Evening star., 1926-10-15

The top case on the Supreme Court
docket. numbered one and entitled
Federal Trade Commission vs.. Claire
Furnace Co., is ripe for decision" as
the lawyers say. No case now pend
ing before the court surpasses 1t in
Importance and far-reaching conse-
quences to business-big and little.
The issue Is whether the Federal Trade
Commission can compel private bust
ness corporations to submit their
books and records when they refuse
to do so. Congress intended to give
the commission this power. But it is
contended by the defendants that 1t
violates their constitutional rights.
The lower court upheld this conten-
ton. The Government appealed. 1t
may almost be said that upon the final
outcome rests the fate and future of
the commission. If the Supreme
Court uphods the commission, then
It's powers OF the broadest scope are
established II the decision is, like
that Of the lower court, adverse, the
commissions wings are effectually
clipped. Not only that, but proposals
for regulation Of coal and other in
dustries now before Congress will be
of small consequence because I'M
potent to require production or tine
facts" The Claire Furnace case was
argued first In the Supreme Court two
wears ago. and re-argued last year
an unusual proceeding. indicative or
the great Importance when counsei
and the court attached to the issue.
II has been under advisement ever
since. and decision would seem to be
close at hand.
Tha campaien of American club
women to have women doing house
work ella ssifled as "homemakers' in
the Federal census OF 1880 in order
TO "dienify the home" meets with SYM
nathetic response with Census Bureau
oficials here. But the request pre-
sents certain practical difnculties.
Chief of these Ia the problem or de-
termining how much housework
woman should do to be classed as
homemaker-Of striking an average
somewhere between the woman with
servants who dusts of table now
and then and the housewife without
help who works from sun up to sun
down.
The Ruma nian legation is at the
moment a buster place than the
White House Executive Offices. lnv1-
tations and offers. requests and sug:
sestions presented in person, by mail
and by wire. pertaining to the Amer1-
can tour of Queen Marie nave at
tanned staggering proportions. Auto
mobile companies are in Keen com
petition for having their car honored
bv the Queen, when she has occasion
to use a motor. Rival photograph stu
dos are at swords points on the is-
sue Of who shall secure the favor of
q sitting" from Queen Marie, and
fountain pen makers are concerned
with the pen she will use when she
autographs her portrait. Painters and
sculptors. novelists and interviewers
are trying to arrange for an audience,
and the baker and tailor and candle
stickmaker for the privilege Of serv-
ing her. As for invitations, they are
pouring in faster than the legation
clerks can slit the envelopes. Every
play on Broadway solicits Queen
Marie's attendance. The Paris cables
gave q hint Of her interest in that di
rection Mayors from Maine to Flori-
da, and from Atlantic City to Los An
xeles want to present to her the key
OF their city. And as to society-just
run the social register from A to z
and you will have the list of those
who crave the honor of entertaining
the Queen at breakfast, or lunch, or
tea. or dinner, or supper, or at tennis,
or polo, or foot ball, or musical.
Mrs. Coolidge is in q fair way to
qualify for honorary membership in
the White House camera corps. She
has provided herself with a small
moving picture camera Of the anna
teur type designed for making home
movies and in her strolls through
the gardens with Rob Roy, the collie
dog is observed camera In hand. No
ens haa bean discovered who has