Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1901-06-04
FROM HON. [. A. PRADT.
WASHINGTON, June 1st.


be interested in an account of the max
ing of an important page of the history
of the country by the supreme court on
Monday last, from source other than
a paid hireling of the press-from my
unprecedented self, in fact.
1t was pretty generally understood
that morning that the decisions in the
Porto Rican and Philippine tariff ques-
tons would be handed down then, since
it was the last session of the court prior
to the summer vacation, and so there
was notable audience present, which
included cabinet officers and their
assistants, senators and congressman,
and ex-United States officials of nation
al reputation, notably Secretary Carlisle
and Senators Chandler and Lindsay.
Amongst them were Secretary Root
and Senator Lodge, sitting together;
and, not far from them, the redoubt-
able Grosvenor, the reputed spokesman
of the administration, with near him,
Henderson. democratic leader in the
House. Here and there, too, were the
correspondents of the great dailies
Unlike common mortals, they were
consumed with no curiosity, for did
they not know all about the result in
advance Indeed, some of them had
written up all the particulars some days
previous.
just as the fingers of the ancient
clock above the august bench joined to-
gether at the hour of noon, a great
hush fell upon the assembly, for here
came the black-robed JUDGES in solemn
procession. Everybody rose at the
crier's announcements The Court, -
+bovr ,,ad +boir bo
bow of the Chief Justice
with the invocation God save the
United States and this Honorable
Court" lingering in their ears, more
than one instiuctively asked HIMSELF
What is the United States
At first the pulssant ones dallied with
the occasion. A quarter of an hour or
more was consumed by the iuriC1 iusti-
ces in announcing decisions in utterly
unimportant cases $50 they then
Seemed) and then the Chief Justice
nodded to Justice Brown. This signi-
fed nothing to the omniscient report
ers, who had settled it that Chief JUS
tice Fuller was to read the opinions of
the court in the famous cases, but
nevertheless Justice Brown, in his usual
deep, calm voice, but with suggestion
of a twinkle in his eye, proceeded to
say 6 am instructed by the court to
announce its opinion and judgment in
the so-called Insular cases" Straight
way tlutter and rustic ran through
the room; men Strengthened up in their
seats, and women shook out their plum
age.
The opinion which Justice Brown
now read was in the De Lima case, in
volving the legality of duties collected
at the port of New York upon sugar
imported from Porto Rico after the rat
ification of the treaty with Spain. 1t
presently began to appear that the decis-
ion was to be against the government
on the ground that the Dingley tariff
act applied i'll terms to goods imported
from foreign country, and that Porto
Rico was not a foreign country in any
sense. The various Representatives of
the administration present now began
to look solemn, and their solemnity
deepened into gloom when, after the
nOunced in favor of the plaintiff, Justice
McKenna began reading a dissenting
opinion, with unusual force and vigor.
1t looked as though the government
had nothing left but a kick, which was
Il.
senting opinion was strong and able;
it in a few pithy SEN
stood five to four The Chief Justice,
Harlan, Brewer, Brown and Peckham
being the majority. Justice Brown
next read the opinion of the same
majority in another of the cases, and
this time Justice White dissented with
fiery logic. In the course
of his scorching criticisms, he referred
to the decision yet to be announced, in
which the power of Congress to levy a
tariff on goods imported from Porto
Rico was asserted. Forthwith every
clouded face frightened, and a whisper
ran around that it was coming out all
right after all; and when the case of
Downes was next reached by Justice
Brown, and it became clear that he
with the four diSSenterS in the De Lima
case were now the majority in deciding
that the Foraker tariff act relating to
imports from Porto Rico was conStitu-
tional, there arose a composite sign of
relief that filled the room. Justice
White followed with a very long and
very earnest concurring opinion, in
which he denounced the reasoning of
his brother Brown, but joined in his
conclusions. Next, Justice Gray stated
his cOncurring views, with admirable
brevity and directneSS, in an odd piping
voice, that fitted well with his big, boy
like face. But now the dissenting opin-
ions from the other side were in order,
aud they were uttered in no uncertain
tone. First, the Chief Justice mar
shaded the authorities with scholarly pre-
ciSion, and pressed them home with the
lance of his wit. Then Justice Hal Ian
shifted his quid, sat up several feet
higher, and lookedsaround dangerously
for some one of his size to Jump on.
Failing in his quest, he began to hurl
great rocks of denunciation at the other
side, and to belabOr with the club of his
sarcasm some of their pet phrases. He
his remarks with sturdy
thumpS on the bench, and altogether
presented the appearance of earnest
ness, Unaffected by the appointment of
his son. When he had finished it was
about five o'clock, probably the longest
uninterrupted session of the Supreme
Court on record. By this time every
body was inquiring of his neighbor to
know Just what had been decided, and
who had agreed with whom; and alto.
gether it reminded one of the case of
the country orator, who was asked in
the middle of his speech whether, if
elected to the assembly, he would vote
for the primary election bill He re-
piled; I'm answer to this question |
have to say that | lUiH (cheerS from the
reformers) not Counter cheers from the
StalwartSl dRStrer !" (GroanS from every
body Indeed, the effect of the many
warning opinions was such that it was
discovered after adjournment that the
bust of the great Marshall, whose name
had been invoked and his opinions
On n ~ Si1aS IN Sttr,t,,rt -