Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1900-11-19
From NANhlNGTUh.
Correspondence OF the Alexandria Gazette

(Correspondence OF the Alexandra Gazette
Washington. November 10.
The Supreme Court of the United
States today held TO be constitutional
the law Of Tennessee which prohiblts
the sale OF cigsrettes in that State. Will
liam B. Austin had appealed from de-
cision against him rendered by the Su-
preme Court of Tennessee. He claimed
that the cigarettes were imported into
the State 10 original packages and that
by prohibiting such importstlons Ten
nessee was interfering with Interstate
commerce. justice Brown IN announce
ing the courts decision today said thai,
cigarettes constituted a legitimate arti
Gle of commerce and be continued: mo
other vegetable has contributed ss
much TO the comfort or solsce oil
human kind. The court cannot
recognize the alleged harmful quality
% cigarettes. II is not prepared
to say that 1t believes they are harm
ful although from what We see 10 the
newspapers it is evident that there is
general belief in their deletetious efec!
upon the young particularly. The Court
holds that it is within the province OF
legislatures to say how far cigarettes
NAV be placed ON sale but they cannot
iudict them" Justice Brown held,
however, that the cigarettes had not
been sent into Tennessee in original
packages and for that reason the pro-
bibitory law which barred them was
constitutional. Chief Justice Fuller
a nd Justices Shiras, Peckham ANDREW
er. in a dissenting opinion, held that
the full control Of interstate commerce
il vested and for that reason the Ten
aessee law ia unconstitutional. The
sign in the office OF the clerk of the U.
s. Supreme Court, prohibiting cigar cite
smoking still hangs over the mantel.
The republican members OF the ways
and means COMMITTEES of the House OF
Representatives of Congress will NEE
here tomorrow to map out legislative
programme for the coming session.
The proposed revision of the war reve-
oue act will be considered. President
Mckinley and Secretary OF the Treas
ury Gage have agreed that q redu ;tion
of fifteen million dollars will be about
right Tor next year and the ways and
means committee will prepare the
measure WHICH is to carry out this pro-
pramme intelligeDtly. A larger reduc.
ton might have been recommended
we're it not for the heavy expenditures
10 the Philippines and in China. The
tax on requests for charitable purposes
will. it is said, be removed. There will
probably be reduction of the tax on
deeds and mortgages. The brewers
have asked for tightening OF their
burdens, but it ia unlikely that the
beer tax will be either abolished or re-
duced, There may be q few slight
changes Ia favor of the manufacture o.!
proprietary medicines.
Secretary Long said this morning
that the cable from Manila stating that
Capt. Bownan q. McCalla of the Newark
was undergoing trial by court martial
vas an error. The alleged charges are
Irrational and bad management and
lack OF decipliDe." Outside of the Sec
retary's office it is learned that about
week ago Capt. McCslls and his sub
ordinate, Lieut.. Caldwell had o con-
troversy in which the lstter's crimina-
lion against his superior were 80 serious
that Admiral Remey was forced to
order q court of inquiry. The charges
are substantially 90 reported in the
cablegram. The matter is regretted
exceedingly as Capt. McCails Is known
az a brave officer and one who made a
great name for himself in the China
campaign. He was diciplined several
years ago for harsh treatment of mem
hers OF his crew.
Before any legislation Is adopted IN
the Senate on tue Isthmian Canal Ques :
ton. an attempt will be made by th q
administration to secure the ratification
of the Hay-Pauncefote treaty. This
treaty pledges that the canal, when
built. shall be neutral in war is we'll as
in peace. Its friends claim in no other
way can the safety OF the water be
secured. The document also provides
that there shall be no foriifcstion erect
ed on the canal, il being urged that
these would invite an attack In case
OF war and that any way the best way
ia protect il would be by means OF
naval vessels at each entrance ODpo-
nents of the treaty at the last session
protested so strongly against the alb.
sence OF provision for Notifications that
an amendment wss offered by the COM
mittee on Foreien Relations providing
that nothing in thu treaty should re-
strict measures which the o. 8. may
e I'D 1t necessary to take for securing by
its own forces the defense OF the canal
and the nj sintensnce OF order along its
routs. The administration will exert
all OF its influence to postpone consid-
GRAFTON of the canal bill until action 70
had upon the treaty.
Minister Harris, OF Indiana, the u. s.
representative at the Austria Hungarian
court, today notified the President and
Secretary OF State that be would ask to
be relieved from duty at his present
post ct the end OF his term next March.