Evening star., 1934-04-11
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE

Chief Justice Hughes Is 70 years
old today. He doesn't look it or act
it. His buoyancy, energy, industry and
general bearing are those Of man in
middle life. His Supreme Court COL
leagues freely admit that he is the
hardest-working man on the bench.
He not only insists on assigning him.
self the same share of opinion writ
ing and other duties allocated to any
associate justice, but in addition bears
all the administrative responsibilities
Of the court. In light of the Chief
Justices recent identification with
liberal decisions - the Minnesota
mortgage moratorium law and the
New York milk rate control statute
men have once again taken to speak
ing Of "the new Hughes" The Chief
Justice himself is always amused by
that appellation, because he insists
he Is the same "old Hughes" Since
the famous occasion Is years ago,
when there was an attempt to throw
four duly elected Socialists out of the
New York State Legislature, and Mr..
Hughes led the fight for retention of
their seats, his liberalism, his friends
say, has never tagged, and that in
going liberal in Supreme Court deci-
sionS the Chief Justice Is running
true to form. The secret of his we'll
being at e-score-and-twelve lies in
his enjoyment of his work and the
superb physical trim in which he
keeps himself.
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Many members of Congress contem-
plate adjournment with regret because
the end of the present session means
a swan song for lot Of them. There
are not going to be any more lame
ducks. When House and Senate next
assemble, in January, 1885, Congress
will consist exclusively of Representa-
tives and Senators elected next No
vember. For the first time there will
be no short Midwinter session of Con-
gress containing hold-overs defeated
in the preceding November and re-
tanning office until the ensuing March
Casualties will, of course, be much
heavier in the House than in the
Senate, though, at a conservative cal
culation, at least half dozen men,
bers of the upper branch are baskins
in senatorial glory on Capitol Hill this
Spring for the last time. On all these
accounts, adjournment day next
month will be full of poignancy. and
witness many a sad leave-taking
Plenty of statesmen realize that their
careers in Washington, temporarily al
least, are about to wind up.
IL
Gen. Johnson's trip to Florida to
meet the President has set Washing
ton tongues to wagging again over the
possibility that the keeper of the Blue
Eagle has at length decided to carry
out a long cherished intention of re-
turning to private life. johnson him
self gave a distinc. hint of this In
addressing the code authorities last
month, when he reminded them that
corporation executive and might be
doing so again one of these days. With
his enhanced reputation as national
recovery administrator, the general
| probably would have little dificulty
| in bagging another six-f1gure salary
in business. His intimate identif1ca-
| ton with Barney baruch gives him
plenty of the contacts" necessary to
connect with something worth while.
The widespread belief Is that Johnson,
feeling that his worI: has largely been
accomplished, will only consent to re-
main at N. A. r. II President Roose-
welt urgently asks him to stay.
4 4 4
insiders predict 1t won't be long