Evening star., 1935-12-29
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sweeping decision in the A. A. A. case,
knock all the props from under the
agricultural adjustment act, the adj
ministration may feel irnpelled to
work out and pass substitute law for
the relief of the farmers. How long
this would take is decidedly problem
atical. It should not, perhaps, take
as long as the original act took on
It's way through Congress. Senator
McNary, one Of the authors of old
McNary- -Haugen Equalization fee" bill
which knocked OF the doors of Com
gress and the White House during the
Coolidge and Hoover administrations,
has already prepared farm relief bill
which he proposes to offer when Con-
gress opens. McNary is q Republican,
minority leader of the Upper House
Whether the President would be will
ing to adopt any of the ideas con-
tained in the new McNary bill is a
question.
Nine Other Laws Challenged.
There are nine other important
Neaw Deal laws which are under at
tack in the courts, including the
Bankhead cotton control act, the
Kerr Smith tobacco control act, the
national labor relations act known
as the Wagner act, the public utility
holding company act, the Tennessee
Valley Authority act. the Guffey coal
act, called the ''little N. r. A." for
that industry; the securities and ex-
change act, the low-cost housing
program in both the Resettlement
Administration and the P. w. A. and
the P. w. A. power program. 1t has
been estimated that approximately
2,000 suits involving all these New
Deal acts, including the A. A. A.,
have been instituted in the courts.
Six of the acts are involved in cases
now pending before the Supreme
Court. The constitutionality of these
acts may be determined promptly by
the highest court. Indeed, the de-
cisions in some are expected early in
January.
What the decisions of the Supreme
Court will be no one knows definitely.
But if they are adverse, will the Presi-
dent ask Congress promptly to revise
these laws in the hope that they will
be able to stand new tests? The
question opens up quite program Of
legislative endeavor.
Another Approach.
Or will the President ask Congress
to pass joint resolution proposing
to the States an amendment to the
Constitution legalizing the New Deal?
That is another way the problem
could be approached. 1t requires q
two-thirds vote of both Houses to
propose constitutional amendment.
The democrats today have themselves
more than two-thirds Of the member
ship Of both the House and Senate.
But it is doubtful that all the demo-
Gratis would follow the President, even
If he did propose such q constitu-
tional amendment, granting to the
Federal Government powers over
business, wages and hours Of labor.
The predictions by Democrats and
Republicans alike are that the Presi-
dent wM not originate constitution
al amendment. If he did, it would
surely go into the coming presidential
campaign. The ground Is not yet
ready for such a move on the part
Of the New Dealers, it is said. Sena-
tor Costigan of Colorado, an ardent
New Dealer, has already introduced
a proposed constitutional amendment
to validate the New Deal acts. gen.
orally speaking. Nothing, however,
mas been done with 1t.
There are several important bills
coming over from the last session Of
Congress. They may be given q
place on the program, and, If so, they
too, will add to the length Of the
session. Among them is the Cope
land bill amending in important re-
spects the pure food and drugs act.
Another is the ship subsidy bill, de-
signed as substitute for the present
mail subsidies allowed ocean carriers.
The President has declared himself
In favor of direct ship subsidies in
place of the subterfuge of mail sub
sides. Senator Bankhead of Ala
bama has his bill to lend money to