New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-04-07
COMPERS GRANTED
A THIRD HEARING
With Mitchell and Morrison
He Wins Appeal to
Supreme Court.
REOPENS NOTED
CONTEMPT CASE
Railroads Upheld In Limiting
Baggage Liability-No De-
ciSions i'm Rate Cases.

Washington, April 6-After having the
Gompers-M Mitchell Morrison contempt case
under advisement since January 8, the
Supreme Court restored Il 10 tho docket
to-day for reargument on April 20 before
full bench. Justice Lurton. who was
absent when the case was argued, re-
turned TO his duties to-day.
The case comes up on an appeal from
the action OF the District OF Columbia
Court OF Appeals in reducing TO thirty
days the one-year Imprisonment sentence
imposed by the District Supreme Court
on Samuel Gompers, president OF the
American Federation OF Labor. and the
sentences OF nine and six months. re-
spectivey. on John Mitchell, vice-presi-
dent, and Frank Morrison. secretary. OF
the Federation, with fines OF 500 each.
The labor leaders were held guilty Of vio-
lating an anti-boycott injunction of the
District Court in 1907 in the Bucks Stove
and Range Company case against the
Federation.
This will make the third time the case
has been presented to the court. The
court held in 1911 that the local courts
had imposed criminal sentences OF CON
tempt on the labor leaders in en- equity
proceeding. The day after the Supreme
Supreme Court began new proceedings,
and finally imposed the same sentences
set aside in the first proceeding.
The labor leaders contend that proceed
ings against them are barred by the
statute of limitations. and the District
Supreme Court IS seeking TO have its SEN
fences stand as imposed. denying the
right Of the Court Of Appeals to interfere
in the matter.
May Limit Baggage Liability.
The practice of railroads limiting their
liability for baggage TO 500, unless a
greater value is declared by the passen-
ger, was upheld to-day by the Supreme
Court as valid under the Hepburn rate
law, even though the passenger has no
personal knowledge Of tho limitation.
"This decision varies very much from
anything of the kind ever decided by this
court or any other court" said Justice
Pitney in a dissenting opinion.
1--WE deem IL for the best interests Of
this republic that this litigation should
be ended" said Chief Justice White, in
the Supreme Court to-day, when the court
decided that there was no question Of
violation Of the federal Constitution in the
attachment Of bonds of the Winans es-
tate Of Baltimore. claimed by Prince de
Bearn. The Chief Justice observed that
the case had been before tho Maryland
Court of Appeals six times and the Su-
prerne Court OF the United States four
times.
I'll Supreme Court ennulled as uncon-
stltutional section OF the Michigan au-
tomobile law making the owner Of mo-
tor car responsible for injuries, irrespec-
tive of who was running the machine.
California's attempt by constitutional
amendment TO require all corporations
using city streets for water or for artifi-
cial light purposes to procure franchises
from the respective cities was declared
by the Supreme Court to-day TO be inef-
fectual as to water and light companies
in business when the amendment was
adopted in 1911.
5ribing Employees Unsafe.
Brlblng a government employee to violate
a duty fixed by his superior Is as much Il
violation OF law as II the duty were
fixed by statute, the Supreme Court held
to-day, in declaring valid indictments
against Willis N. BirGsall, Thomas e.
Brents and Everett q Van Vert in the
Northern Federal District of Iowa
Half an hour spent I'M Canada will cost
Samuel Lewis. Russian, his lifetime in
the United States. The Supreme Court so
held to-day in decision which may affect
many immigration cases.
Lewis came to the United States In 1901
and after living in New York for a time
went to Detroit. On November II. 1910, no
crossed to Windsor, Ontario, returning
with woman. who, it was charged, he
brought for Illegal purposes. He contend
ed that his return 10 the United States
was not an "entry" within the meaning Of
the law The Supreme Court held that 1t
was and he will be deported.
Charles CarlzsL convicted in New York
OF forgery. must serve long prison
term as a second offender, despite a par
don for his first offence by President
Roosevelt. He claimed the effect OF the
pardon was to blot out his first convic-
ton; and that he could not be regarded
as a second offender" The Supreme
Court decided against him to-day.
The courts decisions to-day included
none OF the important railroad rate cases.
s-
Cassidy Wins Technical Point.