Supreme Court

Decisions

Oklahoma v. Texas. When the U. S. was young, boundary disputes used to be a pastime among the states, but in the present era of federated democracy they are rare. Last week the first decision of the Supreme Court in its autumn session was handed down in the case of the State of Oklahoma, complainant, against the State of Texas, defendant; the United States of America, intervener (No. 6, in Equity). The opinion delivered by Justice Edward T. Sanford established a, neutral line between the conflicting claims.

Daylight Saving. Conservatives were distressed to learn that "God's time" has not been upheld, save in present Federal operation, by the last court of U. S. resort. Massachusetts farmers combined with locomotive engineers, lost an appeal to make Federal provision for Standard Time in the states. Associate Justice Holmes ("poetic; liberal") [TIME, Oct. 11] admitted arising in Massachusetts by local time, but taking trains by Standard Time; omitted to state if inconvenienced. Chief Justice Taft, humorous, discreet, expressed inability to see where any hardships were imposed by the present system; more specifically found that no penalties were carried by it under the law; dismissed the case for lack of jurisdiction.

Dyes The President has power to sell government patents. Neither

President Wilson nor onetime (1919-21) Alien Property Custodian Francis Patrick Garvan was actuated by any but patriotic motives in selling German dye patents to the Chemical Foundation. The patents, sold for $271,000, are alleged to have been worth millions, and Mr. Garvan is now president of the Chemical Foundation. But Alexander Mitchell Palmer, previous (1917-1919) Alien Property Custodian had been empowered during his office by the President to make the sale though the transaction was not effected until Mr. Garvan's regime. Suit to recover was brought by President Harding's administration, under agency of Harry Micajah Daugherty, then Attorney General. The Supreme Court is convinced that the purpose of the Chemical Foundation in acquiring the patents was "one to promote the Americanization of the dye and chemical industry.' In a decision handed down by Associate Justice Butler, the sale was held valid.