The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-01-18
Wilson Is Believed to Have
C0ncurred in Idea of the
OklahOman
TRIBUNAL is FAR
BEHIND AT PRESENT
Believed That Addition of Two Jus.
tices Would Add Greatly to Speed
of COurt-Who Will Be
Next Senate Leader?
BY G. e. STEWART

Washington, January b.-tSpeeial.)-
There is a MANIFESTATION of keen interest
by members of Congress of all parties
over Senator G,Ae's proposition to in
crease the United States supreme court
from nine to Il members. especially s.nce
1t is generally believed that the plan has
tn, concurrence of President-elect Will
SOL. The possibilities of such action pre-
sents very pleasing prospect to the DEM
ocrats and the progressive republicans.
It is conceded, of course, that the in
crease would not be made until after Pres
ident Wilson had been inaugurated and
vested with the power of appointing the
two new justices 1t is taken as a mat
ter of course, with the Presidents well
known attitude. frequently expressed,
that nothing but progressives will be
put on guard. That is to say, the two
appointees would be men whom the Pres
ident could depend on to construe from a
progressive viewpoint the progressive leg
islation passed by Congress, the consti-
tutionality of which might be attacked.
Will Control Senate
1t is now taken for granted that Pres
ident Wilson when he gets his stride in
having enacted into law the reforms he
contemplates will have a working major
ity in the Senate. The absolute demo-
crate majority of one may be increased
by picking up democratic senator or two
in the elections yet to be held, but at
any rate he will have the support of a
sufficient number of progressive repub-
licans to give him control of the Senate
Thus, it is stated. with an enthusiastic
and harmonious House and an approving
Senate and a supreme court presumably
in sympathy with his policies, President
Wilson would be in an enyiable position
to carry out speedily the democratic poll
ioies and have them approved, IL II be-
came necessary to do so, by the court
of last resort.
No constitutional amendment will be
necessary to increase the membership of
the supreme court, Congress being en-
dowed with full power over that as well
as all other federal judicial bodies. 1t is
thought that bill TO increase the MEM
bership of the supreme court will pass
the House without friction and would
also pass the Senate.
Strong Endorsement of this proposition
comes from the bar of the country, At is
said. The court is now far behind on its
docket, and many important cases are
caught In the jam. Two more working
justices would help things materially and
facilitate the earlier decisions on impor-
tame matters, to the great joy of lawyers
all over the country.
No Whisper of Dissent
There is every present indication that
the incoming President is to have the
hearty support of his party in Congress
There is not a whisper of dissent There
are no "reactionary' democrats. One
could not be found in Washington with
a search warrant. Everybody is progress
sive, and to paraphrase an old saying
every member of Congress declares, 81
have been a life long progressive ever
since last election day"
The President will find no man in h-s
own party to say him nay, and as for the
old guard republicans, such of them as
have survived the cataclysm of November
will not be in any position to throw g
bolt or a monkey wrench into the Wilson
machinery If they should 50 desire.
There is one question almost daily asked
and that is who Is going to be the rea
leader In the Senate? Hoke Smith loom.
up very formidably right at this time
but 1t is conceded that some of the oldei
members are not going to give way with
out a struggle. Everybody Is hoping
that that struggle will not endanger the
success of the marty.