The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-12-20
GRIGGS CONCLUDES
SPLENDID ARGUMENT ON HIS SIDE
OF THE CASE.
STATUS OF THE TERRITORIES.
SUBJECT THOROUGHLY GONE INTO
NJ ATTORNEY GENERAL.

Under the Constitution as Are Con-
ferred by Act of Congrc-s-A Dif-
ference between Organized Rnd
UnorEaniEed NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
rotary Day ia AttendRnce-Court
Room Crowded.
Washington. Dec i9.-The United States
supreme Court again was crowded 90 its
nllI capacity to-day to hear the conclud-
sng arguments In tho cases involving the
-ta0s OF Porto Rico and the Philippines.
Among those who secured points Of van
raec IN the area reserved for the bar was
Judge Day. who as Secretary OF State
curing the critical stages OF the war with
spain. aud later AS head Of thc American
,1mmissioners who negotiated the treaty
ar peace AZ Paris. was one OF the mos, in
fucntial factors IN shaping che conditions
now under discussion before the court
Former Secretary Carlisle and other
PROMINENT members Of the bar and Of the
tuo houses OF Congress were present.
Attorney General Griggs concluded the
presentation Of the government case
celebrating the points he enunciated yes
terday. one Of these was the distinction
between organized territories and unor-
ganszed territory under che jur sdiction OF
the United States Justice Brewer had
asked the Attorney General TO make clear
his views on this distinction.
Mr Griggs took up territory af,er ter
Titory. showing IN each case that Il came
under the operation Of the laws Of the
United states by an act Of Congress
specifically extending the laws 90 the ter
ritory and not ex-proprio vigorc. He said
that while Rhode Island and South Car
olina stood outside Of the Union they
were treated a. foreign states. and when
they ultimately assented 10 the Union.
Congress passed law extending the rev
enuc laws to them
I'm the case Of Louisiana the Attorney
General SAID that an tho declarations OF
jefferson were TO the effect that In order
10 come under the operation OF the laws
Of the United States those laws must be
explicitly extended 10 now acquis ltous.
Jefferson selected certain acts TO be i'm
modiately extended and others TO be ex-
tended from time TO time as might be
found practicable
The Attorney General directed attention
in the instance Of the acquisition Of Fiori-
d. 20 the fact that three American
statesmen. Monroe. John Quincy Adams
and Andrew jackson. each OF whom was
elected President OF the United States.
united In declaring officially that the con-
sitution did not apply Of IT'S own force to
f.ss
hy virtue Of the act OF acquisition but
that such extension must be accomplished
hy the action OF Congress.
Mr. Griggs also specified the territorial
organization OF Oregon Missouri. Mon
tana and Wyoming Ia each case showing
that Congress specifically extended the
avs % these territories
Finally as TO the extension Of laws 20
tho territories Mr.. Griggs said that by
act Of Congress 10 1873. Congress had eN-
pressly extended the constitution and fed
eral laws 70 the organized territories"
and to every territory. hereafter organ
lied" But the act went no further than
organized territories" and could not he
interpreted TO mean that aXpanse Of coun-
Try entirely unorgauized. The Guano
Islands were cited iu support Of the prop
oshion thai territory may belong 10. or be
under the jurisdiction Of the United States
NANNWAA NfAH@ A'iAN VI AiAff taafF7+& tAAssF
over seventy different islands keys ana
groups OF islands have thus been taken
possession Of aud made for such special
purposes the property OF the United
States They enjoy certain privileges I'M
der the law and the United states Su-
premo Court has recognized their status
but they are not a part OF the United
States.
Justice Brewer and Harlan asked num-
Der Of questions
Justice Brewer asked II the Attorney
General held that as Congress extended
the constitution and laws 90 the organic
"a territories. Congress also could take
them away from the territories.
Mr.. Griggs answered that this was
most serious question. but he thought IL
safe TO say that when the laws were
once extended 90 territories On inviolable
contract was created and could not be
broken.
Justice Harlan asked the Attorney Gen
cral 20 state later on 10 what extent Con
gress could impose a tarln 10 be collected
against goods coming from New Mexico.
Arizona and Alaska. Justice Brewer also
reminded Mr Griggs that Oklahoma was
not included la che treaty taking Ia the
Louisiana aud Mexican territory. and was
an apparent exception 20 the rule stated
by the Attorney General MIR Griggs
said that Congress. at It's last session. IN
enecs. declared that the existing tarih
laws were applicable against the goods OF
Porto Rico. This was In the act Of last
March. RENTING 10 Porto Rico certain
duties collected under exiting law
This. Mr.. Griggs declared. was an asser-
ton BY both branches OF the prcsens Con-
grcss that the tariff act which was the
existing law" operated against Porto
Rico.
Justice White asked che Attorney Gem
cral ~ he claimed that Congress could
20 exempt territories from the laws as 10
give them privileges not enjoyed hy the
states
Mr.. Griggs responded that he did 90
claim. thas In fact the territories had
been for years exempted from Internal
revenue and direct taxes.
The Attorney General referred TO the
celebrated case Of Lsoughborough versus
Blake. whereupon Justice Harlan. reading
from that decision. asked Mr. Griggs what
Chief Justice Marshall meant In saying
The tpower 20 lay and collect duties.
imposts and excuses. may be exercised,
and must be exercised Throughout the
United States"
Mr.. CrigEs said throughout the United
states" referred to the states OF the
Union, but Justice Harlan pointed out
that II rcfererd also 60 the District OF Co
lumbia and the terrsory west OF the Mis-
souri,.
D