Evening star., 1937-05-24
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

With q prolonged session Of Congress
IN sight-pessimists speak Of September
adjournment fields Of controversy
than the Supreme Court issue bound into
the picture. Battle lines are drawn
around all three projects next closest to
President Roosevelt's heart-his 81 $780,
100000 relief program, maximum hours
and minimum wages legislation, and
government reorganization. Hostilities
will be fierce and long drawn out on
relief and reorganization. Labor laws,
which would in effect set up an attenu-
ated N. R. A., will not be approved with
out struggle, but administration leaders
expect far less opposition to F. D. r s
industrial reform scheme than to the
two other measures. The relief battle,
scheduled to be fought out first. will
smash party lines about as violently as
the judiciary feud has done Economy
advocates will put up the stiffest kind
Of contest in the Senate now that the
House has finally indicated its readiness
to go along with the President on relief.
Independence has become the congress
sional order Of the day. since the court
packing program was sprung. In both
branches there is now manifest q de-
sence during the New Deal, to disregard
presidential leading strings and tackle
things strictly on their merits. Roose-
welt managers are conscious that rubber
stamp days are no more.
Senator Robinson's Supreme Court
boom has SO much momentum behind 1t
that it may turn into boomerang That
facetious White House press conference
inquiry-"Mr. President. do you plan to
confirm the Senate's nomination of Sem
ator Robinson?"-sheds subtle light on
the situation. It discloses an impression
that the Senate is trying to high-pressure
Robinson's appointment to the Van De-
vanter vacancy Those who know Mr.
Roosevelt's deep dislike of that sort Of
tactics therefore fear that too much
senatorial protesting on the Arkansan's
OF his Jealous friends. Talk is heard,
too, that the campaign for the 65-year-
old majority leader is inspired In part
by the Machiavellian desire of some court
bill opponents to take the wind out of
the presidential contention that "young
blood" is indispensable on the high
bench. Nevertheless and notwithstand-
ing, and despite stubborn silence at No.
1900 Pennsylvania avenue, Robinson
continues to rank as the topflight prob
ability for the first Roosevelt Supreme
Court appointment. Although the SEN
ator's confirmation would be a foregone
conclusion, starry-eyed New Dealers
would probably attempt to stage some
opposition on the ground Of his "con-
servatism."
There was Just the glimmer Of q sug-
gestion, In a passing observation by Mr..
Roosevelt, that at least one of rumor's
favorite candidates for the Supreme
Court-James M. Landis-is not under
consideration. The President was asked
if he expects to reappoint the Securities
and Exchange Commission chairman for
an extended period after expiration of
his current term early in June. Mr..
Roosevelt replied that he hoped Lands
would remain on the job as long as pos
sible before going to Harvard Law School
to become dean. There seemed to be a
slight intimation in that casual remark
that the President has no thought Of
doing anything that would prevent
Lands from entering upon his duties
at Cambridge next Fall.
Congress can save money, when 1t
wants to, even though it works such
wonders in homeopathic doses Some
time ago the Senate authorised expendi-
ttre Of 10000. to enable the United