The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-10-08

the Oregon, West Virginia and Ken
same principle-it being charged by
certain railways that Oregons rail-
road commission is unconstitutional be-
cause awarded "all the powers Of
government-legislat executive and
judicial" The West Virginia case in
wolves the constitutionality of that
States "two-cent passenger act" and
w. e. Chiffon, now Senator from West
! Virginia. has been one OF the Chesa-
peake and Ohio railroads counsel ar
rayed against that law. Similarly, the
Kentucky case involves the constitu-
tionality OF the 'McChord act" regulat-
Ing railway rates.
Governors 10 Butt In.
| All OF these cases will be heard In
group. ns they involve much the
same general principle. The chairman
of the Governors committee. Judson
Harmon-now in the lmelight as a
presidential possibility--has suggested
that his body will ask leave to present
to the Supreme Court a brief argu-
ment In these cases. so vitality involv-
Ing the right of the States to regulate
commerce within their borders.
The anthracite suit. coming UP now
| for final hearing, Is better known as the
| Reading case" 1t is an antitrust
law suit commenced at President
Roosevelts instigation in 1907. The
| government seeks to have the court
| declare illegal the alleged schemes by
which the Reading. New Jersey Central.
Lehish Valley, Lackawanna. Erie and
| New York, Susquehanna and West
ern railroads, together with certain
! subsidiary coal companies. entered into
| combination and conspiracy to end
| competition in anthracite coal among
| the States and to prevent their com
petitors' output In this prime neces-
| sary of life"
Other Big Suits.
Two big suits brought by grain ele-
vator operators and lumber interests
will determine to finer point the
powers of the Interstate Commerce Com
F, mission, while another will decide
whether stock yards in big cities arc
common carriers" in the meaning OF
| the Interstate commerce law.
So you see thehe will be an album
dance of railway law laid down at this
session.
A United State Senator, Ropert l.
Owen, OF Oklahoma, is one OF the de-
| PENDANTS in vast group OF suits in
volving about $4,000 deeds to some A.
100000 or 100000 acres OF Indian lands
which the government contends have
been, In contraventio of law. purchased
from the Choctaw, Cherokee, Seminole,
Chickasaw and Creek Indians This IS
another of the big cases advanced on
the docket for hearing this month,
and fndecidjng II the court will hold
millions of dollars In its scales of
justice.
In Its hearings the court ordinarily
allows two hours to each side of a
suit When the first two hours have
expired the tribunal takes a recess.
the Justices eating their luncheons in
room across the hallway, where their
negro messengers make coffee and
spread viands, generally brought TO the
Capitol in baskets. After this Informal
repast their honors march back across
the corridor and for two hours moro
hear the other, side of the argument.
In very important suits an extension
OF time Is often given counsel.
Hnrlan's Favorite Trick.
while an attorney Is arguing, the
printed brief of his case is before each
Justice, and the attorneys argument is
merely an elucidation upon the main
points. To facilitate concentration
some OF the justices close their eyes,
thus giving the appearance that they
are taking cat maps. This is favorite
| pose of Mr.. Justice Harlan, the senior
associate justice. Just when an at
| forney unaccustomed to the traditions
OF the court feels certain that this
venerable jurist is ready to snore his
honor will suddenly thrust forward his
index finger and shoot at the speaker
a hypothetical question for which he is
| unprepared and which is liable to take
his wind for the time being
During the hearing of the great to-
bacco trust case last year Justice Har-
Ian leDarted from his usilal tactics ma
| astounded counsel by asking the cues
| tion:
Then why is II I can't get good
| chewing tobacco any more?"
Some time ago while an attorney was
enltshtening the court on the most ele-
mentary principles of law. Mr.. Justice
Miller made tho sarcastic interrup-