Evening star., 1914-10-12
New Associate Takes Oath to
Render Justice to
All Alike.
GREGORY is RECEIVED
AS ATTORNEY GENERAL
Fall Term of Court Begins With No
Big Decisions Scheduled to Be
Handed Down Soon.

The Supreme Court of the United
States convened today. according to
law. for it's years work, with 652 cases
ready for consideration. or nearly
eighty-five less than last year. Every
member of the tribunal was In the
city and ready to take his place on
the bench.
Two features distinguished the
courts labor for the day. One was
the swearing in as an associate JUS
tice of James C. McReynolds. who
when the court adjourned last June
faced the tribunal as Attorney General.
He succeeds the late Justice Lurton.
The other business of the day was
formal call by the court on President
Wilson in conformity with a custom
established years ago for the head Of
the judicial bench Of the government
to pay its respects to the head of the
executive.
Justice McReynolds had already taken
the oath to support the Constitution. but
the oath to administer justice alike to all
was postponed until today. The former
oath is usually subscribed to in private,
but the latter. bearing the solemn obliga-
ton to administer Justice without respect
to persons and do equal right to the poor
and to the rich," has without exception,
in late years, been taken in open court.
Many Attend Court.
Despite the fact that lawyers knew no
motions would be received and no argu-
ments heard during the day. many crowd
ed the little courtroom to witness the GER
emonies connected with the return Of the
court and the seating Of Justice Nc
ReynoldR
Before the oath Of Office was admin
istered to Justice McReynolds, Chief
Justice White paid tribute to the
memory of Justice Lurton, who died
since the court adjourned for the sum-
mer recess. He spoke of the loss suf-
fered by the country in no longer be-
ing able to reap the benefits of Justice
Lurton's learning. He added that the
keenness of the sorrow of members of
the court could only be appreciated by
knowledge of how Justice Lurton by
his attainments had endaared himself
to his associates.
After the oath had been administered
by Clark Maher, the court formally re-
ceived Attorney General Gregory. Wives
OF several members of the cabinet and
of the court were among those crowded
into the courtroom.
Few Big Decisions Early.
court today began business without the
prospect Of any early decisions in i'm
portant cases. Last year the court
worked hard and disposed Of practically
all the important cases on the docket.
The only cases of nationwide i'm
portance that were not disposed of last
year and that are now under advise
ment are the grandfathers clause cases.
The principal one of these is the Okla
homa grand athers clause case. revolv
ing about the right of the state Of
Okianoma through its constitution to
proh1blt negroes from voting by i'm
posing an educational qualification for
suffrage. but exempting from its oper-
atlon all persons whose ancestors were
not slaves.
Several railroad cases of some i'm
Portance are expected to be disposed of
are the Nashville, Tenn, grain rebilling
case. the Georgia railroad commission
case, involving the right of the Georgia
raiiroad commission to impose fines upon
railroads that violate its orders, and the
Oklahoma Jim Crow law case.
The real business of the court will be-
eln tomorrow. when scores of motions
Will be received, and the argument of
cases advanced for consideration because
Of their importance will begin. No de-
cisions are expected until Monday, Oc-
Thaw Case Motion.
Among the first motions to be made win
be one to advance the hearing of the
Harry X. Thaw extradition case. The
state Of New York will urge an early
| hearing on the ground that Thaw's con-
| tinued presence in New Hampshire is a
reflection on the New York government
Early hearing will be asked also for the
| Danbury hatters case. involving the va
lidity Of a $252,o0O verdict against the
trust law, and for the Oregon minimum
wage law case The state of Ohio will
ask the court 70 dismiss without oral