Evening star., 1937-07-15
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

BY 6. GOULD LINCOLN.
With = truce prevailing In the SEN
ate floor battle over the court bill. the
Upper House today turned its atten-
tion to conference reports and routine
matters.
The Senate adjourned until noon to-
morrow, when the state funeral for
the late Senator Robinson, Democratic
leader, will be held in the Senate
chamber. Tomorrow an adjournment
will be taken until Tuesday, when the
Senate will resume business following
the funeral of Senator Robinson in
Arkansas. A large number of the Sen
ators will attend the funeral at Little
Rock.
The truce in the court battle. how
ever, did not prevent discussion
among Senators as to what will be
done with that measure
Administration Senators insisted,
for publication. that there was no
change in the situation; that, begin
ming next Tuesday the fight would go
right ahead.
CapltOt Hill OplnlOn.
There was growing opinion, how
ever on Capitol Hill that the court
bill would be sent back to committee
and the log jam in the Senate be
broken.
President Roosevelt conferred today
at the White House with Attorney
General Cummings and several Sem
ators, among them Gillette of Iowa,
Brown Of Michigan, Andrews of Flor
ida and johnson of Colorado. The
Attorney General would make no
statement about his conference with
the President.
From other sources it was learned
that q suggestion has been made tc
the President 1t would be wise to let
the Senate itself handle the court-bill
situation. 1t was pointed out the bill
might be sent back to committee with
instructions either to divide the meas
ure into two separate bills, one deal
Ing with the Supreme Court and one
with the inferior courts, or for the pur-
pose Of having the whole matter of
court reform considered further.
Brown Issues Statement.
Senator Brown of Michigan issued
. brief statement on behalf of himself
and the three other new Senators
who saw the President. He said: Sen
Ators Gillette, Andrews, johnson ana
Brown met with the President and dis
cussed the ourt-reorganization bill
plan this morning. We make no
further statement concerning it,"
1t Is understood these Senators went
to the White House to urge the Presi-
dent to permit the court bill to be
sent back to the committee. Three.
If not four, of them have made up
their minds, it is said, to support a
motion to recommit.
Another solution advanced in some
quarters for the situation existing in
the Senate is the substitution of a
constitutional amendment providing
for compulsory retirement of men,
bers OF the Supreme Court at IS.
Leader Must Be Named.
The Democrats of the Senate are
confronted not only with the necessity
Of working out some solution to this
battle over the court bill, but also with
the task of selection of a leader to
succeed Robinson. The selection of a
new leader may be accomplished only
after a real contest, it was indicated
today. For that reason administra-
tion leaders were anxious to postpone
the election of a new Democratic
header until the next session. They
have trouble enough on their hands
without a new intraparty battle for
leadership.
Senator Pat Harrison of Mississippi
Is regarded as strong probability for
the leadership in the event he seeks
the position. It Is believed he will
be candidate, although he has made
no statement. On the other hand.
Senator Barkley of Kentucky, acting
Democratic leader, also has many
hackers for the post Of leader.
Senators and Representatives today
discussed hopefully the possibility of
comparatively early conclusion of
business and adjournment. The desire
to leave Washington, already devel-
oped considerably, has been given
momentum by the death Of Senator
Robinson.
One thing seems certain. Unless
the administration leaders themselves
take the bull by the horns and move
to send the court bill back to the
committee with recommendations it
be studied further or divided, such a
motion in all probability will be made
by the opposition. When such a
motion Is made by the opposition, 1t
Will be with every assurance that 1t
eAn carry.
Opponents OF the court bill said to-
(See Robinson, page A-5)