Evening star., 1936-05-20
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

Knockout of the Guffey coal act prob
ably packs more political dynamite than
any Of the smashing blows the Supreme
Court has struck at the New Deal. The
decision contains political possibilities
not only because it comes on the thresh-
old of the presidential contest, but also
on account Of Mr.. Roosevelts appeal
for passage Of the law, irrespective of
doubts of it's constitutionality. however
reasonable" The constitutional issue
latterly has been less conspicuous rs q
1886 campaign factor. The Guffey act
decision yarks it back into the picture
in an up-to-date setting and may restore
it to paramountcy. This will assuredly
be the case if at any time before Novem-
Der r. D. r. indicates his purpose, in
the event of reelection, Of seeking
constitutional changes to clothe the
Federal Government with powers which
the Supreme Court has successfully de.
MED it in the economic and social fields.
At any rate, with Supreme Court anti
administration score of six to two. the
G. o. p. Is unlikely to refrain from
indicting the New Deal for taking lib
critics with the Constitution.
=
Prospects of early adjournment Of
Congress are thrown into fresh dis
array by the Supreme Court decision on
the coal act and the Court Of Appeals
ruling on the Resettlement Administra.
ton. IT, as indicated, modified legssla-
ton will be offered to deal with the new
situations confronting the bituminous
coal industry and the Tugwell organi-
zation. nobody can predict, amid the
still prevailing confusion over taxation
and relief. just when House and Senate
will be able to fold up. Senator Robin
son, wiShfully thinking, fixed June 8
as quitting day. But that was before
the courts thundered in stentorian tone
this week. Once again it's anybodys
guess when the session will end.
Herbert Hoover's II am not can
didate" is bound to leave people guessing
almost as freely about his actual re-
ceptivity as Calvin Coolidge's Il do not
choose to run" left them in 1927. WASH
ington opinion Is by no means unit
in believing that the former President
has definitely and absolutely withdrawn
from the picture, except as an active
aspirant. There Is certainly nothing
discernible in the Chicago statement
that would prevent the convention from
turning to him as compromise choice
or debar his acceptance OF q pronered
nomination. Cleveland will contain
goodly assortment Of Hoover friends.
In the event that Landon is stopped
and q free-for-all ensues, the Cali
fornian's name, deSpite his declaration
that he Is not - candidate" Is sure TO
be trotted out.
q. o. p. leaders will restrain their
emotions II the Democratic Congress
enacts . tax bill imposing IS per cent
increase In the normal income tax rate
affecting thousands Of persons in the
lower brackets. Republicans have strong
hopes of making gains in the next House
Of Representatives. They believe that
If they are enabled to view with alarm
an income tax boost for which re-
sponsibility can be fastened on RooSe.
welt supporters, 1t viii be easier to dc.
popularize the idea Of sending Demo-
Gratis back to Capitol Hill. Republicans
would be sure to make campaign thun-
der out Of the argument that higher
income taxes were caused by New Deal
extravagance.
4 4
It's an Interesting coincidence that at
the very hour the Supreme Court was
annihilating the Guffey coal act Repre-.
sentative samuel B. Hill. Democrat, OF
WashtnSten etata Ghqa1d have besn