Evening star., 1932-10-18
HIGH COURT ACTS
i'm 14O PROCEEDINGS
Grants Reviews in 20 Cases.
UphoIds Power Commission
in Cost Appeal.

Rapidly disposing Of many actions
which had accumulated during the Sum-
! mer the United States Supreme Court
dealt yesterday with three cases of ma
! tional mportance-involving the tariff,
oil production and hyoroelectric power.
In the tariff case, the court refused to
pass on the validity of the flexible pro-
vision Of the act, but did agree to de-
eide whether the duty on sodium nitrate
| raised under it can stand.
With respect to oil, the court an
nounced it would hear on November IA
such arguments as Gov. Sterling of
Texas desires to offer in support of his
contention that he had a right to use
State troops to restrict oil production in
I the East Texas fields, the controversy
involving the question of what steps a
State may take legally to restrict what
it considers waste" in oil production.
Power Commission Upheld.
In the Clarion River Power Co. action,
the court refused to review a decision
by lower courts declining to prohibit the
Federal Power Commission from fixing
original costs and net investments of
hydroelectric developments operating
under Federal licenses. thus freeing the
commission to make use of its own val
power projects may be recaptured by the
Government at the end of the 5O-year
license period.
Regulatory power of States over mo-
tor vehicles operating in interstate COM
merce will come before the court in
another case from Texas advanced for
oral argument on November IA.
Chicago property owners challenging
taxes on real estate in Cook County
on the ground personal property does
not bear its fair proportion of the tax
burden, were denied hearing by the
court.
The court took an unusual step in
agreeing to review its decision of last
term in which 1t had set aside an in
junction obtained by the Investors
Syndicate of Minneapolis, Mimi. to
prevent the Montana State auditor and
investment commissioner from modify
ing the conditions under which holders
of its investment certificates could can
eel their subscriptions.
H. Leslie Parker Of wyoming was re-
fused a review by the court of his con-
tention he was entitled, as the owner
of land in the Salt Creek oil fields. to
divide the millions which he claimed
Harry F. Sinclair had made out Of the
sale of stock in connection with the
1edpOJ DOlIle naval oll iCooC,
subsequently Cancelled by the courts.
Patent Review Granted.
Technical research experts employed
by the United States will learn from
the court, through a review. whether
the Government is entitled to patents
on their inventions made IN the course
of their regular employment.
A phase of the policy Of many large
industrial and commercial concerns to
issue stock to employees at prices lower
than the market arising out Of the issu-
ance of such stock BY the American To-
bacco Co. was granted review in an
action claiming officers Of that COM
pany had been unduly favored.
Many of the cases in which the court
refused to grant reviews involved con-
victions under the Federal prohibition
law and numerous questions arising
under the Federal income tax laws.
In all the court acted on 140 cases,
granting reviews in %, refusing to fur
ther consider lit. Last week it granted
so reviews and disposed Of l40 more.
mostly by refusing reviews. This leaves
for further action. probably next Mon
Gay 40 cases in which the court must
decide whether it will grant or refuse
reviews before the accumulation will be
entirely removed.
1t had been generally expected the
court would decide the Mississippi con-
gressional redistricting case, but 1t did
not. 1t may do so before a recess is
taken next Monday until November Z.