New-York tribune., 1922-09-16
Labor to Fight
FOrAnlendrl1erlt
.Curbing Courts
Announces National Cam.
paign for Law Forbidding
High Tribunal TO Nullify
Act Repassed by Congress
Bench Called Usurper
A. f. of l.. Also 10 Press for
Passage and Ratification
of New Child Labor Bill
spscsa, Dispatch 10 The rrtouae

Atlantic CITY, Sept. 15. The
Amer cs'n Federation of Labor will
sponsor a constitutional amendment
returning full law-rnaking powers to
Congress and providing against review
by the Supreme Court after piece of
legislation, once reversed by the court,
again is passed by the national law
makers. This decision was reached
to-day by the executive council of
the American Federation of Labor, in
session at the Ambassador Hotel.
The council plans early introduction
of the amendment and calls for great
national campaign for it's adoption and
ratification. The councils statement
indicates the amendment decision is
the result of the resentment aroused
by the action of Attorney General
Daugherty in obtaining the Federal in
junction against the striking railroad
workers.
Coupled with its campaign for new
law curbins the powers of the courts
@hS "a. - VI LIZ IL was dSSSSteu 10
night, also would press for adoption
and ratification of the Mccormick child
labor law bill.
Formal Statement Issued
After lengthy executive session
during which the amendment plan was
discussed in detail the views of the
council were made known in an Off
cial communication, which follows in
part:
"The American Federation of Labor,
in an effort to restore the full powers
of government to the people and to
curb the courts in their exercise of
power in violation Of the constitution
of our republic, will stand sponsor for
constitutional amendment to return
to the Congress the full law-making
powers with which it was endowed by
the trainers Of the constitution.
"This amendment will deprive the
courts of their usurped power to de-
clare unconstitutional laws enacted by
Congress. Such an amendment will
be introduced in Congress at the earli-
est possible moment"
Under the terms Of the amendment,
as now contemplated, the United States
Supreme Court will have the power to
review an ACT OF congress and TO de-
clare such an act unconstitutional, but
in the event that Congress for a sec
ond time enacts the legislation in ques-
tion it will be beyond the power of the
court and will stand as the final and
unassailable law of the land"
Expect Popular Approval
"It is the view of the executive coun-
Gil that such an amendment will meet
with the overwhelming approval of the
American people. The power now ex-
ercised by the courts, in this and other
respects, is purely usurped power
"All state federations of labor and
all local unions and city central bodies
will be asked to Join in great national
campaign for adoption and ratification
of the proposed amendment. At the
same time and by the same methods the
campaign will be waged for adoption
and ratification of the child labor
amendment already introduced in the
Senate by Senator Mccormick, of H.
linois."
The statement concludes with q brief
resume of its discussion of the question
of affiliation with the international
Federation Of Trade Unions. The coun.
Gil concluded no new steps toward afiIi.
alton would be taken pending evidence
of a disposition ITO meet American