The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-04-28
SUPREME c0URr DECISIONS.


Soon ueyo 1uocoe9 On 0ocp M imam
wsmpum Belts.
WAsMNo ON. April T.-Ths Supreme
Court to-day upheld the present practice
Of the War and Treasury dspartments In
dfsallowing to army oGBesrs and privates
travel pay and subshtence when, upon
their own request, they are discharged at .
distance. Test cases wore brought In tho
Court Of Claims by two officers 20 dis
charged, and that court gsve judgment In
their favor.
Tho ownership Of four wampum belts
claimed by the Onondaga Indians. the Uni
versity Of New York and John Boyd
Thacher was settled In favor Of Thacher,
who purchased them from tho custodian
or keeper OF the belts. Ono represents
the confederate organization Of the Five
Tribes under Hiawstha one, the first treaty
stipulation between the Six Nations and
George Warrington; the third, the coming
Of the whites. and the fourth, the unity OF
the Five Nations. The Indians contended
that the sale to Thacher was illegal because
the wampum keeper had no power to
dieposs Of them. The Indians transferred
title to the University Of New York and the
suit vas brought to recover from TEACHER.
The New York courts found In favor Of
Theoher. and the Supreme Court. finding
no Federal question involved. dismiased
the writ of error.
Tho Constitutionality Of tho law Of Ala
bama. prohibiting corporations chartered
In other States from doing business In that
State unless maintaining an Office therein,
was upheld to-day. and the court held that
stances were illegal and could not be en-
forced. The case was that OF the Chatta-
nooga National Building and Loan Aseocia-
ton, which sought to collect 5000 lent
William H. benson. . stockholder. Tho
association contended that the loan was
made In Tennessee, the money was to be
| paid there, and 1t had taken out license
| TO do business In Alabama. But the Su-
preme Court held this TO be irrelevant,
and as the association had not complied
| OF an agency, the transaction was illegal
and Il could not collect on tho mortgage.
Justice Harlan dissented
| The court denied the application OF coun-
! OF New York for the eubmii sion on printed
| briefs of its suit against the subway and
| New York city officials, involving the va
lidity Of the act authorizing the construc-
therefore. come up for argument next
Chief Justice Fuller announced the tor
minetion Of the present torn OF the court
on Monday, June I, and the temporary sus-
Tho Court affirmed the decision Of the
Court Of Common Pleas for the county Of
Fairfield, Conn.,, In favor Of Patrick MoKean
! and against tho New York. New Haven
and Hartford Railroad Company. This
and thirty other suits which depend upon
II grew out Of damages inflicted by tho
elevation Of the railroad company's tracks
through the streets Of Bridgeport. The
company commended that in raising the
tracks Il was acting under command Of
tho State In . matter Of public concern
and was exempt from liability. because In
the exercise Of . Governmental agency,
and bad been granted by the Connecticut
Railroad Commissioners the free use OF
the streets Of Bridgeport. The Court,
however, held that this did not reiev e
the company from liability. -,.