Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-01-24
The Ex-President Appears Before
the Supreme Court.
ARGUMENT In THE IRRIGATION CASES
This Afternoon the Distinguished
Visitor Calls on the President.
RECEIVING HIS FRIEN DIS

callers at the Arlington this morning, but as
he was in close conference with associate
| counsel in the California irrigation cases he
was obliged to excuse himself to all, with
the statement that he would be pleased to
receive them this afternoon after the close
of the hearing in the Supreme Court. Gen.
Harrison has arranged to call upon Pres.-
dent Cleveland at the White House this
afternoon about 4 o'clock to pay his re-
spects. Mr.. Tibbott his private secretary,
will probably accompany him to meet his
former associates in the Executive Man
sion. Gen. Harrison and Mr.. Tlbbott will
leave here this evening for Indianapolis.
The intimate friends of the ex-Presdent
assert emphatically that there is not the
slightest foundation for the sensational re-
port that his family oppose his marriage
to Mrs. Dmmick, and intimate that the
story originated with bitter personal ene-
my of Gen. Harrison.
At the Capitol.
The Supreme Court room was the center
of attraction at the Capitol today The an
nouncement In The Star yesterday that ex-
President Harrison would appear drew
| thousands through the mud and rain to the
Capitol and fer two hours before noon the
halls were thronged and the doors besieged
Owing to the very limited space IN the old
Senate chamber where the Supreme Court
sits the public was generally disappointed.
Few gained admission. and a long line
of visitors extended from the court room
door down the corridor awaiting opportun;-
ty for admission to the chamber. In the
court room were quite a number of Sena-
tors and Representatives and some of the
most prominent members Of the bar of
the country, including Mr.. Joseph Choate
Of New York.
Mr.. Harrison appeared just after the
marshal had called the court to order He
took a seat at a table Immediately in front
Of the chief justice, and sitting there in the
presence of many famous men he immedi-
ately became the target of all eyes. 1t was
his first public appearance in Washington
since he left the White House three years
ago. His appearance had changed but
slightly. The careworn look had disappear
ed and time seemingly had dealt kindly
with him. There was the same soft gray
hair and beard almost white, the clear,
pallid complexion and the bright gray
eyes He wore pair Of ordinary spec
tacles and consulted mis- notes freely while
ex-Chief Justice Rhodes, who preceded him.
was speaking. There was great array of
legal talent on both sides of the case Mr..
Harrison seemed entirely oblivious of the
demonstration On his account.
Statement of the Case.
The case involved the constItutionality of
the Wright act of California, which author
lied the organization of irrigation districts,
to be composed of lands irrigated from one
source of water supply, and gave the di-
rectors of such districts authority to issue
bonds to defray the expenses of acquiring
water rights, building dams, reservoirs and
similar works. Mr.. Harrison appeared as
special counsel in the case in favor of sus-
tanning the constitutionaIty of the Wright
act, he representing interested bondholderS.
The regular counsel in favor of sustaining
the law were Judge Rhodes, r. Percy
Wright of California and John F. Dillon of
New York, and against the law Joseph H.
Choate of New York, r. H. Bond and
George H. Maxwell of California.
Mr.. Harrison entered upon his argument
as soon as Judge Rhodes had finished. He
stood at the table, and with coat thrown
back ani hands plunged at times in his
pockets, at others resting akimbo on his
hips pushed out on the desk in front of
him. spoke with an earnestness and an air
of what might he almost termed pugnacity,
that is characteristic of the ex-Presdent.
His voice seemed weak as he began, but it
became clear and firm as he proceeded In
opening he wasted no time, but went to the
heart Of the contention at once.
The Ex-Presfdent's Argument.
In battle, he said, after the woods had
been shelled and the lines of the enemy To-
Gated, the issue was fought out in very
narrow compass. The details of the case
had been exhaustively placed before the
court, he said, and he would, therefore, con-
fine himself to what he regarded as the vital
issue-the taxing power of the state. That
power he regarded as full. 1t was proper
that the state should undertake to control
the water supply in the interest of its peo-
pie, and to distribute it through it's dele
gated representatives, boards Of directors
incorporated under it's law. Mr.. Harrison
called attention to the vast interests hinge
ing OH the decision in this case, as a number
of other states with irrigation districts had
followed the suit of California, and had
passed laws almost identical with the
Wright act.
Several times while the ex-President was
laying down proposition or citing a case
Mir. Choate, who sat at MS right, shook
his head in protest. Justices Brewer, Brown
and Shiras, all Of whom were appointe.s
of Mr.. Harrison, were especially respectful
in their attention Mr.. Harrison summed
up his argument briefly, and concluded at
z, O'Clock, having spoken nearly an hour.
The crowd in the court rapidly thinned out
as the other counsel proceeded.
Gossip About His Visit.
The presence of ex-President Harrison in
Washington excited much gossip among the
President makers.
It appears to be fully settled that the
Indiana delegation Is not to go to the re-
publican national convention to present
General Harrison's name. Talk with the
Indiana men in Congress confirms the state
ment of Mr.. Ransdell, that the delegation
will not present Gen. Harrison's name
to the convention. One of General Harri-
sons closest friends in the Indiana con-
gressional delegation said 10 Star re-
poTteF loudy tHat tfle 1nQlana OelegateS TO
the national convention would not present
Gen. Harrison's NAME and each delegate
would follow his own personal preferences
in supporting any one of the several can
didates presented to the convention They
would all want to see Gen. Harrison nom
mated, but they would not make the move
an that direction. II a deadlock should oc-
cur and General Harrison should be select
ed as the most available compromise can
didate, the Indiana delegation, to mar,
would acquiesce and rejoice to support the
eX-President. Otherwise his name would
not come before the convention.
To Accept the Ericsson.
Secretary Herbert has decided to accent
the torpedo boat Ericsson from the builders,