The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-12-31

President Roosevelt took Of
flee events in the foreign af-
fairs field overshadowed at
times the domestic recovery
drive.
And while Congress put what
were generally regarded as the fin
ishing touches on the New Deal
legislative program, even this task
took second place on the sensa-
tional battle being Waged before the
Supreme Court to establish the con-
stitutionality Of major New Deal
enactments.
The Supreme Court, thrust sud-
denly into the limelight as 1t began
consideration of legislation passed
by the New Deal to meet problems
of the emergency, was carried in
the course of the year to what may
prove a crossroads in its history.
Vital Cases Pending
At the beginning of 1885 the court
had under consideration section
of the National Industrial Recovery
Act allowing the President to bar
shipments of hot OIL in interstate
commerce.
The court outlawed this delega
ton of power as improper but the
defect was partially overcome in
new legislation.
The adverse ruling prompted a
flood of suits over other New Deal
laws which reached climax in the
gold cases.
After weeks of elaboration, the
court upheld the government. 1t
was almost the only victory scored
by the administration before the
tribunal in the year.
The court outlawed the NRA and
all its vast machinery in a sweep
ing opinion which seemed insur-
mountable in the enactment of
remedial legislation. At the same
time the court outlaWed the
Frazier-Lemke farm mortgage mora
forum act.
New cases involving the AAA, the
IVA and the Bankhead Cotton con-
troll act face a court test. They
we're argued in December and
probably will be decided about
Jan. 10.
Because of the popularity of the
farm program and the basic con-
Stitutional questions involved the
AAA case was felt to involve issues
of almost unprecedented proper
tons.
State Department Burdened
The State Department finished
the year with the heaviest load of
foreign problems handled in any
year since the World War.
The problems practically all piled
up during the latter half of 1885
During the first six months the
State Department did little except
launch negotiations for number
of trade treaties.
During the last quarter of the
year State Department officials
made history. They shattered ma
tional and international precedents,
and pointed the course of the
American nation toward a new goal
in its relation toward war, and to-
ward other nations
In point Of national and inter
national importance, State Depart
ment officials consider the follow
ing were most outstanding:
l. The administrations reciprocal
trade program, aimed at a general
reduction of world tariffs and other
artificial obstacles to the free flow
of foreign trade.
2. The Administrations neutrality
policy, designed to keep the United
States out of foreign wars by for
bidding, outright, American trade
In arms, ammunition and imple-
mentS OF war. and diScouraging all
other abnormal trade with belliger-
ent nations, was put into effect.
Historic Policy Waived
Support of this government was
withdrawn from American ships at
tempting to trade with ports of bel
ligerent countries.
The principle of freedom of the
seas was waived in this particular
instance of the Italo- Ell. .iopian war.
they said. but this carried no init
nation that the same course must
or would necessarily be followed in
other or future wars.
The close of the year found an
American delegation laboring in a
London naval conference and at
tempting to renew or revise the
Washington and London naval
treaties, without much hope of
success.
Japan's inSistence upon parity
with the United States and Great
Britain and Britain'S GeSire to build
more cruisers, together with general
political complications in Europe
and the Far East, had practically
reconciled officials here to renewed
naval building by all principal
powers.
The near-break of diplomatic re-
lationS with Soviet Russia as a re-
suit Of the Soviets failure to agree
upon settlement of American
debts and claims against Russia,
and the anti-American activities of
the Semi-offlcial Third International
Communist Congress, was another
development of major Importance.
In keeping with the number of
international problems under con-
sideration, the United States dur
ing 1885 spent about $1,000, 900, 900
for national defense. involving a
huge naval construction program to
bring the American Navy to treaty
strength by 1912. and an increase
of more than $4,000 in the strength
OF the regular army.
Reform Program Completed
Congress centered attention on
completing the vast economic and
reform program of the New Deal.
The first session of the 74th Con-
gresS was in session for nearly eight