New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-07-09

more vital TO Wall Street than the Presi-
oents recommendations. upon which Con-
sress may or may not act as vox popul
seems 10 dictate. But the robed justices OF
'he supreme Court have the last say as to
"hether THIS trust or that shall be dis
solVed' or this or that law-otherwise af-
tecting vast corporations-shan stand. Wall
street would have given hundreds of thou
SANDS or dollars In any recent year. for
advance information as TO verdicts of the
supreme tribunal
The verdicts of the court are voted each
Saturday during sessions in the confer
ence ROOM" in the basement of the Capt.
tol, and while the conference is in progress
not even the President himself would he
admitted TO this forbidden chamber. where
the justices must for the time forego the
services of the pages and other attendants
hired 10 fetch them ice water and station
cry. They must even descend now to the
indignity Of sharpening their own pencils
and filling their own fountain pens.
No tourists are ever allowed even q peep
at this room of mystery, nor has photog-
rapher ever been permitted to make a pict-
ure OF IT, Than this secret chamber the
Forbidden City of Picking was never more
An was at the height of her glory.
While the financial world with hated
breath waited some time ago the court
verdict on a great antitrust case, the cor
respondent Of a Chicago financial concern
was instructed 10 step up 10 the bench. on
decision day, and ask one Of the justices
whether the finding would be generally ia
Norable or unfavorable 10 the corporation
involved. This tip" the correspondent
was instructed 10 wire in advance Of the
reading of the decision, but ne happened 10
know his Washington better than his en-
ployers. who received this reply from has
pen:
All the money in the Chicago national
banks would not induce me to ask one of
the justices What's doing? / send "a dla-
gram Of the court, with arrow pointing 10
the jail, Do you realize that the Supreme
Court could commit a man % jail for con-
tempt Of court for life and that there Is
no other power short OF Divine interGosi-
tion-and ! am afraid the days Of miracles
are past-to which I could appeal
The legislative as well as the executive
and judicial branches OF our government
transacts considerable business behind
closed doors. When the Senate locks itself
in secret session there IS an exodus of
pages and employees. save several officers
who have been put under oath 10 guard
forever any secrets which they may over
hear. These are the sergeant-at-arms. four
assistants and the executive clerks, who
keep the vague record Of the proceedings.
Only two persons may now pass the
threshold-the clerk Of the House and the
assistant secretary Of the President II
they bear messages to the Senate. But all
the proceedings are hushed when they are
announced, and they depart not jot
wiser than when they entered.
The darkest OF these executive session
secrets pertain TO treaties with foreign
powers and the frankness Of speech with
which they are discussed would often lead
TO international complications II made
public.
The most serious executive session leak
occurred while our treaty anneXing Mexico
was under discussion. a copy OF that in
strument as we'll as OF the Presidents
message and some confidential papers &C
companying Il, was alleged 70 have been
delivered TO a newspaper by Western
Senator. An investigating committee was
appointed, but the matter was later
smoothed over. The last serious leak
occurred in 1892. when certain newspapers
gave accurate reports Of an executive sos
sion. Including the vote in detail. smell
ing committee" was again called, and the
chief executive clerk was made the scape-
goat and dismissed. although aftcrward
exonerated. elected to Congress. and later
receiving responsible government Office,
which he still retains.
That the House. also, may hoId secret
sessions when 1t wishes 10 withhold Know
edge Of its debates from foreign powers Is
not generally known for the reason t"a'
the privilege has seldom been embraced
The state Department is vast rePo7i-