The times., 1897-05-25
SUPREME COURT RULINGS
Powers of the Interstate Com
merce Commission Passed On.
HAS NO RIGI.T TO FIX RATES
Presidents Right TO Remove Dis
trjct Attorneys Before the Ex-
piration OF Their Terms OF Of
flee ined-Inportant Opin-
ions Rendered.

The Supreme Court of the United states
convened yesterday morning in the last
session of this court term.
An important decision was rendered by
Justice Brewer i'll the case of the Inter
state Commerce Commission, appellant,
against the Cincinnati, New Orleans and
Texas Pacific Railroad.
This case involved an important ques-
tion as TO the jurisdiction of the commerce
commission to make and maintdin max
immn rates for railroad traffic Counsel
for the railroad company contended that
the commission had not the right The
commission argued that il did not make
rates or fix them, but ON the contrary
only regulated unreasonable charges.
Justice Brewer held, however, that The
commission had not the power To flx
rates and rendered a decision in support
of the question raised by the appeilees
Another important case decided was that
of Mr.. Lewis +. Parsons of Alabama. This
case involved the power OF the President
to remove United States district at
torney before his term of four years had
expired.
Mr.. Parsons was appointed by Presi-
dent Harrison a United States district at
torney fol- a term OF four years. President
Cleveland removed him after he had per
formed the duties of the office less than
two years. Mr. Parsons protested that
be could not be removed until the expira-
ton OF his term, and when the Executive
insisted otherwise, In order TO test the
power OF the President, Parsons petitioned
the Court OF Claims for the salary for the
uneXpired term.
The question devolved upon the meaning
of the statute providing for the appoint
ment of United States district attorneys.
The Supreme Court of the United States,
in disposing of the case, held that while
tie statute provided that the term of office
should terminate at the end OF four years,
yet the appointment might be terminated
before that time by the President.
In the case of Brooke Mackall against
westel willoughhy, involving "a question of
indebtedness charged to certain real es-
tate in the District of Columbia, Justice
Shiras affirmed the decision of the District
of Columbia court of appeals
Justice Harlan rendered a decision in
the case of Charlotte NJ. McGreal and VIII
lam p. McGrea against Rose NJ. Taylor
and Mamie E Norment, executives Of
Sarah Uternehle.
This case was appealed from the court
of appeals of the District of Columbia, and
in the opinion handed down yesterday the
decision of the court OF appealsi is reversed
and tho case rcmanded for further pro-
ceedings according to law.
The decision of the court of appeals is
affirmed in the case of f. ]. Peck and Leo
Simmons against Christian Heurich. This
case involved the title to certain land in
the District, which was disputed by the
appellees.
The case OF Blythe against Hinckley,
involving the estate OF the late millionaire
Blythe, of California, was dismissed for
want of jurisdiction. The effect is 10
leave the property in the possession of Mrs
Hinckley, daughter of the millionaire