Show I LAW fN GUAM Peculiar Situation Obtrfins in Absence Ab-sence of Any Legislation by Congress t Washington Aug ThAmm anamalous situation obtains In the Island of Guam 111 reference to the administration of justice and Commander Schroeder the Governor of the island has been driven I to appeal to the Navy department here I for Instructions as to the limit of his I powers 1 Congress has not legislated for the Island and the will of the naval government gov-ernment has been practically supreme When the Island was turned over to the Navy department and Cupt Loamy was appointed Governor he decided to continue In operation the old Spanish laws except such as should be modified I by his directions or that of the Navy department V Under the old system of lav thus put l in force there I existed practically but a single COlt on the Island the 1 1 court of first instance i which coi responds re-sponds to the lowest f dlcial tribunal In this country Under the Spanish law an appeal was allowed from the decisions of this court lo the court of cessation In the Philippines ippines with provision for a final appeal In certain class of cases to the Government Govern-ment at Madrid Hut with the advent of American colrol In the Philippines me1can this power of appeal was cut off and I the decisions of lime I court of fIst Instance In-stance practically stand as the decision deci-sion of the I court of last IC Ol Some time ago a native was convicted in thlH courat o inurdcr and was sentenced i sen-tenced lo be executed The evidence seemed to leave some question of his guilt and the Governor was appealed to I3clng at a loss as to what action he could take he advised the Secretary 0 the Navy of the situation and asked for o instructions I There are said to bo other cases which Involve the rights of American clllens who have been tried In Guam under the Spanish law which among other things does tot provide for trial by Jury lo which Americans arc entitled under the constitution The whole subject being carefully considered by the Navy department de-partment The Judge Advocate it Is understood will shortly render an opinion opin-ion upon which Acting Secretary Darling Dar-ling will act ln wi ac V |