Evening star., 1937-03-28
COMPROMISE OUT,
ASHURST SAYS Of
NEW COURT PLANS
Will Have Clean Victory or
Defeat, Senate Leader
Declares.
CLOSE OF HEARINGS
BY APRIL 10 is SEEN
Proposal for Substitution Cannot
Be Made in Committee, Judi.
ciary Chairman Declares.

BACKGROUND
Vered at tnpdltdatin0 decisions
Of the Supreme Court on several
major parts of Nep Deal legislative
program, President Roosevelt last
month dstounded most of Congress
and the Nation by proposing eI-
tensipe reuision of the highest
judiciary set-up. Salient features
of his PROGRAM Dere retirement OF
justices at the age OF 10, increase
In number from 8 to Is and direct
appeal OF constitutional cases.
Most effective fight against plan
thus far has come from Senate in
dependents and members of Presi-
dents oDn party, Nth court re-
pision by amendment being prtnci-
pal alternative.
By the Associated Press.
Senator Ashurst, Democrat, Of Ari-
zona, debonair leader Of the fight for
the Roosevelt court reorganiza ton bill.
emphatically closed the road to COM
promise last night.
At q time when opponents Of the
bill are advancing number Of com.
promise suggestions, generally In the
form Of constitutional amendments,
Ashurst declared none would be &C.
cepted,
Earlier IN the day, opponents dis
cussed a suggestion that they 90 to the
White House In body to see If the
President cannot be persuaded to ac-
cept one or another Of the alternative
proposals.
But, said Ashurst, "the President
should not and will not make any
change in his own plans" For him.
self, he added:
Never shall it be said that slipped
through the meshes of compromise.
I am against compromise. I want .
clean victory or . clean defeat"
Governors Back Plan.
The week end brought, too, . con.
certed radio drive for the bill by the
Governors Of four Southern States,
Cows. Leeche Of Louisiana, Graves OF
Alabama, Rivers of Georgia and John.
ston of South Carolina urged enact
ment Of the bill as the simplest and
best method OF resolving the conflict
between court decisions and adminis-
tration desires.
All stressed the weight Of public
opinion which has manifested itself
behind the New Deals legislative
program,
Gov. Graves, answering Chief
Justice Hughes argument that there
is no undue congestion or delay
in the courts business, cited the long
wait for decisions on major legislation.
Ashurst, his usual good humor
and expansiveness enhanced by the
fact he was celebrating the twenty.
fifth anniversary Of his entrance I'd
the Senate, sat at his desk yester.
day and, with ample gesticulation
and abundant metaphor, answered
questions about the status and pros.
poets for the bill
It will be impossible, first Of all.
he said, for. the opposition to pro-
pose in committee that constitutional
amendment be substituted for the
Presidents bill. The rules OF
parliamentary :ocedure forbid, he
added
Deman Vote on Bill.
"The bill must first be voted up or
down." he added, Then they are
at liberty to bring up any consti-
tutional amendment they desire. But
there must first be hearings on them" +"
He predicted the hearings or the
Presidents bill, in recess until Tues.
day, would be short lived.
Along toward Saturday, April 10.
two weeks hence" he said, Il think
the hearings will close. OF course. with
the understanding that If a Senator
wants a citizen to be heard, thAt
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