The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1910-03-31
MAY HALT RULINGS
Justice Brewer Death MAY
Halt Trust Decisions.
RfHtARlSG IS PROBABLE
There is Much Speculation Concern
ing Vote Of Supreme Court on
Standard Oil. Tobacco and
Corporation Tax Cases.

Washington. March 30. - Three of
the most important cases that rave
awaited determination by the United
States supreme court may be en-. rely
changed in their progress ani F.Al
results In consequence OF Iustfe-
Brewers sudden death
These are the STANDARD OF. ToAac, O
and corporation taN cases No mors
fs--cGc.ing suit has ever been re-
viewed b. this highest tribunal than
that lnyoiying the dissolution OF the
Standard oil company This litigation
NAV be affected by Justice Brewer
demise I'm TWO WAYS. l. Rehearing O,
oral arguments may be required in
one or al of he cases. Delay i'm
reaching a dual decision may follow
because OF the rart taken by tho late
justice in mo lldinS the conclusions
arrived ~ by the Court-if that stage
WAS PASSED.
Under no circumstances will ~ be
necessary to institute new proceed
ings or bring either OF the cases now
pending throuSh an tho processes oi
the lower courts The department OF
Justice VIII poe in no way affected DIV
ihe present situation II IS one with
which the suprC me court alone car
deal The surviving members must
determine for themselves whether a
reheariuc Of arguments is necessary
in one cr more OF the cases such con
clGsious viii depend entirely on the
status of enc various suits
t. .
tom Of TIE supreme court 20 meet in
sessions ~ the saturday following the
-erminaii0n OF verbal arguments in
any specified case \ vote is then
taken AMI some justice 1r-isna-e9 81
formulate tho fnal opi- 1n or th,
court This procedure is be'iev, =,
have been followed in tho star Iafl
OF Tobacco and corporation saw
cases. move than one Saturday hsvir
elapsed since 'he aual Arguments IN
the cause last heard
Speculation Concerning Vote.
II the court divided evenly I'm the
standard OH case. Justice Brewer vot
ins against sustaining the govern
ment's contention. 4 re-hearing would
not be required. as the addition of a
new member entertaining the same
views rs tte drrl Justice woulI no.
change the sta a. the government
would win with divided court II
Justice Brewer voted in favo-> OF tho
fofetnmtr- a 20 hearing would Poe cs
ntial In orlcr that fhe government.
ni-At tatr 'ne same Glance OF win.
rirr T. tro vote stool to . either
or ,hc government or the Standard
pil compan there would Do no neccs
ing whatever for re hearing. ral---
Justice Brewers vote was such as "a
remove tie government possible
chance % getting the decision bv a
divided court.
The Tobacco cases are different In
mans respects from that Of the stand.
ard OIL The decision Of the lower
court was naked and both tn govern
ment and the tobacco trust took an.
peais. II s not considered probable
that Justice Brewers vote could have
been such as 10 render essential a re
hearing of argument In those cases.
The sane is true OF the corporation
tax cases The government could not
win by a divided court. and there
seems 70 be no chance by which the
vote OF Justice Brewer could affect the
result in such a way as 10 make n re-
hearing necessary.
In some quarters &c IS not believed
that the court took a vote In sessions
in the Saturday blowing the stand.
ard OIL and corporation tax cases and
that the matter OF decision is still
open. The court has been In recess
since March y.