The Washington times., 1901-10-16
SUPREME COURT HEARINGS
Session of the Highest Legal Tri-
bunal in Cramped Quarters.
Judiciary Committee Room mt the
Capitol Insufficient TO AcccnlmC-
date the Many Attorneys in At
tendnnce-The visitors Surprised.

The United States Supreme Court as
sembled yesterday in the room of the
Senate Committee on Judiciary at the
Capitol for practically the first day s
business of the October term, the session
Of Monday having been adjourned within
a few minutes in order to pay the Gus
tomary official call at the White House.
The convening of that august body in a
small committee room has occurred but
oprs before in its history, it is said, and
that on a comparatively recent occasion
Two years ago. when an explosion of gas
caused some damage TO the court room
the justices conducted their sessions in
the room of the District Committee. The
holding Of the present term Under such
circumstances therefore. IS q sufficiently
remarkable occurrence to attract more
than passing attention from Washing
tonians and marked expressions of sur
prise from prominent lawyers who have
come from distant parts of the country
to appear before the country's highest
tribunal.
Travelling hundreds of miles. as many
of these visiting baTristers have, to ap-
pear before the learned justices of the
nations court of last resort, the arrival
at the fountain head of justice and the
quarters occupied, have been the occasion
OF distinct and very unexpected reaction
in whatever expectations may have been
previously entertained.
Feeling a pt de in the vastness Of his
own country and of the place it occupies
today in the ranks of the worlds great
Powers, each patriotic visitor has had
his preconceived ideas of the grandeur
and imposing nature of the courts sur
roundings suddenly changed by finding
himself in a very unexpected local envi-
ronment. Instinctively he declares to his
inmost self that a condition exists thor
oughly unworthy of the nation aud its
seventy-seven millions of people.
The dignity OF the American Supreme
Court is matter Of history, unaffected
by circumstances of time or place. But
the dignity of the American citizen, be he
lawyer or not. is more Of passing attri-
butte and subject to external influences to
a marked degree. Ills mental agitation,
therefore, is more pleasantly pictured
than felt personally when, directed by
colored door:eeper down dingy passage
way, in which twinkle a few sleepy-look-
ing incandescents. he finds himself quick
Iy at the end of a structural blind alley
1t is filled with a crowd of well-attired
strangers, gently but persistently and
anxiously pressing forward to some un-
seen goal, which is eventually found to be
a veritable hole in the wall, the small
doorway leading to one OF the numerous
unpretentious committee rooms Of the
great American Congress.
The visitors first impression is one of
wonderment. then of actual surprise, CIV
ing way to mingled thoughts Of inexpressi-
bic estonishment, all his emotions being
but shades of the same general feeling.
He believes he has mistaken the way,
the hour or the location; but, no, he is
near the presence Of the United States
Supreme Court, and will be admitted to
the court room when some earlier arrival
is good enough to leave; but for the time
being Che learns with INTEREST," his erli-
nence as lawyer in his own section of
the country the Importance Of his
business before the court cannot be con-
sidered before the immutable decree of
nature that any measure of space once
filled cannot be made more filed.
The Chief Justice and his associates
filed into the temporary court room at
exactly L o'clock and heard the usual
motions. When individual attorneys had
finished their professional business they
courteously withdrew to permit their less
favored, but equally anxious, confreres
an opportunity Of addressing the bench.
An almost continuous stream of attorneys
was, therefore, in process of circulation
through one section of the room, while
the august Justices were forming the le-
gal record of appearances and motions
in important causes in the main portion
Of the apartment.
Prominent among the eminent practi-
tioners present were ex-senator George
l. 10
John T. Morgan Of Alabama, for years
associates in the upper house of Con-
gress. and probably two of the greatest
constitutional lawyers now practicing in
this country; near by was seated the
country wide famed car of leg
islation, Thomas B. Reed; further along
were Assistant Attorneys General Beck
and Hoyt, Solicitor General Richards, and
other Government lawyers, and leading
members Of the bar from a number of
States, near and far.
The mcst important cause before the
court yesterday from the point of view
both Of the length of time since the liti-
CATION was begun and the extent Of the
interests involved, was what have been
known as the hat trimming cases. a
decision on the issues involved has been
awaited since 1856 Final action was
taken yesterday by the notice given by
Solicitor General Richards that the Gov
ernment had abandoned its intention Of
asking for a rehearing OF the matter.
Several million dollars duty collected on
silk ribbon under the Wilson tarin act
Will therefore be refunded 10 importers.
The case originated fifteen years ago |
from the fact that The customs officials
assessed duty on a quantity Of imported
articles. rated by the inspectors at 80 |
per cent as goods OF silk, while the in |
porters claimed the goods should be ad- |
mitted at 20 per cent as materials for |
trimming hats. Suit was thereupon (
brought by the firms TO recover the diff |
ference paid in duties After a legal bat
tie lasting thirteen years the Supreme
Court, in 1893. decided against the Gov
ernment. A motion for a rehearing was
then made BY the Dcpa rtmcnt Of Justice
and that motion was pending until yes
terday. when, by direction Of the Solicitor
General it was dismissed, bringing the
case to an end.
A unique plea was advanced in the case
of Luigi Storti, sentenced to death Dy
electricity at Boston for killing Caiucci /
ccmpatriot, in 1893. Ia this case the
point had been raised that the sentence
was cruel and unusual punishment and
that the mode Of tTlal was not in accord |
anee with the provisions Of The treaty
with Italy. The counsel for the Common
wealth asked that the case be heard at
an early date, and IL y as SGT fer October !
% Another application for I.Ilt of error
was dismissed by the Supreme Court oa |
TIE last DAY Of the spring term but tn |
pending application went over Counsel
for Storn thcreupou raised the novel plea |
that as the date for execution had al |
ready passed, the prisoner should he con-
sidered legally dead. and 10 further pIo- !
ceedings lie had against Storti.