The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-08
RECENT LEGAL OPINIONS.
of Bible in Schools Forbidden.

Reading of Bible in Schools Forbidden
On Oct. the Supreme Court of Nebraska
handed down an opinion prohibiting the
schools. The action was brought by Daniel
Freeman, an atheist. The court said in
part Exercises by a teacher in a public
school in school building, in school hours,
and in the presence of the pupils, consisting
of the reading OF passages from the Bible
and in the singing of songs and hymns and
offering prayer to the Deity in accordance
with the doctrines, beliefs, customs or
usages of sectarian churches or religious
organizations. is forbidden by the Constitu-
ton of the State.
Porto Ricans are Aliens, not Citizens of
the United States
In recent case that came before Federal
Judge Lacombe IL was held that Porto
Rican is an alien. 1t appears that Isabella
Gonzales, an unmarried woman of Porto
Rico. was, upon her recent arrival from
Porto Rico. excluded from the country by
the immigration authorities on the ground
that she was liable to become public
charge She took out writ Of habeas
corpus alleging that she was a United
States citizen. The writ was dismissed,
Judge Lacombe holding that native Porto
Ricans had not become naturalized by the
following act of Congress fixing their civil
rights: "All the inhabitants continuing to
reside therein who were Spanish subjects
on the 1lth day of April, 1899, and then
resided in Porto Rico, and their children
born subsequent thereto, shall be deemed
and held to be citizens of Porto Rico, and
as such entitled to the protection of the
United States Except such as had pre-
served their allegiance to SPAIN, and they,
together with such citizens of the United
States as may reside in Porto Rico. shall
continue body polite under the name OF
the people of Porto Rico, with government
al powers as hereinafter conferred"
Insurance Policies-Working of Mechan-
A clause in a fire insurance policy provid-
ing that it shall be void IF mechanics be
employed in building. altering or repairing
than fifteen days at any one time, unless
otherwise provided by agreement, is rea-
sonable and valid. Under such clause
work done on an insured building in rub
bling and polishing the woodwork, regilding
light fixtures, reburnishing plumbing and
repairing defects in the plastering and
ance for twenty-four days without notice to
the company, prior to the destruction OF
the building by fire, rendered the policy
void. [l17 Federal Rep. pennsylvania,
Judge McPherson, 2S9
Master and Servant-Contributory Negli-
gence.-
A servant assisting In the making Of an
excavation was sleeping in tent near the
through the tent and injured him. In an
action for the injuries evidence was con-
fiicting as to whether he had been warned
of the blast. Held, that the question
plaintiff was fairly left to the jury, with
instructions that If he had such warning
and failed to go to place of safety, he
was not entitled to recover. l117 Federal
Rep. Colorado, Judge Lochren), 1881
Beneficial observation-disclosures BY
Law
A bylaw of a beneficial association pro-
viding that a member who has been in ar
rears shall be barred of all benefits until
three months after payment of all arrear-
ages, is unreasonable, and will not be rec
ognized In an action on the certificate. rs
New York Supplement Judge Goodrich),
S5.l