The Globe-republican., 1894-07-27
AN OPINION.
Justice Brewers Views ON Current
Events.
Causes Of the Late Business Panic-The
Strike and Its Less0ns-Powers Of
the Federal Courts Touched
Upon.
Justice Brewer Talks,

Justice Brewer Talks.
TOPEKA, Kan, July 23.-Mr. Justice
Brewer, of the United States supreme
court, who is visiting his daughter in
Topeka. stated in an interview last
night that in his opinion the present
tariff bill would not pass The failure
to pass the bill, Justice Brewer thought,
would mean that nothing would be
done with the tariff during the present
administration.
Speaking of the causes which led up
to the panic of 1898, Justice Brewer
said:
Business had been done on q speculative
basis for some time. and I think that in the at
tendant liquidation there would have been
financial trouble anyhow. However the tariff
question and the silver agitation had their eff
fects upon the country and intensified the sit
uatfon. With due respect to Mr.. Cleveland.
believe he should have called o special ses-
sion Of Congress in March immedi-
ately after his Inauguration. His
party had come into power upon
promises Of tariff reform and everyone was ex-
pectant Of changes Those who had any idea
Of investing money in new business enter
prises abandoned the thought until the ques-
ton Of protection should be settled in some
way. They cannot be blamed for that II
had had any idle money at that time do not
believe would have invested it, either The
American people adjust themselves easily to
legislative changes. and had the call been made
then for a special session in all probability the
democrats would have been able to pass q
tariff bill. They would have felt their party
pledges more keenly than they do at present.
Referring to the strike, Justice Brew
er said:
1t will be long time before the country re-
covers from the shock Of the strike The in
cendiarism and looting in Chicago I regard as
the work Of the thieves and thugs who make
Chicago, in some respects, the worst city in
this country. They are always ready to
take advantage Of such an opportunity as
great strike, and, in my opinion, are
responsible for the greater part of the
damage wrought in that city. do not
think the railroad men had a hand in 1t to any
great extent Some people think that the
strike will annihilate the organizations. but
believe it will in the end make them stronger.
They will see the necessity Of placing at their
head strong, cool and clear-headed men, like
Arthur, Of the locomotive engineers, and Of
discarding enthusiasts OF the Debs order. With
such men at the head they will be much more
powerful and great trouble will be avoided.
Asked in regard to the truthfulness
of the stories about the ''usurpation"
VI RONCT w VuC 1CuCTdl COuICS,
Brewer said:
The courts have no more power than they
had under the first years Of the constitution in
most respects. The acts Of 1867 and 1879
enabled a man to sue his creditor wherever
found and made some changes. but in general
the powers have not been enlarged. The
change is in the great increase in the volume
of business and subsequent enlargement Of the
corporations handling the same. Formerly
we never had such great transportation
companies as the Santa Fe system, With
its 1900 miles Of railway tracks. Receiver
ships were just the same. but the amount
of property handled was much less. The courts
do not find the receiverships OF railroads very
pleasant task. Why, when the Santa Fee COM
pany was placed in the hands Of receivers.
wrote to Judge Caldwell and congratulated him
upon having the work in his charge, at the
same time assuring him that 1 did not intend
to come out and handle it in any way. There
is simply an increased amount OF work and
much vexatiOn to q Judge in taking care Of
property placed in the hands of the courts in
this manner, and they are not anxious to as.
sumo the burden.