New-York tribune., 1912-04-02
COMMERCE COURT WRONG
Water Lines Must Report to In
terState Commission.
SUPREME COURT 50 RULES
Ousting and Filming of Oil Com
panies by Missouri Upheld
in Decision.

Washington. April IA signal victory was
won by the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion to-day. when the Supreme Court OF
the United States decided the commission
had the power to compel water lines 10 re-
port 10 il regarding intrastate as we'll as In
torstatc business. IT the first case
from the Commerce Court to be considered
by the Supreme Court. and tie Commerce
Court was reversed Justices Lurton and
Lamar dissentcd.
While the case before the court concerned
immediately only water lines, the govern
mcnt declared in arguing it that the de-
feat OF the commission in this case would
mean that railroads also need not report
regarding intrastate business, and the com
missions whole system of gathering re-
ports relative to commerce would be worth
less
The orders in question required reports
regarding operating expenses and operating
revenues OF water lines and affected pr'n-
cipally lines on the Great Lakes. The Com
merCe Court held that the commission had
power to require reports only regarding
traffic carried under Joint arrangement with
railroad carriers but not a. TO purely In
trastdte aud port-to-port business
The antitrust laws Of Missouri we're up
held 10y the Supreme Court to-day. The
court approved OF the states action i'm GUST
ing the Standard on Company Of Indiana
and the Republic oil Company of New
York from the state and fining each $1,000
under these laws. The opinion was unsni-
nous.
\ far-reaching principle of law was de-
cided to-day when the Supreme Court held
that ono state could not refuse TO enforce
Judgments Of another state in regard to the
liability OF stockholders for corporation
debts. The decision was announced by JUS
tcc Van Deyanter, IN the case of Theodore
n. Converse, receiver os the Minnesota
Thrcshcr Manufacturing Company, Min
ncsotd corporation. against Caroline \.
Hamilton, Il stockholder I'm the company
but resident Of Wisconsin 4 Minnesota
court had issued an order assessing stock
holders Of the company 100 per cent on
their holdings to meet the debts OF the cor
poration. When an attempt was made 10
collect on this order the Wisconsin courts
held that the Minnesota order was not sucn
Judgment as the federal Constitution re-
quired 10 be given I'm another state full
faith and credit" because the Minnesota
court had no jurisdiction over 4 Wisconsin
stockhOlder not served with notice OF "A
proceeding against him or her.
The defeated parties TO the patent mo
nopoly' case, recently decided-four to
three-by tho Supreme Court asked the
court to-day 10 rehear the issue before
full bench. The government joined in the
appeal. with request for permission ID in
terycuc. because tho case is regarded as OF
the greatest public Importance and involves
the enforcement Of tho Sherman antitrust
law.
The governments application. signed hy
Attorney General Wickersham and SolC.-
tor General Lehman. declares the courts
decision sustaining the right of a patcntce
TO attach 10 the sale Of an invention restrc-
tons stipulating that the purchaser must
use In connection with the patented article
only such supplies. which are not pat
cnted, as are bought from the patcntee of
the invention, extends the power of prop
crty held under letters patent beyond the
warrant OF the Constitution and The 6rant
OF the patent laws, and puts IL above the
authority OF Congress to regulate commerre
universal limitation expressed in the maxim
So use your own as not to inJure an
others