Evening star., 1936-03-05
LOCAL RULE HELD
. SLIPPING IN i. S.
Federal Bar Hears Ransom
Defend People Control
and independence.

William L. Ransom OF New york.
president of the American Bar Asso-
citation, charged last night IN an
address at the sixteenth annual dinner
of the Federal Bar Association, held
In the Mayfiower Hotel.
THE American people are entitled
to be well governed, and they are
entitled to have Government kept close
to the people and close to local needs
and wishes" he declared. THAT
cannot be accomplished through re-
lance on any remote and bureaucratic
Capitalization of power, yet tne
breaking down and atrophy OF local
self-government means remote ana
centralized control.
He urged that American lawyers 40
All in their power to restore the vitality
and independence of local control.
Speaking shortly after Senator
Sherman Minton, Democrat, OF In
diana had advocated that a 7-to-2
vote by the Supreme Court be
required to declare law uncon-
stitutional, Ransom maintained 1t Is
vitality necessary that the powers
of the courts be unabridged in
enforcing conformance to the funda-
mental law y"
Powers of Courts Upheld.
UNLESS the most sacred OF human
liberties are to be destroyed in America
rs they are being destroyed in other
lands" he said, I'VE must be sure that
no steps are taken which will take
away the powers of our courts to
defend and protect the rights and
liberties of the people"
He added that "a courageous and
outspoken bar was never more gravely
needed than now, and can assure
you that American lawyers will not
be silent or derelict should the per-
manence of the American form OF
Government be endangered"
Senator Minton emphasized that
there Is nothing abhorrent to the
underlying principles of American
Government in the proposal for Con-
gressional regulation of the Supreme
Court.
Attacking the majority rule in the
Supreme Court, he denied that ''ours
is a Government of majorities." He
said that more than a majority vote
was required in Congress to accom-
plish certain ends, and that the Pres
: adent's single veto could override the
will of congressional majority.
7-to-2 Decisions Urged.
"When a litigant is granted the
privilege of review by the Supreme
Court, it is under such exceptions and
regulations as Congress shall make" ="
: he asserted. Congress can and should
provide that when a litigant challenges
an act of Congress on constitutional
grounds. the act of Congress shall
determine his rights unless he is able
to convince at least seven judges Of
: The Supreme Court that the act
conflicts with the Constitution, and,
therefore, Is invalid"
Under the present practice, five
Supreme Court justices can overthrow
: the judgment Of their four colleagues
of Congress and the President, and it
requires the vote of two-thirds Of both
: houses Of Congress and three-fourths
of the States to overthrow their
judicial veto, the Senator declared.
There you have five men against
the whole Nation-thats majority rule
for you, isn't it?" he inquired with
sarcasm.
: . "It is unwholesome and dangerous
: TO place in the hands of five men, no
matter how able and upright they
may be, so great a power, especially
when they are so remote from the
source of all power-the people them
selves" he concluded.
Civil Service For Agencies.
Another speaker, Representative
Robert Ramspeck, Democrat of Geor-
ria. said the President intends to
extend civil service control to take
In the emergency agencies when and
: II it becomes apparent that they will
be permanent. He spoke on Making
the Federal Service Career Service" /"
He said the Civil Service has been
enlarged by 1900 employees during the
Roosevelt administration, and branded
as untrue statements ito the contrary"
which he attributed to former Pres
adent Hoover and Gov. Landon Of
Kansas.
Stanley F. Reed, solicitor general Of
the United States. was toastmaster at
the dinner, which was attended by
more than 400 persons. Justin Miller,
president of the Federal bar, presided
and read message in which President
: Roosevelt expressed his regrets at not
being able to be present to greet the
: members Of our profession"
=. Among the specially invited guests
were Senator William j. Bulow Of
South Dakota, Representative Hatton
w. Summers Of Texas, Justice Harold
IN. Stephens Of the United States
Court of Appeals, Chief Justice Alfred
"A. Wheat of the District Supreme
Presiding Judge William j.
of the Court of Customs and
Patent Appeals, President Walter M.
@Bastian of .he District Bar Associa-
@tion. President Beatrice Clephane of
the Women's Bar Association, Chief
Justice Fenton w. Booth of the Court
of Claims, Justice Jesse c. Adkins
of the District Supreme Court, and
e. Barrett Prettyman, corporation
counsel.