Waterbury Democrat., 1901-05-28
GR|GGS LIKES DECISION
The Ex-Attorney General Dis cusses Supreme Court Finding


 eusses Supreme Court Finding Says it is an Endorsement of the Ad-
 To-day After Three-Minute Ses-
 sion Until the Next Term-The
 Crowd in Attendance Waiting for
 the Decision Was the Most Distin-
 guished that Has Ever Been Seen in
 the Court Room for Long Time. New York, May 2S.-Ex-Attorney General John w. Griggs said of the supreme courts decision:
 Tt is a splendid victory for the ad- ministration on the vital principle of expansion, and clear cut victory for the government on the really vital point involved. Three distinct classes of action were involved: One protesting against the collection of tariffs upon imports from Porto Rico after the date of our armed occupancy of the island and before the date of the rati- fication of the treaty of peace; another protesting against tariff charges on imports between the ratification and the passage of the Foraker act, and a third attacking the Foraker law as unconstitutional.
 "The court decided that the Fora ker act is constitutional, that this coun- try has the legal right to govern It's new possessions as territories, to make special laws for them, and to tax their products. This has been the con- tention of the administration from the very start. 1t was the principal issue in the last campaign for president. Our Porto Rican legislation was select ed by MT Bryan as the main point Of attack in his Indianapolis speech. The decision puts quietus on that sort or thing. and takes the matter out of politics for all time."
 New York, May 2S.-Describing the scenes in the court room of the Unlted States supreme court when 1t rendered. it's decision in the insular eases, spe- cial dispatch to the Tribune rom Washington graphically says:
 No such crowd either as to numbers or distinguished personel had been ln the room as that assembled there, and long lines of eager people stretched both directions from the doors down the gloomy corridors of the great Cap- ito1 building.
 Promptly at 12 o'clock the court crier announced the appearance or s'the honorable the chief justice of the United States supreme court and the honorable associated justices" as these dignitaries, in their black silk robes Of office, emerged from an ante-room on theSnorth of the chamber. Disappolnt- ment darkened every face Ill the au- dience as Justice McKenna began to read decision in some ordinary lltl- cation by direction of Chief Justice Fuller immediately after the justices were seated Justice McKenna was followed by Justice Peckham, who droned out half audibly a decision i'll another case of no great interest. Bar and spectators were about in despair of hearing the long looked for opinion delivered before Justice Peckham had finished his task, when the voice or Justice Brown rang out the now famli- far title "De Lima against George R Bidwell collector,' etc. The crowd then knew that the court was ready to deliver it's decision in the great cases and impatience immediately turned to an eager interest, which was marked by silence that was awe in- spring.
 Justice Brown had read scarcely q third of the opinion before it became evident that the decision was against the government. It was known TOT some time afterwards that the suit of De Lima did not involve the vital point at issue. And so it happened that the bulletins were scattered broadcast that the supreme court had decided against the government. For fully an hour that belief weighed hea- willy on scores of men in the court room. Then the suspense was par tially relieved by Justice White, pon- derous of frame and voice, speaking a few words in which he took occasion to avow in effect that the court would soon declare the Foraker act consti- tutional.
 But not until Justice Brown again read an opinion, which at the outset heNdeelared to be that of the majority did the somewhat nonplussed crowd fully grasp the significance of Justice Whites timely hint.
 Secretary Root is quoted in a Wash ington dispatch to the Tribune as say ing of the decisions:
 "Unquestionably the decision of the court sustains the contentious, theories and the policy adopted by the admin istration in conducting the affairs of the Spanish islands since the ratifica- tion of the Paris treaty. The uphold ing of the Foraker act signifies that congress has the power to legislate without being limited by the provis- ionaI contingencies of the constitution. For instance. the constitutional provis- ion setting forth that uniform duties must be collected does not apply to the islands. The general result of the de- cision is certainly very gratifying.
 ''Of course, there will be some little embarrassment caused by the holding that no duties can be collected except by congressional legislation, but it will be only temporary embarrassment" ,"
 Washington, May 2S.-After ses- sion of three minutes the United States supreme court adjourned until the sec ond Monday in October. The brief session was devoted to the formal dis position of motions. The two remain ing insular cases. involving the inn portations from the United States to Porto Rico, failed to receive attention fn T 1a will hA