Evening star., 1928-09-30
u. S. SUPREME COURT
OPENS TERM TOMORROW
Chicago Water Diversion, New York
Transit and O'Fallon Rail Dispute
Among Cases in Docket.

Dozens of cases are pending before
the court under the Federal employers
liability act The most interesting of
these is a case from Kentucky. in which
a railroad employed lad Is years old.
contrary to the child labor law of the
State. The question presented
whether this employment, contrary t.
the law of the State. was in itself ev;
dence of negligence on the part of tn
railroad so as to make it liable in 4,
action arising under the Federal EN-
ployers' liability act. -.
Other outstanding labor problems ar
pending before the court. The decision
in the Stone Cutters case. in which tn
court held that a labor union may be
enjoined under the Federal antitrust
act, gave rise to the question whether
an injunction may be issued against
the union if the acts of its officers were
not authorized by the union itself.
The constitutionality of Washing
ton statute, giving corporations au-
thority to discharge an employe, is
questioned If construed to mean that
an employe may be discharged in con-
travention to an oral agreement of en-
ployment.
japanese Question.
Several cases ready for decision in
tions growing out. directly or indirectly,
from the negro problem in this coun-
try. The courts of Texas enjoined
the Ancient Arabic Order, Mobiles of
the Mystic Shrine. colored Shriners,
from using the emblems, titles, etc,
of the white Shriners. The injunction
embraced not only the local order at
| Houston, but included the national or
| ganization, which. incidentally. has a
chapter in the District of Columbia
chartered by an act of Congress.
| In this connection. it is apt to men,
| ton a case in which a negro. SEN
| fenced to death by the Florida courts
is petitioning the Supreme Court to
/ review his case. He maintains that
| the practice" in Florida. not to call
negroes for jury service, was contrary
to the provision in the Constitution
that no State shall make or enforce any
law which shall deny to any person
within its jurisdiction the equal pro-
| lection of the laws.
| Another case of racial significance
now pending came from California and
| involves the application of the alien
| land law of the State. The Secretary of
| State of California refused to accept
| the certificate of incorporation of
| Japanese hospital for the reason that
under the articles of incorporation the
hospital would be permitted to lease
lands for the construction of buildings.
and this. he maintained. was contrary
to the provisions of the alien land law
The japanese argue that the refusal of
the secretary was a violation Of the
treaty of commerce and navigation be-
tween the United States and Japan.
Oil Cases.
The end has not yet come to cases
arising out of the activities of former
Secretary Fall and the oil leases issued
by him. A case now before the court
involves the validity of Secretary Falls
determination that the United States
Government had no interests in certain
oil lands acquired by the Standard Oil
Co. of California. That determination
was made by him without the taking of
testimony. and without following the
rules and procedure of the General
Land Office in such matters.
The cancellation of the Teapot Dome
lease has given rise to private litigation
against Harry F. Sinclair. H. Leslie
Parker brought suit against Sinclair
claiming that the latter was personally
liable for the value of certain shares
of stock in the Mammoth Oil Co., which
he alleged were to be issued in ex-
change for mining claim. This min
ing claim. in which Parker contends
he has an interest, was acquired by
Sinclair and surrendered bv him to the
Government as part consideration for
the Teapot Dome lease. Sinclair denied
that Parker had any interest in the
mining claim and won his case in the
lower courts. t..
| tCopyriEht. 1921