Evening star., 1937-02-09

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Scttol Hill. II his proposal is adopted
senly three justices instead of six would
- today fall under the retirement provi-
ssions Of the Presidents plan. Two
pssmore. including Chief Justice Hughes,
ssSwill reach the age of IS within short
:sstime.
AZ. Favors 75-Year Limit.
~ -. Senator Robinson said he believed
$Ethe retirement age for all Federal
,@5udges should be increased to rs years.
Representative Guyer of Kansas,
ranking Republican member Of the
Judiciary Committee, issued a state
'ment today in which he said: IT shall
fight to the last ditch this proposal to
:. pack the Supreme Court and render
1t another plant rubber stamp in the
hands of the Executive.
There is a sinister danger in any
administration regardless of party. in
,tampering with the Supreme Court of
the United States. There is an ire
sistible suggestion of an attempt to
control decisions of the court by pack
ing it with those whose opinions CO.
incide with the administrations. The
history Of the Government of the
Omitted States under the Constitution
Il think very clearly demonstrates that
s-the judiciary has been the outstand-
Ing success among the branches of the
Government. That success has de-
pended upon the independence of the
INT lol h,,
influence, urafraid and unterrifed, it
has performed incompatible service to
the country.
- There is no necessity for any in
crease in the judiciary. either in the
District courts or the Supreme Court.
Last year we created a lot of addi-
tional Judgeships and we had to
stretch our imaginations to make
Some Of them necessary. The Office
of Federal judge is about as easy
Job as there is in the Federal service
of the United States.
- Congestion in Dockets.
AT times, on account of sudden in
sscreases OF population at certain points,
There is congestion in the docket;
however, much of this has recently
been caused by making the District
courts sort of police courts, with a
deluge of petty cases that really have
no place In the Federal court. This
condition arose by reason of the
greedy grasp of power and jurisdiction
by the Federal Government.
The President discounts age, ex-
perience and ripe wisdom when he
would Danish from the Federal judici-
airy men over 70 years of age. It is
just one other example of the en-
croachment Of the executive depart
ment upon the other departments of
the Government. We have a rubber
stamp Congress now, and there is
every indication in the Presidents
message that he wants rubber stamp
Supreme Court as we'll"
Representative Miller of Arkansas, a
Democratic member Of the House
committee, also announced his strong
opposition to President Roosevelt's
plan to increase the membership Of the
Supreme Court.
Still the bill authorizing the volun-
tary retirement of justices of the Su-
preme Court was ordered favorably
reported by vote said to be almost
unanimous"
Judge Summers said the bill as
drafted attempts to disturb as little
as necessary the existing procedure in
the courts.
Berry Supports President.
While opposition to the Presidents
judiciary reorganization plan continued
to roll up in the Senate and House
today, labor's Non-partisan League
leaped into the fight with a strong
statement supporting the President.
It was issued by Mai. George L.
Berry, president of the league. 1t
said, I'm submitting to Congress his
program for reform of the Federal jul
dietary, President Roosevelt has taken
a step essential to the fulfillment of
the most important of the pledges
made during his campaign for re-
election.
The Presidents message is
masterpiece of unassailable logic. The
Constitution itself makes the Federal
judiciary responsive to the elected
representatives Of the people. Con-
gress has often acted under it's con-
-stftptional power to change the COM
position or the Jurisdiction of the
Federal courts to fit them to the de-
eveIoping needs of the country.
: -MThere have been few emergencies
incur national life when it was more
imperative than it is now that the
courts be brought into harmony with
the of the people. Congress and
the President owe it to the Nation,
and the President has recognized his
obligation, to modernize the Federal
courts-not to pack them but rather
to 'unpack' a judiciary loaded by the
fact that appointments of long years
ago have put the America Of 1897 in
subsection to the America of 1897"
Telegraph company officials esti-
mated their Capitol forces had ham
died more than 1000 kilograms q day
since the Presidents message was
read Friday.