Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-03-18
THE SUPREME COURT
PORTO RICAN DECISION NOT Ex-
PECTED TILL AFTER RECESS.
Cases Acted Upon TOdny-MinnesOta's
Oleomargarine Law Not
Determined.

Chief Justice Fuller of the United States
Supreme Court today announced that the
court would take q recess from next Mon
day for a fortnight. The opinion Is quite
general that the decision of the court in
the Porto Rican and Philippine questions
will not be announced until after the con-
clusion of that recess.
The court announced today, through JUS
tice Shiras, it's opinion in the case of Ii
custody at Malone, N. Y, in 1897, on the
ground that he had secured admission to
the United States on fraudulent pretext.
Ii Sing left this country in 1898, having
previous to that time resided in the state
of New Jersey. He carried with him a GER
tificate from the Chinese consul at New
York, stating that the holder. was a mer-
chant. His arrest was made upon the
ground that he was not merchant, but a
lahorer. The United States commissioner,
gated the matter and found the charge
to be based upon fact. He held, therefore,
that Ii was improperly In the United
States, and issued decree that the man
took the case into the United States courts
on petition for writ Of habeas corpus.
The opinions of those courts were uni
formly opposed to the Chinaman, and their
opinions were confirmed by today's deci-
sion. The principal contention in the case
was that the decision of the collector of
customs admitting the Chinaman in the
first instance rendered it incompetent for
the United States commissioner to review
the case. but the court held differently. Lii
Sing will be deported.
Bonds Were Invalid.
The court today rendered it's opinion in
the case Of the commissioners Of Wilkes
validity Of bonds issued by Wilkes county
In pf ho No
railroad in 1899, under state laws passed
ton involved was whether the United
States courts in passing upon the case
should accept the construction OF the state
supreme court in the matter. Justice Har-
Ian handed down the courts opinien hold
Ing the state courts construction to be
binding.
The state court had held that under the
state constitution yea and nay vote by
the legislature in authorizing the indebt-
edness was mandatory. Such d course had
not been pursued In authorizing the bonds,
and the contention was made that 1t was
immaterial. The effect Of today's decision
is opposed to the validity of the bonds.
MinnesOta's OleOmargarine Law.
Justice Harlan today handed down the
opinion Of the court in the case of the
State Of Minnesota against c. N. Brun-
dage. The case involved the validity Of
the Minnesota oleomargarne law, but the
opinion delivered today did not go into
that. Brundage had been tried and found
guilty by a Minneapolis municipal court
Without appealing to higher courts of the
state, Brundage carried his case to the
federal courts on petition for writ of
habeas corpus attacking the constitution
ality of the law. The circuit court for
Minnesota sustained his contention but the
opinion was reversed in today's decision
Judge Harlan held that the proceeding had
been irregular because Brundage had not
exhausted his remedies in the state courts
The court today restored to the docket
Steel Company against the Cambria Iron
Company. The case involves the patent
process Of steel making. and was argued
last January. tas