Evening star., 1936-02-19
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

Opinion is widespread that the su.
preme Courts T. v. A. decision is likely
to curtail, If not suppress. the agitation
for some statutory or constitutional curb
on the powers of the court. Senator
Norris, Republican progressive, of Ne
braska, has been in the forefront Of the
discussion regarding the courts right to
declare acts of Congress unconstitutional.
The Tennessee Valley Authority being
very largely Norris creation, many au-
thorities think late events may mellow
his attitude toward the question of re-
straining the courts jurisdiction. Had
T. v. A. this week gone the way of
N. R. A. and A. A. A., the curb-the-
court movement would unquestionably
have been accelerated. especially among
those who, like the Nebraska progress
sive are closely identified with the power
and utility issue. Now that the New Deal
still has one of its principal legs to stand
upon, it's not expected that the imme-
diate future will witness any intensive
crusade to strip the Supreme Court of
its ancient prerogative to make rulings
by mere majority and pass on legislative
enactmentS.
As President Roosevelt is speaking next
Saturday from the historic background
Of Philadelphia, birthplace of the Con-
stitution, and at SO appropriate a time
as Washingtons birthday, it's possible
he may have something to say on the
constitutional issue. The occasion Of his
address will be the acceptance of an
honorary degree from Temple University.
F. D. r. has maintained reSolute silence
on the subject ever since his "horse and
buggy" allusion after the Supreme
Courts N. r. A. decision. He has allowed
to pass unnoticed recurrent suggestions
that in one form or another he would
take the question of constitutional
Federal power, into the 1886 presidential
campaign. u
When Postmaster General Farley IN
vadeS Gov. Landon's home town on Feb
ruary %, to address the Washington day
banquet of the Kansas Democratic Club
at Topeka, the New Deal political chief
tain may attempt to defiate the Gov
ernor's claim to the Republican pres
idential nomination on his economy and
budget-balancing record. Sunny Jim is
certain to recount the impressive figures
"a AAApAS- "A SOh4AtACS W xAdllSdS 4dllAC4o
and Of the Federal relief which has been
poured into the State. Democrats con.
tend that if Kansas, as well as numerous
other States, was able to "get by" during
the past three years and make both ends
meet 1t has been due in large degree to
the general economic recovery which New
Deal measures and benefits have made
possible. Between the lines of that argu-
ment is the subtle suggestion that Landon
could not otherwise have possibly
achieved renown as the kansas Cool
idge."
Walter Johnson's attempt to duplicate
George WaShington's alleged feat of
throwing a silver dollar across the Rap.
pahannock River revives q yarn spun
in connection with visit once paid to
this country by a distinguished guest
from England. Having been told of the
dollar throwing marvel the Englishman
registered skepticism, whereupon one of
his hosts retorted: "Well, why shouldn't
washington have thrown dollar across
the Rappahannock? Didn't he throw
sovereign across the Atlantic?"
+
Robert Peet Skinner, blue ribbon vet ]
eran of the American foreign service, has
inst retired as United States Ambassador
to Turkey after 80 years association with
the consular and diplomatic branches.
Mr.. Skinner having reached the retire.
ment age in 1880. President Hoover by
executive order retained him on active
duty for a six-year period expiring this
month. Mr.. and Mrs. Skinner are now
at their chalet in the French Alps. They
win come home in the Spring and Ii