The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-02-18

1
guments that constitutional amend
ments are difacult TO enact II wig.
orously opposed. Borah pointed out
that the income tax amendment
became law despite a strenuous
fight. Burke advanced his sugges'
| ton In the face Of indicated GOODNESS
OF supporters and opponents OF Mr..
Rooseyelt's program TO any COM
promise, although O number have
been advanced.
Congress Could Specify
"The congress could specify that
the proposed amendment was to be
acted upon by state conventions
within a specified time-say one
year." Burke said, indicating that
In any event he believed 1t might
require that long to get action u,
congress on the presidents plan.
THAT would be the most definite
democratic way Of doing It,"
Burke said he was considering
suggesting that the constitutional
amendment plan Of Sen. Burton K.
Wheeler, D., Mont, and Sen. Homer
r. Bone, D., WASH, be amended to
provide that 1t should be acted upon
by state conventions rather than
by state legislatures-and that such
action should occur within year. I.
1.-THE proposal could either be
amended to make that provision,
Burke said, "or II wuold be possible
for congress merely to provide sep
arately the method and time In
which action should be taken by the
states.
II believe there Is question as to
the wisdom Of the proposed amend
fnent, but I certainly prefer 1t to
the presidents proposals" !
Outside Of congress, drives to
mobilize sentiment IN favor and In
opposition to the judiciary program
went ahead vigorously.
Labor Backs Roosevelt
Labor's non-partisan league sent
letters to every member OF the house
and senate urging support for the
presidents proposals.
The letter commended that mo sig
nificant legal protection for labor's
right to organize and bargain col
lectively, no regulation Of minimum
wages, no general shortening Of
hours Of work is possible, on either
a state or national basis, without
reformatio nfhtoeETAOSHRETAO
reformation Of the federal judici-
ary."
The league, organized during the
last campaign to coordinate labor
support for President Roosevelt,
contended that time will not per-
nit adoption Of a constitutional
amendment to achieve the presi-
dents purposes.
Sen. Minton's Proposal Z
Latest compromise suggestions
included Sen. Sherman Minton's
proposal requiring to court de-
cision to invalidate an act Of con-
gresS and the Wheeler-B Bone plan
for a constitutional amendment per-
hitting congress by two-thirds vote
to override court decisions.
william Green, president Of the
A. r. Of L., announced that his or
ganization would work nationally
for the administration plan, thus
virtually completing the united or.
gained labor front.
Possible strengthening Of the OPP
POSTING was seen in the attempt Of
Sen. Burton X. Wheeler, D., Mont,
and Sen. Homer T. Bone, D., WASH,
to rally support Of congressional
liberals behind their compromise
proposal. Bone, who previously had
not declared himself, said that he
favored the constitutional amend
ment plan above the administration
proposal.
Administration supporters de-
clared there had been a definite
change In the trend Of letters being
received by congressman since a
campaign Of radio, speeches In favor
Of the plan was stated.
Sen. Alben w. Barley, D., KY,
Sen. Robert J. Buckley, D., O.. Rep.
Maury Maverick, D., Tex, and Sen.
Arthur Capper, r.. Kan, all said
they were now receiving more let
tiers favoring the plan than they did
a week ago but differed on the per-
centage.
Secretary Of Agriculture Henry Al
Wallace asserted that farmers al
the nation were virtually unani-
nous" behind the program despite
the unfayorable comment of .. j.
Taber. head of the national grange.
The house republican policy CONF
mittee disguised the court program
at a meeting at the home of Repub-
lican National CHAIRMAN John D. M.
Hamilton and decided informally
to continue the party policy Of
awaiting develouments in the snlit
in democratic ranks and OF avoid.
ing making the issue q partisan one.
Byrnes, Harlan Back It
Sen. James Byrnes, D., s. C.. and
Rep. Byron B. Harlan, b., o.. cons