The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-04-14
Correspondence That Is of Interest in
View of Later Developments
i'm the Venezuelan Affair.
SECRETARY MOODY RETURNS
AFTER INSPECTING PROPOSED WEST
INDIAN NAVAL STATIONS.
Supreme Court Decision That Kills q
Divorce and Puts a Woman in an
Unenviable Position.

WASHINGTON, April 13.-The United
States Supreme Court to-day decided the
divorce case of Lille Winston VS.. Walker
Winston, both of New York, in favor OF the
latter. The case involved the validity of
decree granted Mrs. Winston by an Okla
homa court, which ii was claimed had
been granted her without a sufficient resi-
dence. The decree was not accepted by
the New York courts, and to-day's decision
upheld that view. Mrs. Winston married
after securing her decree and is known as
Mrs. Ludden.
The court decided the contention between
the United States and private parties as to
the ownership of the submerged and re-
claimed land in San Francisco bay, which
includes Mission rocks, against the gov
eminent. The claimant in the case oppos-
ing the government was the Mission Rock
Company, which asserted title to the land
through grant from the State of Califor-
mia. The national government contested
the claim on the ground that the land had
been reserved by order of the President
for naval purposes. The court held, how
ever, that there was no intention to re-
serve more land than could be utilized. 1t
was further held that it had been the uni
form policy of the State of California to
dispose of it's tide lands without reference
to claims of owners OF contiguous lands,
and as there had been no departure from
the rule in this there was no reason
for questioning the validity Of the Mission
Rock Company
The court sustained the contention Of the
city OF Memphis, Tenn, In the tax pro-
ceeding of the Union and Planters Bank
VS.. that city. The bank claimed exemption
decision of the United States Circuit Court,
but held that the Circuit Court of Appeals
had not been justified in assuming jurisdic-
ton in the case.
The court granted the motion Of Attorney
Marshall, representing Whitaker Wright
in the extradition proceedings against him.
and set the argument for next Monday
after the disposal of other cases set for
hearing on that day.
In the Ecuadorean series Of diplomatic
exchanges appearing In the volume of for
by Consul A. j. Sampson at Quito, Ecuador,
to Secretary Hay relative to claims TO
American citizenship. The consul said
lone of the most difficult experiences of a
representative of the United States is to
determine what are the rights of certain
claimants both native and naturalized, to
American citizenship. Many persons who
have been living abroad for many years all
the time claim the protection of the United
States, but discharged none OF the duties
OF citizenship and in many instances are
not an honor to the nation, while all their
scheming is to avoid all obligations and
claim all exemptions possible from duties
to the country in which residing. l know
one case in which naturaliEed subject of
the United States has lived for forty years
in the land of his nativity without even
visiting the United States and without be-
ing able to speak one word of English.
Some such persons are engaged in mer-
chandizing You may inspect their stock
and not find a dollars worth that has been
purchased in the United States In many
Instances they have amassed fortunes, but
not one dollar of 1T has gone to the United
States. True, there are those who reside
abroad for many years who are engaged in
some business or enterprise that will adj
vance the interest of American commerce
or manufactures and who fully intend to
return to the United States to resume the
duties of citizenship as soon as certain re-
suits have been accomplished. Such per-
sons are entitled to recognition, but 1t is
difficult to distinguish between the two
classes"