Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1937-04-19

President Roosevelt dismisses without
comment any and all suggestions of
compromise on his Supreme Court bill.
The White House nonchalantly indicates
that such proposals bob up about every
Is minutes, and otherwise lets 1t be
inferred that they are making no dent
whatever. OF course, as an astute pol
itician and master strategist. F. D. r.
Is not expected to talk compromise pre-
maturely, whatever may be at the back
Of his head as a possible last resort. Any
suggestion OF retreat, administrationists
hold, is out of the window at a time
when things seen to be in the bag for
them, even though by narrow margin.
Despite New Dealers sunny confidence,
resolutely maintained, at least for public
display, the impression will not down
that rather than be beaten altogether
on court enlargement, Mr.. Roosevelt will,
II and when necessary, decide that half
loaf is better than no bread. Propo-
nents and opponents alike are persuaded
that six additional justices always were
the Presidents asking figure, but not
his taking total-that, in other words,
he will on the last roundup accept what
he can get, As long as 1t represents VIC
tory for his basic purpose. Opinion Is
almost universal that he can have two
new justices, practically for the asking.
-
No little concern prevails in high
places over the decision by the Federal
Circuit Court Of Appeals ut Boston rul-
ing the social security act unconstitu-
tional. The Government will put up 4
stiff fight to save the law when 1t Is
before the Supreme Court for final de-
termination If that tribunal passes on
the case while the judiciary bill is pend
ing in Congress the decision might have
considerable influence on Senate and
House voting. Although the Department
Of Justice hopes for m immediate show
down, it's doubtful whether the Supreme
Court will choose to review the Massa-
chusetts decree during the present term.
Chief Justice Hughes and his associates
already have before them . direct test
OF the law, brought from Alabama. A
ruling in that action may be handed
down when they next sit, on April rs.
Arguments in the Southern case evoked
interrogatory indications from the bench.
strongly suggesting the possibility Of
another 5-to-4 decision, on social re-
curity. The Alabama appeal applies
only to unemployment compensation.
The Massachusetts, case is the first one
involving the old-age benefit section
of the law.
With augmented Importance of the
National Labor Relations Board special
interest attaches to the personality OF
j. Warren Madden, chairman of the
board. He has been on the job since
1885, on leave from the University Of
Pittsburgh, whose law faculty he joined
in 1927. A native Illinoisan, Mr.. Madden
took his degree of doctor of juris-
prudence at the University Of Chicago.
With intermittent periods at the bar he
has taught law at the University OF
Oklahoma, Ohio State University, West
Virginia University, Stanford and Cor
nell. In Pittsburgh, Chairman Madden
was also interested in public housing
activities and in field now much in the
national eye-special policing in indus
try. He has written books on domestic
relations, including marriage and d.
vorce. The Labor Relations chief is still
on the sunny side Of so.
Seldom in recent years has there been
such muster Of the solid South in
Congress as was revealed in the House
vote on the Gavagan anti-lynching bill.
Dixie's Representatives lined up prac-
tically en- masse against the measure
Two Democratic exceptions were Maver-
lex Of Texas and Creal Of Kentucky, who
voted for the bill. Three Republican