Evening star., 1935-02-03
Supreme Tribunal Skaters
Tradition in Statement of
Unreadiness to ACt-Na-
ton Waiting TenSely.
OFFICIALS PREPARED
TO ACT Immediately
Were Ready to Meet Any Even
tuality-Decision May Be Given
on Feb. IL or at Midweek Ses-
sion-Basis of Gesture Matter
of Conjecture.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
The Supreme Court stepped outside
the bounds of precedent yesterday to
inform tense business world that 1t
probably must wait at least another
week for the high tribunals epochal
decision on the gold cases.
With the administration virtually
ready to meet all the eventualities of
IAN adverse verdict, markets ridden
with suspense, and all expecting the
decision tomorrow. Chief Justice
Hughes summoned the court clerk and
dictated:
The Chief Justice. in order to
avoid an unnecessary croWding Of the
court room on Monday, directs the
clerk to announce that the court is
not ready as yet to announce a deci-
sion in the gold clause cases"
May Come at Midweek.
With this announcement, Monday,
February II, became probably the
earliest date upon which the decision,
on which the whole Roosevelt none
tary program is delicately balanced,
could be expected There was, how
ever, a remote possibility, it might
come in midweek.
The court had just met just pre-
viously for its usual Saturday con-
ference, but the general impression
was that it had concluded its con-
sideration of the gold clause issue and
was busy with lesser matters
Whether the Chief Justices state
ment could be taken to mean that he
and his colleagues had not even
reached an agreement on the subject.
or merely that preparation of the
written opinions had not been COM
pleted, was an immediate target for
speculation.
At the very moment that Chief JUS
tice Hughes was debating to Charles
Elmore Cropley, the court clerk, the
administration experts on law and
money were meeting around a glossy
oaken table in Attorney General Cum
mings' office.
Officials Are Surprised.
To them, the announcement was
surprise.
They had gathered, repeatedly, to
make last revisions in the plans which
a series of such meetings had pro-
duced for quick action in the event
the verdict was adverse to the
Government.
The court must decide whether
Congress was within its constitu-
tional powers in invalidating the gold
payment promises of bonds and con-
tracts and ordering payment, instead,
at face value in the present devalued
currency.
If it decides against the Govern
ment, 100000, 100000 in public and
private bonds will become worth
,0O0,000,O0O.
Government officials still expressed
confidence yesterday that the court
will sustain the administration. TAX
ing no chances, however, they have
made ready to meet any OF the large
number of ramifcations which the
decision might take.
Uncertainty over the result has al
ready caused a drop in many cate
gories of priceS-it was noticeable in
the markets even yesterday. Con-
Versely bonds which would be paw
able at SO per cent above their face
value have scared.
Court Motion Conjectured.
Whether the court took this situa-
ton into consideration and made its
announcement with a desire to re-
lieve the tension, was, of course, a
matter of conjecture 1t referred
only to the question of uselessly
crowding the court room.
Never before could it be recalled
that the court had gone out of its
way to disclose whether any par
ticular decision would or would not
be rendered upon any particular
date.
The announcement was the more
surprising for the reason that un-
usual preparations for handling the
crowds tomorrow-even for locking
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