Evening star., 1937-02-06

Senator Austin Of Vermont, Re-
publican, backed up the opponents Of
the Presidents plan. saying: THE
message is, in my opinion, most
ostentatious request for power to pack
the Federal courts"
Guffey Halls Decision.
Other comment was as follows:
Senator Guffey, Democrat, Of Penn
sylvania-A splendid solution of the
problem. I am for it 100 per. cent.
Senator Gibson, Republican, Of
Vermont-It is very far-reaching
message 1t calls for careful consider
alton. 1t raises the issue with respect
to the Federal judiciary. want to
study it further.
Senator Nye, Republican. Of North
Dakota-I do not care to comment
on the proposal to increase the
personnel of the Supreme Court at
this time. However, believe that the
proposal to speed up consideration Of
court cases has merit.
Senator Mcclellan. Democrat. Of
Tennessee am in favor of the plan
as submitted by the President. I
have always felt that something
should be done to speed up the
judicial machinery of the United
States. I think that it is probably
necessary that the Supreme Court be
enlarged so as to expedite court
| action.
Byrnes Says Plan Conservative.
Senator ByrneS, Democrat, of South
Carolina-The proposal submitted by
| the President is conservative. I do
not know that it goes far enough, but
I am In favor of it, and I am salts
fed that Congress will not hesitate
in indorsing it.
| Senator Borah, Republican, OF
Idaho-There are some things pro-
posed by the President that seem to
have merit There are other things
proposed which I cannot, at this time,
see my way clear to support.
Senator Minton, Democrat, Of Indi-
| ana-A sensible statesman-like ap-
proach to a most important problem.
No one can question the authority of
Congress to act in line with the sug-
gestions of the President. I favor
enlarging the Supreme Court. 1t Is
a great message.
Senator Adams, Democrat, Of Colo
rado-The message is tremendously
important one. Before comment,
want time to study it.
Senator Pope, Democrat, of Idaho
The message is typically Rooseveltian.
He has neatly f1nessed the Supreme
Court. am for his plan.
Division Of Cases Seen.
Senator Ellender, Democrat, Of
Louisiana-The message is in line
with the Presidents earlier message
to Congress in which he expressed the
belief that means could be found to
overhaul the judicial machinery with
out a constitutional amendment. I
am in favor of the plan. In my
opinion, If there were Is judges on
the Suprems Court they could divide
their work, with Z or sitting on one
case. The entire court could hear
the most important cases.
Senator Thomas, Democrat, of
Utah-The President has handled the
controversy involving the Supreme
Court in better way than imagined
it could be handled. If the plan is
carried, the President will have
bridged every gap necessary to bring
the judiciary down to date.
Senator King, Democrat, Of Utah
I don't approve at all. Because de-
cisions may not suit us I see no
reason for changing the court and
abandoning judicial system given
us by the Constitution.
Speaker Bankhead said the message
contained some very fine sugges-
tions" and contained nothing to
indicate it was directed at the
Supreme Court.
Norris Doubtful Of Remedy.
Senator Norris, independent, of Ne
braska-The Presidents message has
very graphically called to the atten-
ton of the country the unfortunate
condition that exists in our judiciary.
I commend and agree with every word
he has said in that respect. He has
pointed out that lawsuit in Federal
courts to a great extent Is luxury
the poor man cannot afford and that
therefore the poor are often compelled
"to abandon valuable rights or to ac-
cept inadequate or unjust settlements
because of sheer inability to finance
or to await the end of a long litiga-
tion." 7 doubt, however, the wisdom
of the remedy suggested by the Presi-
dent. The whole subject Is perplex-
ing one, and hope and believe that
Congress will be able to solve it.
Borah and Norris are the ranking
minority members of the Judiciary
Committee. They always have exer-
cised wide influence not only in COM
mittee but in the Senate on consti-
tutional issues.
A preliminary check Of the Senate
committee showed that Of the 18
members, five were friendly to the
proposals and five hostile. The others
either were not ready to speak or not
available for comment.
Representative Wadsworth, Repub-
lican, of New York, chairman of the
House Republican Policy Committee,
called the minority to meet Wednes-
day night in an attempt to assure
united opposition.
Senator McAdoo, Democrat, Of
California-"TheP Presidents message
receives my unreserved commenda-
ton. He has not attacked the courts,
as his eager enemies will claim, but
he has attacked our inefficient and
insufficient organization Of the ad-
ministration of Federal justice"
Amendment Means Provided.
Senator Byrd, Democrat, of Vir-
ginia-"The Constitution itself pro-
vides for its orderly amendment"
Senator Hale, Republican, of Maine
SHOULD his recommendations be fol-
lowed, I can see no hope of an inde-
pendent Supreme Court"
Senator Gerry, Democrat, Of Rhode
Island-'I'm definitely opposed to the
Presidents proposal in regHd to the
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