Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-23
COURT MAY DECIDE
RUM LAW AT ONCE
Supreme Bench Expected to
Give Views on CIark'S Deci-
sion This Week.

The validity of the prohibition law
may be passed upon this week by the
United States Supreme Court.
A number of important decisions are
expected when the court reconvenes
tomorrow after three weeks recess,
and the decision of Federal Judge Clark
of New Jersey is one Of the As contro-
versieS on which the justices have been
preparing opinions. Judge Clark held
the prohibition law invalid because it
was ratified by State Legislatures in
stead of State conventions.
This case was Speeded to the Supreme
Court for an early decision and it was
expected in some quarters the opinion
would be handed down on Tuesday.
The court has managed to keep up
to date on its work while other Federal
and State Courts are laboring with
congested dockets.
1t Is now able to hear cases as rapidly
as attorneys can prepare them for
presentation while other courts, in
many instances, require year or more.
Number Of Cases Have Gained.
This has been accomplished in the
face of increased business. During the
present term 80 mora cases have been
docketed than during the same period
last year. Up to the present time it has
heard liz cases compared with SO last
term and has disposed of 424 compared
with 397 last year.
Not long ago the court was from two
to three years behind in its work, but
will close its present term in June with
practically no case carried over to the
next term which was ready for oral
argument.
The late Chief Justice Taft is gen.
orally credited with speeding up the
work Of the court, which enabled 1t TO
keep abreast CT the docket. Chief
Justice Hughes has carried the work
forward
The cases now before the court in
cluded proceedings by Connecticut to
prevent Massachusetts, from taking
water from tributaries of the Connect
cut River for use in the metropolitan
district at Boston.
Muscle Shoals Question.
Muscle Shoals, upon which congress
sional interest now is centered. also is
before the court on claims by Alabama
that the United States must pay 1t
taxes on hydroelectric power developed
at Wilson Dam and sold.
Included in the remaining cases are
nine relating to taxes, three to prohibi-
ton, five to railroads, four to State
laws. three to Indians, three to patent
arrangements and one to antitrust
laws.
The right of brewery companies put
kout Of business by the prohibition law
to reduce taxes by claims for obso-
lescence of the plants is presented in
three the tax cases.
The Government, in cases from New
Orleans and Waterloo, N. Y. is insist
ing that it can prosecute persons under
the internal revenue laws who have
already been convicted under the pro-
hibition law.
Minnesota Press Law.
A contest over the validity of the
Minnesota statute under which the Sat-
urday Press was suppressed also may
be decided tomorrow, along with the
controversy over the validity of agree
ments among the Standard Oil Co. OF
Indiana and other Oil companies for
licensing the use Of their patents for
making cracked gasoline.
Considerable Importance has been
attached to the outcome Of the latter
case, which may determine the extent
to which licenses may be granted under
patents.
Railroads are much interested in the
outcome of two of the cases which test
orders of the Interstate Commerce
Commission requiring them to charge
for the transportation of Office cars of
other carriers, and of private cars car
rying persons travelling on passes.