Show PUERTO QUESTION SUPREME COURT AVOIDS PASSING AN OPINION washington april 12 the supreme court today denied leave to file the petition of ramon baez a citizen of puerto rico tor writs ol 01 habeas corpus and certiorari in the proceedings against him tor violation of the puerto alcan election law by the provisional courts of that island baez being now in confinement under this proceeding the decision was announced by the chief justice who mads a brief explanation ot the courts attitude the court did not enter at all upon the question of jurisdiction or decide any of tho more important points raised by the petition the chief justice said in his decision that the application was not made by the court until march the eve of a two weeds recess this delay was be said in the face of the fact that baez bad from december 11 to apply tor relief because of this delay he said the courts interposition would have been unavailing it it had taken jurisdiction if the writ of habeas corpus bad been issued april 9 the next court day after the petition was presented the imprisonment would have expired six days afterwards and fourteen days before the person having him in custody would be required to make his return thus before the case could be beard upon the writ and return the prisoner would be no longer in custody he stated in conclusion that alie court was not to be understood as intimating in any degree an opinion on the question of jurisdiction or other questions raised by the petition |