New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-12
IN THE SUPREME COURT.
The NezC-Yor Pure Food Lap
Sustained.

Washington Jan. 1.-THE United States Supreme
Court to-day rendered opinion sustaining the
validity OF the New-York statute relating to the
adulteration Of food products. and also held that
II applies to contract covering the purchase OF
coffee in Guatemala. which afterward brought
TO New-York The case that OF George H
Crossman g. Bro. importers. Of Nev-York against
Theodore c. thurman. merchant who made
contract to purchase coffee Of prescribed grade al
a certain specified price When the coffee arrived
IN NewYork it was found be Of the requisite
grade, but It was discovered to have been coIored
Mr.. Lurman raised the point that the colorng
process was equivalent to adulteration, and the
New-York courts sustained the contention reIiev-
ing the buyer from the requirements OF the con-
tract The opinion handed down to-day was by
Justice White. and affirmed the decision of the
New-York Supreme Court He said the New York
law was not repugnant TO the commerce clause Of
the Constitution, has been alleged.
Justice Harlan rendered an opinion IN the ca Sc
OF the Royal insurance Company against Ruperto
Martin. holding that a direct appeal lies from the
United States District Court for Porto Rico TO the
Supreme Court. and that the Of 1900 establish
ing a civil government in Porto Rico does not re-
Quire that appeals should be made to Circuit
Court Of Appeals. The case grew of a contro-
versy over an insurance policy issued by the ROYAL
Company, British corporation. on property be-
longing to Martin. The District Court decided in
Martins favor. but to-day's opinion reversed that
finding on the ground OF rreguarity the transfer
Of the property to Martin.
LIS court advanced on It's docket the OF
William H. Pope against the Board of Registry Of
Montgomery County. Nd, and set the hearing for
March Z. The case involves the validity of tho
Maryland statute requiring persons becoming resi-
dents OF that State to register as such at the
county seat of the county IN which they locate
Mr.. Pope complains that the enforcement of this
law has operated to deprive him of the right given
him by the Maryland constitution to exercise the
franchise privilege after residence Of one year in
the State.
In an opinion by Justice Brewer the court de-
cided the case Of the Wabash Railroad Company
against William n. Pearse. executor of Charles
E Pearse. involving the question as TO whether a
shipped In bond to a given point and on which
tariff charges have been paid by the company in
transit The goods involved in this case consisted
OF four boxes of curios, purchased In Japan nv
Charles z. Pearse and shipped by the Canadiaf,
Pacific Railroad Companys steamers to Vancouver
and thence over the Canadian Pacific and connect
ing lines to st. Paul, where the railway company
required 10 and did pay the tariff charges
amounting 20 s264 The goods were transferred TO
the Wabash company and by II delivered at St
Louis Pearse resisted the claim of the railroad to
hold the goods until the money paid account OF
tbs tariff Should be refunded, and the Court OF
Appeals sustained this view That decision was
however reversed by to-day's opinion in which Il
held that lit Is the common law duty OF the
carrier to receive carry and deliver goods and by
virtue OF this obligation Il IS entitled TO retain
possession until It's charges are paid Nor IL this
The court granted writ OF certiorar in the ca "a
Of Hackfeld & Co against the United States which
VIII have the effect OF bringing the case TO this
court for review. Hackfeld 81 Co own n steam
were brought into the United States They were
ordered 10 be oeported, and escaped at Honolulu
BY the decision OF the Circuit Court of Appeals
for the IXth Circuit the steamship owners were
held liable.