West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1891-11-19
OUK WASHINGTON LETTER.

Not since the packing" Of the
United ~ supreme Court by a
Republican Preside 10 get the
&C q rated legal tender decision.
has there been such a bold attempt
GA the part 81 tho administration TO
iuhnencc q decision OF the Supreme
Court "a that which occurred here
this week when the Attorney Cen
eral Informed tho Supreme Court
that listening TO an argument by
the Solicitor General in the now cell
ebratcd Sayward case. winch invcl-
YES the question Of American jurs
diction over Behring's Sea, that
treaty bad been concluded with
Great Britain. by which the dispute
questions concerning the rights Of
the United States are 20 be settled
by arbitration. Without entering
into the question Of the righIfulness
Of the position taken by tie United
States in is Arguments in this ctsc
that the case is political and
therefore under the exclusive iuris-
diction Of the Prcsidcnt-it is
desired to call special attention TO
the method adopted by the admin
istration, through its representative.
the Attorney General, to influence
the Court TO decide that 10 has no
jurisdiction. IL was on the last
day Of the argument that the Soil.
citor General. apparently by slip
Of the tongue, alluded to a treaty
with Great Britain for the arbitra-
ton Of thu Behring'S Sea dispute.
Justice Gray asked q question con-
corning that treaty. and the Sole j.
tor General, apparently confused.
said that he was afraid that he had
betrayed \ State secret. just at
this oPportune moment the Attor-
ney General arose and dramatically
stated that such "a treaty had been
negotiated, and that only the rati-
ficatiOn Of the Senate was necessary
for it to go intoefsct. 1t was plain
II be seen that the statement crea-
ted sensation among the justices
of the court, just as il was intended
that it should. There is no doubt
that the scene had been carefully
reheaised by the Attorney General
and the Solicitor General, nor Is
there that this information was
made public At just this time aud
place for the express purpC se Of
influencing the court 10 decide the
question as the administration
wants it TO decide. No details are
ascertainable Of this alleged treaty,
and there are grounds for the belief
that ii has not yet been entirely
agreed upon, notwithstanding Tie
positive statement Of the Attorney
General. Mr.. Blaine refuse point
blank 20 say one word about &c..
which is Of i.s.f significant. But
whether the treaty has been conc.u
ded or is only near conclusion,
makes no difference. The time
place and manner Of making 10 pub
lie was wrong The executive
branch Of the Government x eeds
its Constitutional authority when
ever it attempts in any way to M
n Hence the Judicial branch, which
by the constitution male co ordi
nate in authority. But. como e.
think IL, what Republican admins
ira ion ever respected the Const Ga
ton when it did not accort with lis
designs
Four Of the Candidates fr
Speaker are ia Wash ngfru D.
Messrs. Mills, McNillin. Spring,
and Bynum-but as the numtcr OF
Democratic Representative here s
small, there is nothing new 10 be-
said Of the contest. Each % the
candidates appear 70 be crnfdcnt
Of success. As there will bee ten
days between Thanksgiving day
md The opening Of Congress ihit
year. 10 is probable chat the rcal
contest for the Speakership viii be
compressed into those ten days
SIR. Harrison U.s. having consider
able trouble in making up q new
slate for tho important appoint
ment soon to be made, iu place Of
the one smashed By the State cleo
tions. Re is seeking advice in al
quarters This week Boss Clark
son paid him ano.hor visit. and