The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-12-27
Supreme Court Decisions
Expected to Set Pace
for Congress.
By United Press


WASHINGTON, Dec. 81
Congressional leaders return
ing for the session beginning
next week today looked to the
Supreme Court to set the pace
through decisions on impor-
tant New Deal laws for legis-
lative activity in the next few
months.
Chairman Pat Harrison of the
powerful Senate Finance Committee
qualified predictions of short ses-
sion with the assertion that eff the
Supreme Court should knock out
the AAA-and I hope it will not
we will have to evolve another pro-
gram to take its place"
The Supreme Court is expected
also, through the pending decisions,
to determine some of the paramount
political issues for 1886.
For instance, a series of anti New
Deal decisions would bring to the
front proposals for a constitutional
amendment which would give the
Federal government powers which
the court denies it.
Another factor bearing on this
phase of the situation is the Jan
uary meeting of the executive coun-
Gil of the American Federation Of
Labor, which will consider the man.
date of the federation's October
convention for active support of
constitutional change to permit
Federal regulation Of wages and
working conditions.
In addition to the AAA, the court
will pass on the Bankhead Cotton
Act, the Guffey Coal Central Act.
the Wagner Labor Disputes Act and
the Utility Holding Company Act.
Decisions adverse to the Admins
tration in any or all of them would
start immediate efforts to devise
substitutes or to alter the present
relationship between the executive
and judicial branches.
Crime Inquiry Suggested
At the same time, decisions favor
able to the New Deal might open
the gates to new legislation along
similar lines. Senator Joseph Cuff
fey 3D., Pa, for instance, has an
nounced that if his soft-coal stabi-
llzation measure is upheld he will
introduce companion bill for the
anthracite industry.
Other developments are likely to
spring up to thwart plans for
short session.
Senator James P. Pope Cd, Idaho
is considering a resolution for
congressional investigation of crime
conditions in the United States.
Such proposal easily could develop
into a broad inquiry into every
phase of law enforcement and per-
hapS might parallel the Wickersham
prohibition report. The subject is
of particular interest because of the
flight of the Lindbergh family.
Senator Harrison said he thought
general tax legislation would be I'M
necessary at the new session, that
a compromise bonus bill could be
passed, and that he believed the
Townsend Plan unavoidable.
Liberty League AssaiIed
He issued a statement bitterly
CONCERNING the American Liberty
League, which he termed the Amer
lean Lobby League" for "undertak-
ing to tell Congress what legisla-
ton it should enact" and "presum-
ing to assume the functions of the
United States Supreme Court"
He asserted the league is COM
posed in large part of a group
of gripping and diSgruntled politi-
clans" and apostles of greed" who
seek to control the entire govern
ment through "plutocratic" propa-
ganda.
1T becomes increasingly apparent"
Mr.. Harrison said, that this band
Of sturdy, Super-patriots is ready to
take over both the legislative and
judicial functions of the Federal gov
eminent, and perhaps in its usual
magnanimous way, the league may
agree to assume control of the ex-
ecutive functions as we'll"