
performance of his constitutional func-
tiOns, cannot be reversed by the Supreme
Court. Nevertheless il will be remem-
bered that the position taken by the gov
eminent in the beginning of this case,
that the Supreme Court had no authority
to entertain the original motion for leave
to file petition for writ of prohibition
was Overruled. During the arguments
the court room was daily crowded with
eminent constitutional lawyers from all
sections of this country.
November 30 has been set by the Su-
preme Court as the day to argue the case
involving the constitutionality of the
Mckinley tariff act, and the case involv
ing the right of the Speaker of the House
of Representatives to count a quorum
These cases, although brought in the
name of business firms, are regarded a:
political; but that does not lessen the
importance of the decisions, in fact
it rather adds to it. If the Supreme
Court shall hold that Speaker Reed hac
the authority to count a quorum when
ever enough members were in the House
whether they answered to their names Ol
not, it will be death-blOw to that style
of filibustering.
Representative Mills, Mcmillan, By
mum and Springer, all candidates FOL
Speaker, are on the ground ready to con
vert the unpledged Congressman as they
arrive, but as vet none of them are over
worked. For some reason, probably be
cause they know of the presence of the
candidates aud their friends, the Repre-
sentatives are slow in arriving Thi
state of affairs makes il impossible to say
whether any one of the candidates i
making more Roadway than his cOmpet
tors. All of them continue to expires
confidence of election, and to hear tn,
friends of any one Of them you woulC
suppose that everything was already set
tied and that only one name would b,
mentioned i'm the caucus. Mr.. Mills
statement that he has made no pledge
and that he should make none, is calcu
lated to make new friends.
The first week in October, 1892, is tn
time set for the National encampment O
the G.. A. II. in this city. Nearly fort
posts have already engaged quarters 70
the encampment
The administration certainly adopted
queer way of informing the public that Al
agreement had been reached as to tn
questions to be arbitrated growing on
Of our dispute with Great Britain abou
our rights in Behring Sea, for it is Gel
tain that the statement that such Al
agreement had been made and onl
} awaited the ratification of the Senate :
! go into effect, would not have been mad
by Solicitor General Taft in his argu
ment before the Supreme Court in tn
: Sayward case, and confirmed by Attorne
General Miller, il it had not been prev
ously decided upon by the ADMINISTERS
ton. The nature of the agreement, @
} rather treaty, is still a State secret blu
dollars 10 ginger cakes that IL will b
found out before the Senate acts upon Il
The rumors from Brazil continue 10 b
extremely disquieting To those who al
in any way interested in the commerce
: with that country under the rcciprocit
= agreement. Official news there Is mex
20 none. and the little that Is received
unimportant, which only adds TO III
!, anxiety, ais il shows that the powers thi
: be, IN that country, are in snnle wa
preventing the sending out Of news CO.
efing the real situation,
u The struggle for the National Repul