The Washington times., 1911-10-09
SUPREME COURT IS
FORMALLY OPENED
FOR OCTOBER TERN
Unusual Interest Attaches to
Vital Economic Cases
on Trial.

The Supreme Court Of the United States,
confronted with problems the solution of
which will have a most important bear
ing upon the political ana economic de-
velopment of the nation, convened at
noon today for the October term. Chief
Justice White and all the associate JUS
tices except Justice Day, whose wife Is
i'll, were present. In the inclosure re-
served for the members of the bar were
the legal forces of the Department Of
Justice under the leadership of the At
torney General. There was an array of
attorneys, retained as counsel, who are
prepared to fight to the iiuish many
important legal battles.
Because of the absence of the PfesI-
cert from the Capital, The usual custom
of adjourning court Immediately to
give the justices an opportunity to call
upon him was not followed. The court
received motions instead, and disposed
of a large amount of routine business
which has accumulate during the sum-
mer vacation.
Arguments Tomorrow.
Hearing of arguments will not be be-
gun until tomorrow. At that time the
first Of the important cases which have
been assigned for hearing before the
call OF the regular docket will be taken
up. The question as 10 how far the
State railroad commissions may exercise
control IN reducing or adjusting rates
on intrastate commerce, the question of
the constitutionality of the initiative
and referendum method of government,
and the question as to what extent the
Sherman antitrust law may be applied
TO various kinds Of combinations are in
cluded in the cases set for early hearing.
The regulation of railroads by the
States, involving the problem of State
rights, is presented in a number of
cases, including the so-called Mime
sofa rate case, in which Governors
Harmon, Aldrich. and Hadley were di-
rected by the House of Governors to
present a plea on behalf of the States.
In each of these the constitutionality
of the law creating the State commits
sions is contested by the railroads, and
specific rate reductions involving funda-
mental questions in rate regulation are
the objects of attack.
The most important of the pending
trust cases is the suit by the Govern
ment to dissolve the So-called Anthra-
cite Coal trust, composed of a number
of railroads and their subsidiary coal
companies and independent operators
with whom they have contracts. In the
circuit court the Government won its
point on only one of several counts.
The success or failure of it's efforts de-
pends upon the attitude of the Supreme
Court.
To. Consider Corners.
Questions growing out of the admins
tration Of the antitrust law are wheth-
er railroad terminal associations, such
as that st. Louis, are combinations in
restraint of trade and whether a cor
ner'' in any commodity, such as the
cotton corner" manipulated by James
A. Patten and other big operators, is
also amenable to prosecution under this
act
The fate of the bucket-shop cases, the
result of raids in large cities in various
parts of the country mora than yeal
ago; the success or failure. in part, OF
the Government efforts to prevent the
ccaI lands of Alaska from falling lntc
the hands of large corporations, anc
the validity of certain orders of the In
terstate Commerce Commission are a!
involved, together with many other lnI
portant questions, in cases which vii
he taken up for immediate constdera
ZION.
Extraordinary energy on the part o
the justices will be necessary II tht
congestion in the court docket is no
10 become more acute, and 1t is NOR
than likely legislation by Congress t
lessen their labors will be required IL
the near future. The court has So
cases, the record for the opening day