Evening star., 1935-06-09
BY JOHN SNURF.
Y yAST changes in the form of the


Federal Government, with cor
" responding changes in State
and local governments, will be
attempted in the next two or
three years. This fact becomes more
evident daily as the aftermath OF the
recent decisions of the Supreme Court
in the Schechter case and other cases.
The overshadoWing question. in Con-
gress and out, is whether these
changes, or the more important ones,
will be brought about.
Among the proposed changes are
one or more amendments to the Con-
stitution which. it is generally be-
lieved, President Roosevelt plans TO
try to force to ratification. However,
the movement does not stop with
amendment of the Constitution. Vari-
GUS proposals are being urged in Con-
greSS to curtail the powers of the
courts to pass on the constitutionality
OF legislation.
Some even go so far as to prevent
the Supreme Court from considering
the constitutionality of acts Of Con-
greSs. or. in other words. to make a
law Of Congress a finality. And. as
usually happens when the Supreme
Court hands down decision diSpleas-
ing to any large element. there is talk
OF trying to make the court over
though that sort of discussion has
much less force than it would have
had if the court had not been unani-
nous in the N. r. A. decision.
Can't Single Out individuals.
Men who would have been quick
est to assail the Supreme Court as re-
dictionary in this instance find it diff
cult to single out such progressives as
Justices Louis D. BrandeiS. Harlan F.
Stone and Benjamin N. Cardozo for
attack. or to aSSail Chief Justice
Charles E. Hughes as backward look
ing in view Of the manner in which
he frequently has been aligned with
the liberals. Hence the criticism of
the N. r. A. and Frazier-Lemke deci-
slons are aimed at the court, rather
than at individuals.
Chief attention here is being CEN
tered. from a practical viewpoint. on
the expected drive by the President TO
amend the Constitution so as to en-
large greatly Federal power over in
trastate commerce. which is another
way OF saying the ordinary business
and commerce of the country. The
administration has not come forward
with such a proposed amendment. il
is true, but opinion has become set
tied that it proposes to press for one.
assuming it believes. as the months 60
by that there is likelihood Of ratifi-
cation.
Is the country in a mood to ratify
such amendment or amendments as
the devotees of the now demolished
N. R A. have in mind? Is it possible
for President Roosevelt, after a cam
paign in which he will appeal to the
public with arguments that change in
the Constitution and expansion of
Federal power are indispensable. to
bring about ratification by three
fourthS of the States?
Differences Are Wide.
Amazing differences of opinion are
expressed. Senator William E. Borah.
progressive Republican, of Idaho, who
IN a recent address upheld the Su-
preme Court and the Constitution and
stood for the doctrine that the peo-
pie alone could change that inStru-
ment. predicted that the President
would ride to a fall' if he sought to
enlarge Federal intrastate power and
break down State and local authority
Many observers assert that a ma
jority of the States will refuse ratifi-
cation. Others say the South alone
will stand out so stoutly as to block
such amendments.
But. on the other hand, it is not
difficult to find plenty of N. R. A.
enthusiasts and devoted friends of
the President who declare that he
will sweep both South and North if
he carries to the country in the 1886
campaign the issue of expansion of
Federal power.