The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-04-08

some Republicans among the contract signers How
ever one Republican Senator, bitter critic of AAA,
doesn't have to worry, because AAA payments went
direct to his tenants. On the other hand, Repub-
lcans who are criticisng the large sums that went
to Hawaiian sugar interests may be surprised when
they discover that of the larger benefciaries
there is Republican power in the islands.
MANY signed AAA benefit contracts but few re-
AVA turned the money. One of the few checks to
come back was from the Standard Oil Co. of Cali
fornia, which had signed contracts covering some
of its land Later the company returned it's share
of the benefit payments (the remainder being the
share which went to the tenants) with the explana-
ton that the company didn't believe in AAA
Another equally outstanding instance of living
up to conviction concerns a member of the United
States Supreme Court relative since deceased
had been a contract sgner wheat land in
Montana. The Supreme Court justice inherited the
land He among those joining with the major
ity in declaring AAA invalid Promptly after the adj
verse decision rendered, he returned uncashed
two AAA benefit payment checks.
THE worst blow AAA had to take in connection
with disclosure ot AAA benefit payments was
the fact that Oscar Johnston cotton expert for AAA
received of the largest cotton payments Or
rather the corporation for which he is manager did,
And the corporation is backed by British capital
But seeing that the Senate was about to call for
and disclosed this and other large payments In
so far possible he got the story out first in
his own way, and thus took of the edge off the
Senates action, retiring as they say to a previously
prepared position.
CENATOR vANDENBERG of Michigan, who forced
~ the current disclosures, voted against AAA but
for the Jones-Costigan Sugar Act under which the
sugar payments-the largest paid on any commodity
were made. He's been against publicity up to now.
tax publicity voted for its repeal and voted against
publication of RFC loans.
DOSSIBLY it's coincidence. Some think it is more
Il than that Anyway the Supreme Court in its
last three big New Deal case has avoided the issue
of conssitutionaiity.
Cases involving iva, the Utilities Act and the
Securities and Exchange Act have been disposed of
without taking position way or the other on
the fundamental validity of these measures Next
or the list in the Guffey Coal Act-the little NRA
OF the btuminous industry.
While thus giving the nation a breathing spell in
the slaughter of New Dsa legislation she court has
had opportunity in several decisions to put in a
strong word for liberty upholding the freedom of
the press In throwing out Huey Longs Louisiana
newspaper tax rebuking Mississippi court for toll
Grating the third degree, and denouncinp infringe
ment of personal rights by administrative officials in
the SEC case.
All OF which, whether by design or bv accident
resulted in quieting down Of popular criticism of
the court However, the sharp minority opinions in
oicate that during this repreve which the New Deal
is enjoying the judicial temperament sti RACES f,ri-
ously inside the court.