Evening star., 1936-11-12
THE POLITICAL
MILL
BY C. GOULD LINCOLN.

Politics Is enjoying breathing spell.
1t will last probably until Congress meets
and the President submits his proposals
for legislation and the national budget to
that body. The elections have cleared
the air for the time being, as between
Democrat and Republican. Within the
triumphant Democratic party, however,
the political mill continues to grind. The
President has still to make 80 or. more
important appointments to the Federal
ohices. With his proposed trip to South
America. starting next week, the Presi-
dent will withhold his decisions until he
has returned to Washington, which may
be as late as December 18 or 10. Thou
sands of requests for political jobs are
being received from supporters Of the
President-many of them for the lesser
jobs.
A constantly recurring question has
to do with the statutes of the New Deal
and the Constitution. What is the
President going to do about proposed
constitutional amendment? What plans,
II any, has ne with regard to the Su-
preme Court? The President continues
to say nothing about the suggested
amendment to the Constitution. 1t Is
known that at least one powerful figure
in the Democratic party believes the
situation could be remedied by increas-
ing the size of the Supreme Court-by
simply adding four new members who
would see eye to eye with the New Deal
President in regard to legislation which
majority of the court as it now stands
refuses to hold constitutional
In the light Of the unanimous decision
of the nine justices of the Supreme Court
invalidating the N. r. A., 1t seems as
though it would take more than a mere
increase in the membership by four to
assure a decision upholding a new
N. r. A. If one is attempted. For that
reason, and for others, some Of the New
Dealers believe that the only real solu-
ton would be the submission OF con-
stitutional amendment to the States for
ratification. Such course certainly
would avoid the criticism OF packing
the Supreme Court, which would fall
on any administration which sought 10
uphold its policies by adding new mem
berS to that tribunal. An attempt may
be made to put through a law holding
that only by majority decision con-
Cured in by seven out of the nine mem
bers of the court, or more, could a law
of Congress be held unconstitutional.
There Is doubt, however. that such a law
would be held constitutional. Its weak
ness to the lay mind would lie In the
fact that three members of the Supreme
Court. a small minority, could hold a law
constitutional. against the opinions Of
six other justices.
~ ~
of fnl1pu,inU tho -e1orfi0p
of President Roosevelt, gossip about pos
sible changes in the makeup of the
cabinet spread widely. Here, too, is
matter upon which the President is
keeping his own opinions entirely to
himself. Gossip has been particularly
busy concerning Postmaster General
James A. Farley, Secretary of War Harry
H. Woodring. Miss Perkins, the Secretary
of Labor; Secretary Harold L. 1ckes Of
the Interior Department. Secretary DAN
iel c. Roper of the Department of Com
merce and Secretary Claude A. Swanson
of the Navy Department. 1t has been
generally expected that Secretary Hull
of the State Department, Secretary
Henry A. Wallace of the Department of
Agriculture, Attorney General Homer
Cummings and Secretary Henry Nor
the cabinet.
Jim" Farley, commander in chief Of
the campaign to re-elect President
Roosevelt, can retain his post in the
cabinet if he desires. The report has
been spread that he would like to leave
oficial position and go back into busi-
ness, still retaining his Craftsmanship OF
the Democratic National Committee.
Mr.. Farley, however. has gone to Ireland
for a vacation trip, saying nothing about
his own future plans. For three years
gossip has been taking Mr.. Farley out
of the cabinet. He did not even resign
his post in the Presidents official family
when he left Washington and took COM
mand of the Democratic headquarters in
New York. He went on furlough. His
retirement from the cabinet in the near
future would be considerable surprise
to many Of his friends.
*H Il
Mr.. Woodring has been Secretary of
War for a brief period. position to
which he was promoted following the
death of the late Secretary of War,
George H. Dern of Utah. Whether he
will hold on into the new presidential
term is decidedly a question. Miss Per-
kins appears to have no intention of
removing herself from the cabinet II
she should 60, the President might well
promote Assistant Secretary McGrady TO
head the Labor Department. McGrady
has done yeoman work for the admin
istration in his present Office. He was
formerly legislative representative for
the American Federation of Labor.
Secretary Ickes, head of the P. w. A., as
well as of the Interior Department,
although he has trod on many toes, has
saved the administration a lot of grief.
He has the confidence Of both Demo-
cratic and Republican members of Con-
gress The President during the recent
campaign tours he has made has had
an excellent opportunity to observe per-
sonally the work which his P. w. A.
administrator has been carrying on.
Ickes, in the opinion Of many. would be
q real loss to the President If he should
retire from the cabinet. Secretary Roper.
as head of the Department Of Com
merce, has gone far toward bringing
business into a better frame Of mind for
cooperation with the Federal Govern
ment.
Notwithstanding the gossip, 1t may
well be that comparatively few changes
will be found in the cabinet following
President Roosevelts Inauguration on
January 20. If there are changes, Penn
sylvania, the second most populous State