The Washington times., 1937-01-09
MORE LIBERAL
VIEWS SOUGHT
! ON LAWS
Proposed Bills Would
Limit Justices to
15-Year Terms
BY WILLIAM S. NEAL
International News Service

n pOWSIlul SlOuP vi NOASANS
sional and other Administrative
backers was called into session
here today to discuss means of
curbing the Supreme Court as the
first direct result Of President
Roosevelt's message calling on the
Judiciary for more liberal interpre-
tation of the Constitution.
At the same time, it was re-
vealed that a Congressional anti
court bloc" may be formed with
the avowed purpose Of driving
through legislation designed to re-
strict the Nations highest tribunal.
Leaders Prominent
Included in the group discussing
the relation between Congress and
the courts we're such figures as
Senator George Norris, veteran
Independent OF Nebraska; John L.
Lewis, president Of the United
Mine Workers; Jerome Frank.
leading Administration lawyer
and Morris Ernst, New York attor-
ney.
The group, which embraced
many Administration lawyers, also
included Representative Lewis,
Cd, of Maryland, Representative
Maverick D), of Texas, and
Chairman McNinch of the Federal
Power Commission.
Norris has Joined with President
Roosevelt in holding that there is
little wrong with The Constitu-
ton. He is opposed to submitting
q Constitutional Amendment en-
powering Congress to enact a new
MIRA or AAA.
Lewis to Call Bloc
The ANTI court bloc" which
functioned briefly last year. may
be called into session again by
Lewis. Members of the group
estimated that a nucleus OF rs
Senators and Representatives
could be formed to fight for anti
court bills.
Representative Ramsay CD of
West Virginia, who is sponsoring
bills designed to strip the Supreme
Court of power to nullify acts OF
Congress by limiting Jurisdiction
Of lower courts, planned to seek
hearings on his measures by the
House Judiciary Committee.
Ramsey said:
"There are many bills deal
ing with the courts pending in
both branches Of Congress.
plan to seek hearings by our
committee, so that views Of mem
berS can be harmOnized and
legislation can be enacted in
this session"
To Limit Jurisdiction
The so-called "anti-court bills"
include these proposals:
To prohibit lower Federal
courts from assuming juriSdic-
ton on constitutional questions
which. sponsors say, would pre-
vent these questions from reach
ing the Supreme Court.
To prohibit Federal courts
from disturbing findings Of fact
made by Congress, an issue aris-
ing in the Guffey coal law case.
To require that constitutional
questions be certified to the Sill
preme Court Immediately after
cases are filed in lower courts.
Curb Life Membership
A constitutional amendment
limiting terms of Federal judges,
who now hold office for life.
Representative Rankin Cd, of
Mississippi, announced that he
would propose Constitutional
amendment giving Congress power
to limit terms Of judges. He said:
IT would limit terms Of all
judges, including the Supreme
Court judges, but I would not de-
prive that court of the right to
pass on constitutionaIity of acts.
A term Of Is years would be a
fair limitation"
Meantime, Chairman Summers
Cd, of Texas, Of the House Ju-
dietary Committee, proposed a bill
designed to speed constitutional
decisions.