Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1895-12-16
NOT ALTOGETHER BAD.

There has been good deal Of con-
demnatlon Of the United States gu
preme Court during the past fow
months 10 certain quarters, and It has
beon proclaimed loudly that the high
est Judicial tribunal In The land IL
given over wholly to the big corpora.
tlons and money interests. No doubt
there Ia occasional room for orllioising
the cour. Of last resort, for its members
arc but human, and sometimes have
been known 10 voice the general
sentiment OF the people when perhaps
the rigid rules OF Justice wonld have
required tho pursuit Of an opposite
course. But 10 say that The Supreme
court IL In the situation claimed by
many agitaiors, especially among the
workingmen's organizations, where II
will not administer Justice 90 between
the poor people and tho rich monopo-
Lies. IL to make an assertion that is
unwsrrAntod by the facts.
An incident that may serve 10 Illus.
traie this comes In au account Of pro.
oeedings In tho Supreme court on
Friday last. Tho case Of Mr,. Nora
o'Bfisn against the Union Paoldo
railroad WAS up for hearing. Mrs.
O'BTlen II a poor woman whose hus.
band, locomotive engineer In the
railways employ, received injuries ia
1898, from which he died. In the
lower courts the was awarded
damages, ana the railway carried
the case up. Mrs. o'Brien was too
poor 10 pay the expenses Of her counsel
TO Warrington or TO retain some ono at
tho capital to represent her, 10 the
only showing her case had was
orudely prepared briet when the
case was called on Friday morning,
Senator Thurston put In an appear.
Rnoe, ready to argue the oass In behalf
fthe road for which he has been gen
sral solicitor so long, but from which
he ia now retiring as quickly AZ con.
venisnl, owing TO bis being In the u.
3. senAte. ue had read the brl5i on
behalf OF Mrs. o'Brlsn, and quickly do.
teoied iA vulnerable points. But the
court had learned the reason Of Mfs.
o'Btien not having an attorney pres.
eat TO argue her case, and bbioro the
discussion was through tight OF tho
brightest and best informed lawyers In
the county came TO the rescue Of tho
poor woman in the persons OF the Jus.
tioes II the United States Supreme
court themselves, and qulzzod Senator
Thunlon 20 seRrohingly anu unmeroi.
fully that 1t lie doubtful II the highest.
priced attorney In Washington could
have presented the O'Brisn side Of the
case In ~ favorable condition as II
was WREN submitted TO the courts de.
liberat.ous Tor the decision that 10 to
come in the nesr future.
No DOUBT when this case Ia passed
upon, luttlce will bs admiuistered as
between the railway anu tho engi.
nesr's wife, regardless Of the wealth
or poverty Of either. And % q gsnor.
ri proposition It may be safely said
that when the justices Of the supreme
court are iairly informed on the Issues
before them, there is not much
vavering In iayoTlusm to one side or
the other. The luallcea readily rooog.
nlSs that the safety Of the country llps
TO great exten. In the confidence the
people have In the judiciary, and II
public speskers and writer's Throughout
Tue country were ne careful In endeay.
orng to preserve that conHipuee as are
Tho majority Of the Judiciary, there