Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-03-13
Their Important Decisions Get
Into the Newspapers
Long Before They Are Announced---
Something Must Be Done.
Two Very Much Abused MortaIs-In Politics
for Fun.

greatly 10 tne uisSust vi Inc JtfstiOES.
Time and again have they endeavorcd to
ascertain where the weak point in their
armor is, but without success. The in
come tax decision was published few
days before the court was ready to an
nounce it from the bench, and though an
investigation was ordered nothing impor
tant came OF the inquiry. Some members
of the court think they have the power to
haul up offenders in this regard and pun
ish them for contempt, and while there
seems to be little doubt of their power
most of the justices feel that it would be-
beneath the dignity Of that BENCH the
greatest in the world, to do SO. Still tho
Justices are tired of having all their i'm
portant decisions published before an
nouncement, and sooner or later they may
decide to take drastic measures to put u
stop to the annoyance.
VIII Bear Watching.
A good story is told in court circles CON
corning two of the latest instances Of deci-
sions leaking out to the newspapers. \
week or two ago the court announced its
decision on the Stanford will case and was
ready on the same day to hand down its
decision on the interstate commerce case.
1t CHANGED that q Chicago paper had learn
ed what the decision was to be in tho rail
road case and had published it in advance
with full particulars. Innsmuch is no
opinion in this case had been written bT
Justice Brown, the members of the court
naturally turned to him for an uxpiana
ton. Justice Harlan, " ho WAS particG-
larly indignant that the leak should have
occurred in such an important ease, affect
ing all the railroads il tho country,
obtained a copy Of the Chicago paper
marked it with big blue pencil marks ANA
sent it to Justice Brown, with tbs ,.ulno-
randum, s. You had better watch your see-
rotary" A few days later along came q
San Francisco paper with the Stanford de
oision printed in advance and in full, and
Justice Brown, NOT unmindful of the OPP
portunity, secured q copy Of that paper,
marked it with blue pencil, scrubbed on
the margin "You had better watch your
secretary, with the word your under
scored, and sent it to Justice Harlan. In
asmuch as the opinion in the Stanford
case had been written by Justice Harlan
Justice Brown naturally thought he had
got even. The justices like their little
jokes, and this bit of repartee afforded
them much amusement.
An Important Decision.
The interstate commerce decision is u
very important one. 1t holds that under
the laws of congress a witness may be
compelled to testify, and that refusal to do
SO under the plea of discriminating himself
cannot be allowed The law which was
passed to meet this special difficulty pro-
vided that there should be no prosecution
of witness based on his own testimony.
The railroads supposed the court would
decide this unconstitutional, but by di-
vision of five to four the court sustained
tho law. This decision will effect some
what Of q revolution in railroad circles.
Heretofore the roads have been able to cut
rates to favorite shippers by means of re
bates and to conceal the fact from the in
terstate commerce commission, and thus
avert successful prosecution by the simple
method of refusal to testify If neither
the officials of the road nor the shippers
would give evidence, the commission was
unable to apply the law successfully. The
result WIS the interstate commerce law, so
far as it applied to rebates and favcritism,
was practically dead letter 1t could be
defed with impunity. Under this decision
the law can be enforced. 1t will be prac-
ticable to punish offenders, and instead of
q mere statistical bureau tho interstate
commerce commission will again become
powerful force in regulating railway
traffic.
Much Misunderstood.
Few men in this country are more
talked about just now than Thomas G..
Platt the great political boss of New
York. One of Mr.. Platts friends gave
me some interesting gossip about him the
other day Thomas Collier Flatt, said
he, "is misunderstood man. He is not
half as bad 40 he appears. He simply has
passion for politics, that is all. To him
politics is the greatest of all games, the
most delightful OF all amuseinents. Mr..
Platt is not selfish at all. Whatever lie
wins in politics is for the benefit of bis
friends. He asks nothing for himself
He stands By his friends too No man
that lives can accuse Mr.. Platt of going
back on promise or Of acting the migrate.
Platt has never made money in politics.
On the contrary, he has spent fortune in
it. But for politics he would now be @
very rich man, whereas his wealth is not
estimated at more than 500, 600 MIR.
Platt is wonderful man in many respects
His grip on politics is one of tho most re.
markable things we have ever seen in this
country. And yet politics is to him only
side issue, only u advertisement What
would he be If he made business of it.
Mr.. Platt rises early every morning. wher
ho Is i'll good health, and goes to his office
You know he is in the express business
and handles q great business machine
All day he spends at this, and when he has
had his dinuor the evening be deyotes tc
his pet fad, which is political manipula.
ton. l say, suppose ho were to give III
the express business and devote all his
time to politics?''
Another mach talked of man is Senate,
ssuay, who Is to Pennsylvania what Mr.
flatt Is to Now York. Mr.. Quay makes q
business of politics and has done SO for tho
last quarter Of a century He is perhaps
the most skil;ful politician in this country,
ono phase of Mr.. Quay's nature is that
wheh he goes into fight he goes in all
over. he never stops to count the cost
ne RISKS everything. heard a stor,
about his great fight in Pennsylvania last
summer. AT first every one supposed ht
would lose. Things did look black
quay ran short of money. In order I,
pull through he had to mortgage every hi
OF property he had in the world and /,
borrow all his personal credit would com
mand. His expenses in that campaip,
were not less than $4,000. His postao
niil alone was over $1,000. Truly polite
Is an expensiye luynryI