The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1937-03-19

George w. Norris OF Nebraska and a
rubber Dand, which he snapped
loudly on pad of paper, became
one of the CHIEF sensations Of early
Senate hearings on the Roosevelt
judiciary plan.
Unless something Is done to cor
rect the impression. historians are
likely to believe that those snap.
pings-which almost disrupted the
hearing and did bring a mild re-
proof from Chairman Henry Ash.
urst Of the Judiciary committee
were the oblivious fiddlings Of ar
absent-minded, nervous old gentle
man.
The plain fact is that Norris, who
is rs and was himself once chair
man of the Judiciary committee
was only trying to work of his emo.
tions Of impatience in some rela-
lively quiet way.
Senator william II. King Of
Utah, a youngster Of ", was en-
gagged In questioning a witness.
During long years here, King has
developed peculiarly individual
lied style Of questioning. II knows
no equal when judged by stand
ards of irrelevancc, verbOSity and
completely.
The usual custom among the
spectators when King gets started
Is to relax, yawn, grin. whisper and
read newspapers. The witness finds
his best course Is to say "yeS" auto
matically whenever King stops.
But Norris had questions Of his
own to ask and had to get away
for an appointment. 1t was Kings
victory. Norris just couldn't take
It,"
Congressman Reach 20, Too
The seniority system, under which
both houses of Congress are run by
the men who have been there long
est, doubtless is as effective as any
other which might be devised. Yet,
the arguments that Roosevelt ape
piled to the question of Supreme
Court justices over 10 years old, APP
plies with equal fOrce-if any--to
aged legislators. Everybody knows
that some OF the most valuable men
In Congress are over 10 years old,
just as everyone knows that JUS
tices. BrandeiS, Holmes and others
have done some of their best judi
cial work long after 70. On the
other hand, Congress has Septu-
agenarians In powerful posts for no
other reason than the fact they
they have served many. many terms.
Chairman Robert H. Doughton
Of the House, Ways and Means
committee, sometimes called 'Mu-
ley Bob" Is a North Carolina con-
gresham, aged 70. When Chair
man Mariner Eccles Of the Fed
eral Reserve Board tackled one Of
the most critical issues confront
ing the administration, suggesting
higher taxes 10 prevent imitation.
DOughton replied to seekers OF
comment with an answer which
doubtless will be elnbalmed as one
OF the statesmanlike uttersfaces OK
the current era.
"Oh, you mean Mr.. Heckles!"
said Doughton with laugh.
Hes heckling u.s."
F. ID. II. in Fish Business
Roosevelt, who insists on having
his own little joke oftener than
anyone else. was saying recently to
Senator George Radcliffe Of Mary
land:
George, remember when you
and were In the fish business to-
gether?"
Radcliffe admitted remembering
Not that either Of them was ever
actually down among the fish,. as
AL Smith was IN the old days OF
Fulton street. But once upon
time Roosevelt was representative
Of Baltimore trust company
working for Radcliffe, the COM
pany's vice president. And the two
had to administer the affairs Of a
bankrupt fish company In New
England.
Buy More Hughes Books
The Senate Library has had to
buy new copies of the book. 1.-THE
Supreme Court Of the United
States" by Charles Evans Hughes
The volume was recently printed
in dollar edition, and 1t was a
large supply of this edition which,
Senate Librarian Jim Preston
bought to keep up with the de-
mand.
Members Of Congress, when asked
for a treatise OH the Presidents
Supreme Court plan, are likely, II
they oppose the plan, to send you
the majority report OF the New
York City Bar Associations COM
mittee OH federal legislation. II
they favor the plan, they'll probably
send you the minority report.
Among more extended attacks on
the proposal, the most effective ac-
cording to common opinion here
have been the speech OF Senator
Burton X. Wheeler at Chicago and
the speech of Senator David J.
Walsh in New York. If you want
what seem the most effective argu-
ments submitted by proponents OF
the plan, get the Chicago speech vi
Chairman James M. Lands of SEC
next dean of Harvard Law School,
or the Senate committee statement
of Assistant Attorney General Rob-
ert H. Jackson.