The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-01-15
r PORTO RICkN CASES.
.nuNIsTRATIoN HOPEFULLY
TIE ting FOR THE DECISION.

,5 IT'S Methous
AZ" tines Leak out in Spite of
.;ons--An Instant in Point.
,,neton. Jan. 14.-President Nc
N' and his political followers are
N Y,.ng anxiously but hopefully for the
N'' lining decision of the supreme
~ If the United States in the Porto
O0' ses the final arguments in which
n''' uo,5ered last week. 1t is conceded
.niri.tration circles, that the future
u 10. ae nolicy of this government wIl de-
- largely upon the decree which the
Court may hand down in those
eUF II. view of the exigencies of the
aeon. it is generally admitted by those
oV'.re i'm the confidence of the members
WIZ ..,,rt that the decision will be de-
- without any unnecessary delay
n'''l .,esri5n for the court to. determine
,.op so thoroughly discussed in and
If the court room, that it is quite
Ou' bls that the individual judgments
pVI nine members of the court were
OF u" ,arured. if not wholly formed, even
w.. "a listening to the mastery presen-
r.sor of the subject by eminent counsel
last week.
~, ,dninistration is anxious to have
aa,ision of the highest judicial trlbu-
lin The land, as the basis for its policy
sooifre with our colonial possessions.
and if is expected that as soon as the
-,.,o, of the court is rendered prompt
op" will be taken to bring the subject
tore congress for legislative action be-
to-o the expiration of the present session.
IU'o -p,h is the intention of the
a5ministration, was evidenced py the
,uIa attention given to the proceedings
:. oonrt last week, by certain senators
"a CONSERVATIVES, who are recognized
au' ADMINISTRATION leaders in the two
US of Congress. 1t is understood that
H|aator Snooner has been selected by the
osn,tristration to frame an appropriate
rre i'm accordance with the findings
49, co,irt which will define the future
VI of this administration in our CO.
iorial possessions.
prbrc interest now turns from the
.a,,rt room. made memorable by the fact
.bat # was once the Senate chamber
and also by the proceedings of the Elec-
+oraI commission, when Hayes was de
"a PRESIDENT over Samuel j. Tilden,
+bo constitution room, on the floor be-
law where the decisions of the court are
nareed mon. The consultation room or
t5s Supreme Court is located immediate
l under the office of the Clerk of the
Court. 1t is a large double apartment,
with long conference table in the CEN
Tor The walls on all sides are lined with
hook shelves containing books of refer
p fIaa nam hGr
~ The court during their deliberations.
Tho court goes into consultation every
saturday. during the term, unless other
nise ordered and at these conferences,
which are conducted with profound secre-
~ the opinions of the court are reached.
The chief Justice sits at the head of the
+abla with Judge Harlan on his right,
and Judge Gray on his left. The rigid
adherence to the custom of seniority,
which prevails in open court. follows the
members of the court into the consulta-
ton room Junior Associate Justice Nc
Kenna occupies the seat at the foot OF
the table. In the consultation room the
Judges relax the dignity which they SO
religiousy observe in public, and throw
aside some Of the formal ceremonies which
are so conspicuous of the courts proceed
ings. There are easy chairs couches and
other conveniences for the judges, while
deliberations are in progress. Those
judges who enjoy a cigar. indulge them
selves behind the doors of the consu.ta-
ton room, aud distinguished judges have
been known to take a nap on one of the
couches while their brother judges were
struggling to reach an agreement upon
some tangled legal proposition.
1t may be interesting to state the for
al in
of the court. After each judge has been
given an opportunity to express his in
dividual conclusions, the chief justice calls
the roll beginning with the Junior asso-
ciate justice. Instead of replying yes
or nay each judge as his name is call
ed' responds by saying affirm or ere
verse, IN accordance with his opinion as
10 the decree of the court below, from
winch the case comes up by appeal. q
frequently happens that the eight asso-
cate Justices divide equally on a legal
proposition. which leaves the deciding
vote with the chief justice.
majority vote is necessary to reverse
me Judgment Of a lower court The rule
mat an evenly divided court affirms
we decree of the court below. 1t some
u'neS happens that a judge may decline
lol personal reasons, to sit in a certain
Vdse, or aosenteeism may produce an
evenly divided court. A member of the
majority is assigned by the Chief Jus.
uce 20 draw the opinion of the court. The
Judge thus selected is given a week OF
tl"e' as the Importance of the case may
uenldhd' to prepare the opinion. Wher
Is completed, he is required to read ir
.ouleFence' for such revision or amend
"ei' ds II may require. Occasionally q
Ulse VIII frame an opinion, which may
uordce the general principles of Law
Hou ny the court, but the reasons as,
@sned for reaching the conclusion may
wv ue acceptable TO a majority of hi.
associates If the author of the opinion
Hines TO accept the amendments pro
poeeu' some other Judge is assigned t
va" another opinion which will better
HpIess the views of the court, and thu
Senal opinion may be submitted as
assent 1t sometimes happens that thret
iouI dlssents are submitted in import
NJ. NV vases. When an opinion is accepta
Wv 10 majority of the court it is usual
court. rs 4'A"'''S III "Pe'
ior many years it was considered an un
peIuohaDle crime for decision of the Su
lint court to leak out prior to it
~ I'al uelVerance in open court. In spit
,rt.. safeguards thrown around the con
na, ,p.'oh room, and the almost heroic
co,,I. employed by the officers of TIL
dsoi., 10 prevent advance information o
ne sls!onS Of the court getting into tn
sJ,spaPers' it is not impossible to oc
.,o,,n, AMY anticipate the judgment of tn,
IT, III important cases.
eo,,. ioIiher days, when the docket of tn
ms.., was not as large as It is to-day
rrS. or the court were not Above
nans "1e secretary, at government ex
ou1 men the judges wrote out thei
Ii IL L