The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-05-06


 pany of America has got off The action. was filed three weeks ago in a New York federal court. Suddenly, last week, Fed- eral Judge Robert M. Gibson of Pittsburgh, where Mellon lives and the company has it's main offices, issued a. temporary injunction prohibiting the government from prosecuting the case in any court but his.
 In other words, he not only barred the Government from the New York court but from every other court in the land.
 Astounding Story
 This alone Is unprecedented, but there is more to the astounding story. Gibson issued his injunc- tion at the request of the corpora ton and without the Government knowing a thing about 1t. The first inkling to Justice Department authorities came when the mjunc- ton papers were served on them.
 Further, in enjoining the Gov- ernment, Gibson reopened a case against the company which was settled 25 years ago. And to cap the whole affair, he made Attor- ney General Cummings, Robert Jackson of the antitrust division, and other Justice Department att torneys defendants with the Alu- minum Company in this old, closed suit. Thus he forced them to appear on the opposite side from the Government, whose at- torneys they are.
 TT SOUNDS DIZZY, BUT THOSE ARE THE FACTS.
 The case that Gibson reopened was an antitrust suit begun against the Aluminium Company in 1912. In June of that year it was settled by what has become famous in. legal circles as the Consent Decree" under which the firm agreed to abandon cer- tain trade practices objected to by the Government. In 1922 this decree was modified by Attorney General Harry Daugherty. He granted the companys request to acquire two Norwegian compet- itors.
 Cabinet colleague of Daugh- erty at that time was Secretary of the Treasury Andrew w. Mel lon. Appointed to the bench that year, with Daugherty's and Melons approval was Robert M. Gibson, . prominent Repub- lican lawyer.
 NOTE-Administration strate- gists plan to use the Gibson in- junction as an illustration of the need for the Presidents court re- form plan.,
 Relief Commentator
 During their recent inspection trip in Florida, Hopkins and Sec retary Harold Ickes took time out for 8 fishing expendition in the game-laden waters off Key West. Accompanying them was a local guide known by the intriguing nickname of "Harnmerhead."
 'Hammerhead" lived up to his reputation as . crack fisher man. He led his two charges to . school of tarpon and they had . very exciting and success full trip. Returning in an ex- pansiv mood, Hopkins inquired of the guide: "Hammerhead, have you been on rclief?"
 'T should say not!" was the indignant reply. 'I'm a self respecting man. This relief busi- ness is ruining the country and
 the people. It's destroying their morale, turning them into
 bums."
 Ickes, who has had a friendly feud with Hopkins for several years over relief policies, roared with laughter-in which Hopkins good-naturedly joined.
 Diplomatic Mystery
 Cloaked In inscrutable mystery is the fate that moves diplomats from one capital to another. Sometimes that cloak Is lifted, and the hand of fate revealed. This happened in the case of Count Rudolf von Strachwitz. until re- gently second secretary of the German Embassy in Washington.
 Count von Strachwitz lived in home in Georgetown with a Filipino boy as cook. The Filipino left, and he engaged a Negro girl. On the first night of her service, he returned home to find the house ablaze with lights.
 He It himself in, and stared in amazment at the sight of the girl stretched out on the dining-roon floor. She had found the key to the wine cellar, drunk herself into 8 state of hilarious intoxication, and was singing at the top of her voice.
 The Count ordered her to stop the noise, get dressed, and get out. She only sang the louder.
 Fearful that she would draw the attention of neighbors, the Count threatened to call the police. But that made no difference to the bibulous maid. So the Count made good his threat.
 When the police came, the girl Ow1wN swSU1v@ RNr@NnnWN