The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-12-11
SUPREME COURT DECISIONS.
The wichita reservation Case one
OF the matterx Dlxponed OF.

The Wichita Reservation Case One
OF the Matters Disposed OF.
In the Supreme Court OF the United
States yesterday Justice Harlan an
nouneed the decision Of the court in the
complicated case OF the Ch0ctaw and
ChlekasaW Indians and the Wichita IN
dlaus and affiliated tribes. involving the
TILE to about 1880. coo acres CT land
known as "the leased district" and form
ing part OF the Wichita Reservation.
The lands n question are situated be-
tween the Red River OF Texas and the
Canadian River On the north and south,
and the ssth and Tooth meridian OF Iongi-
tude east and west The Indians ceded
the whole territory to the United States
in 1885. and later set up the claim that
they we're entitled to the proceeds OF that
part OF the lands not required to give the
Wi1hitas. who number 1885, eaca Is0 acres
IN seTeralty.
This claim the Court OF Claims allowed,
finding that the United States held the
land in trust for the Indians and that when
they ceased TO be the homes OF the red
men the proceeds OF their sales should 60
TO them There were two sets OF claim
ants-the Choctaws and Chickasews and
She Wichita and affiliated bands OF Indians
Justice Harlan made an interesting re-
view OF the history Of the tract, from the
date CT the first treaty OF 1918. including
that from 1885 70 1855. the United States
was lessee IN trust of the ChoctaWs and
Chickzsaws for the benefit of the Wlchi-
tas ard affiliated bands
In tbc war OF the rebellion the Indians
took the part Of the Confederate States
and in 1855 a new treaty vas negotiated
with them a a council held in Fort Smith.
Ark when they were told that they had
forfeited their rights by their conduct
during the war By that treaty the
United States the territory west Of the
ssth degree Of longitude The leased dis
trict," and received in return 5000 to
be held by the United States at per cent
interest for the Indians.
IN view Of alE the facts the Supreme
Court reversed the judgment Of the Court
of Claims in so far as it sustained the
claim Of the Choetaws and ChiekaSaws.
and rennanded the case with Instructions
to fad for the Wichitas and affiliated
tribes in accordance with the facts and
may be consistent with the law
Justice Peckham also announced the
opinion and Judgment OF the court in the
case of Jacob F. Jacobson vs. The
Wisconsin and wilmer and Sioux Falls.
MINI. and Pacific Railroad Companies
from the Supreme Court of Minnesota
| The TWO roads cross at Hanley Falls, and
jacobson sued to compel then TO con-
stTact a connecting the two roads
so as TO permit OF an interchange OF
traffic. From HaRley Falls to Sioux City
by the wilmer line IL is Isl miles. and
by the Minnesota, Wisconsin and Pacific
IL is $50 miles. To conserve public in
! teresss and convenience the Supreme
Court of Minnesota ordered the ''Y''
! track to be put in and the Supreme
Court CT the United States affirmed its
/ judgment in the caSe--tne provision. !"
/ the court saying as manifestiy reason
able one, tending directly to the accom-
/ mediation OF the public and in manner
not substantially or uarsasoR7bly Getri-
mental TO the ultimate interests Of the
| corporations themselves"
From this judgment. Justice White, for
himself and Justice McKenna. entered 2
vigorous dissent The decision. If ad-
hered to, meant a taking Of private prep
erty for the benefit OF the public or Of &
rival corporation without compensation
menaeiRg the peFpstuity and impartial ad-
ministraIion Of justice
Justice White gave the opinion Of the
Court sustaining the Missouri law classi-
! tying the city OF ST. Louis by itself for
registration purposes and The Law OF regis
tration enacted for the regulation Of voting
! in that city. The classification was OBJ
| jected TO on the ground that It was pro-
/ hibited by The State Constitution, but this
/ contention had been oTerTuled by the SU-
prcme Court Of Missouri, which said that
the Constitution did permit such CLASH
! feation. The construction OF the State
! Constitution By the highest court OF the
state was binding OF the Supreme Court
Justice White said, and that disposed OF
the first question The second, that the
| registration Law did not contain the equal
Just. wise. and saiutaFy provisions Of tbs
| previous statute, he said, was based upon
/ the idea that the right OF suffrage rested
! upon the fourteenth amendment TO the
| Constitution This, the Supreme Court had
decided in a number OF eases. wes net thE
case. and therefore the law presented NJ
Federal question for its decision The
! Judgment OF the Supreme Court Of Mis-
souri, was affirmed
| In TIE case OF the appeal Of r. A. vii.
lians, Chief Justice Fuller announced thu
iopinion Of the court that the taxation Of
an Immigrant agent" by tie GeargiE