The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1902-08-21
WASHINGTON.
From our Regular Correspondent.
Washington, August 90, 1902.

W
Court of Massachusetts, to the Su-
preme Bench to succeed Mr.. Justice
Gray, resigned, has given rise in
Washington to some extremely inter-
esting gossip. 1t is now claimed that
it was Justice Gray who, at the
eleventh hour, changed his vote on
the income tax bill, and not Justice
Shlras, as has hitherto been supposed.
1t is also alleged that Justice Holmes
is thoroughly anti-imperialist in his
views. Under these circumstances
the questions which are beng dis.
cussed are, Were an income tax law
to be passed now, would the Supreme
Court hold it to be constitutional ?
and, Were it possible to again bring
before the Supreme Court, in differ
ent form of course, the question of
imposing a tariff on goods coming
from the insular position of the Uni
ted States across its borders, would
the Court reverse its former position
and hold that federal taxation must
be uniform in all of the territory con-
troled by the United States 1t is
{ eely predicted that, in view of the
vast aggregation of wealth which
many regatd as menace to the
country, the knowledge that the Su-
preme Court would uphold an income
tax would insure the election of de-
mocratic Congress as fast as the
present republican complexion of the
Senate would permit. The tax would
be popular one with the vast ma
jority of the people and, if such a
plan can be arrived at, the demo-
Gratis in Congress will endeavor to
secure the enactment of some law
which will necessitate the demonstra-
tion of its position by the court. OF
course any open attempt to secure
such evidence would be defeated by
The republicans as long as they are in
the majority.
1t is also freely predicted that the
time is not far distant when Mr..
Justice Shiras will resign and the
President will have an opportunity
of naming his successor. 1t is claim
ed that the Pennsylvania congressional
delegation has already made over
lures to the President looking to the
appointment of Justice ]. Hay Brown
of the Supreme court Of that state to
succeed Mr.. Justice Shiras. Next
! February, Chief Justice Fuller will
| celebrate his SEVENTEEN birthday, at
which time he will have attained the
statutory age for retirement. Mr..
Justice Fuller is still IN excellent
health and it is deemed probable that
| he will remain on the bench for some
time thereafter but that does not pre-
vent wires being pulled for the nomi-
nation of his successor who, it is
claimed by the politicians, will be
Senator Spooner of Wisconsin. Ger
tain democrats in Washington are
wondering of what avail Mr.. Spooner
will find his browbeating abilities, on
the Supreme bench
| Persons returning from Oyster Bay
claim that the President is greatly
exercised over the long continuation
of the coal strike. They say he fears
that it is going to entail great hard.
ship on the poor people as soon as
the cold weather sets in and that il
will have bad effect on the elections
Moreover, it is being recalled tha,
! during the administration of the late
President Mckinley Mr.. Hanna
stepped in and settled similar strike
and now that Mr.. Roosevelt is at tn,
helm 1t is freely asked why cannot h,
E do likewise. 1t is we'll known tha
the coal operators made money ou
of the last great strike and they, o
, course, have no interest at stake bu
V meanwhile The people are alread
: suffering. Industries are bein,
e crippled for want of proper fuel ant
e incalculable damage is being done IL
C certain cities where a shortage @
anthracite has compelled the burning
of bituminous coal. The absolute
refusal of the Vanderbilt interests t.
e make the slightest compromise is il
entire accordance with the motto c
the late respected member of tina
family which, it will be remembers
e was "The public be ID. Th
- question the people are asking il
v Does Mr.. Roosevelt propose to stan
= supinely by and see the public Dc
: That the people are asking that Gue'
d tion, all of Mr. Roosevelt's frient
e are telling him and yet he hesitate
L at taking step which will be ol
J. noxious to those interests which al
. . already none too favorable to hil
# and whose support is so essential
e the welfare of his party.
n A good deal of curiosity has bee
~
ir cSs sala d LxxAs e VI