Evening star., 1937-07-14
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VIE.

Every hour OF strife between the Sen
ate loyalists and insurgents over the court
Dill accentuates the bitterness and width
OF the Democratic split and heightens
the likelihood OF virulent and lasting dis
sension. Fears on that score are Begin
ming to outweigh the merits OF the con-
troversy itself, because realignments of
far-reachlng consequence are inevitable,
including the prospect Of a brand-new
political party. Opposition Senators like
Wheeler, McCarran. OMahoney and
Bailey have used language that will
make 1t dihicult, II not impossible, for
them to accept Roosevelt Farley leader
ship in future. Whether an anti-New
Deal movement on the part of these men
and other Democrats who share their
court views will take orga anized form for
the congressional campaign OF 1898 or
the presidential contest of 1910 remains
to be developed. But the spirit OF re-
volt is rampant and rising At this
embattled and embittered hour, such a
thing as Democratic harmony, on the
model of 80, "a and '36, seems an
iridescent dream. Passions are aroused
to fever heat, even more so than Senate
proceedings reveal. If they keep on boil
ing the fight will leave behind, no
matter how it ends. 4 state OF rancor
and discord that may consign the donkey
to the wilderness wherein he roamed
so long prior to 1912.
\ ~
Senator McCarran brought into the
court debate a factor on which the op-
position is likely to harp with mounting
emphasis as the fray proceeds He re-
oroHncaH prASidorf pn0sAunlf'e
words about judiciary reform, as follows:
In the face of this congestion. the
remedy commonly proposed is to add new
judges or new courts: but it will readily
be seen that If the problem is what I
have stated 1t to be. such so-called
remedy merely aggravates the COM
plant There are. OF course legitimate
demands for additional judicial man
power in sections where the population
has grown rapidly. But it is easy to
see that to apply this remedy in all
cases is to add to the ravages OF the
disease, to contribute to the confusion.
and, what Is profoundly important at
this time. to burden still further an
already seriously embarrassed taxpayer"
n X
Emotions of the Roosevelt administra.
ton in the present phase OF the Supreme
Court battle are likely to be reflected
next Friday night. when Attorney Cen
eral Cummings, In \ coast-to-coast Co.
lumbia broadcast, discusses National
Affairs" 1t was Cummings blast over
the air. Immediately following submits
sion OF the packing plan on February
S. which opened the national controversy
that was destined to rage from that hour
to this.
Within a week the House of Repre-
sentatives has lost two of its veteran
ofhcials-Patrick J. Haltigan who had
rs years OF service. the last II in the
capacity OF reading clerk. and Joseph
L. Rodgers, who was sergeant 1T arms
from 1919 to 1881 and since then an
honorary special clerk of the Republican
minority. Haltigan's stentorian voice
was not only long familiar ut the Capitol,
but had become feature Of Democratic
National Conventions. Rodgers. 4 former
Philadelphian, began his career As a
file clerk of the House. The confidante
Of generation Of g. o. P. congressional
leaders dating from Joe Cannons time.
the late minority clerk was famed for
his physical resemblance to the present
J. P. Morgan.
Just about the time Mr. Roosevelt 4
day or two ago suggested that a sub
stantial method OF Government economy
would be for Federal departments and
agencies to curb their passion for rush.
ing into print. there rolled from the
presses OF the Government Printing