The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1937-08-26
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National Topics Interpreted ~ f5aa14E
~~@ by William Bruekare DIHINsg
PressBu Washington D. c <SSn~uTNif
Like Old Times

. Like Old Times
Washington. - Some years ago,
when New England's sharp-tongued
George H. Moses sat In the presid-
ing officers chair as president pro-
tempore of the senate, I used to
marvel at the speed with which he
got rid of legislation. The Repub-
leans were in control of the SEN
ate. The late Senator Charles Cur
tbs of Kansas was the Republican
leader. Between the astute Curtis
and the nimble-witted Moses, the
senate many times really ran in
high gear.
To me, it was reminiscent of the
old days, therefore, when I watched
Vice President Jack" Garner OPP
crate in the senate he other day to
get the judiciary reform bill through
that body without permitting a del
uge of debate. I think Mr.. Garner
performed on that occasion with
even greater finesse than did Sena-
tor Moses because Mr.. Garner did
not wait for cues from the floor of
the senate; he simply took charge
and, knowing what the JOB was. saw
to it that things were accomplished
in record time.
But the significance Of this Incl
dent should not be overlooked. It
was noteworthy Of course, that the
senate should pass the court bill and
send it to the house in total Of
six hours. It was noteworthy that
the Vice President established q
precedent by granting permission to
senators to include in the Congress
ional Record speeches they would
have made If the debate had been
And yet it was the i'm
plication of the senate action that
seems to me to be the most import
ant phase Of that situation.
The way I see the picture is this:
The ease with which that bill was
put thru demonstrates that those
who opposed the original bill to add
six new justices to the Supreme
court were objecting only to the
court packing and not to the re-
forms in procedure.
The bill as It becomes law pro-
vides for q number Of changes in
court procedure to the end that adj
judication of controversy can be ac-
complished much more quickly than
has been the case In the past. It
does not include any addition to the
membership of the Supreme court
and it does not include any provi-
sion for sending hand-picked judges
into the various circuits and dis
tricts as the White House and the
Department of Justice may decide.
In other words, the new law leaves
the judiciary system independent
and again establishes 1t as q CO.
ordinate branch of the government.
equal in all respects to the legisla-
tive, which is congress. and the ex-
ecutive, which is the President and
the executive departments. There
can be no doubt that this piece Of
legislation Is worthwhile although to
the layman the benefits may not
Immediately appear. It must be re-
garded, however, simply as q piece
of legislation that cuts much legal
red tape and those who must avail
themselves Of the courts or those
who are forced under jurisdiction Of
courts will come more nearly OBJ
tanning justice than heretofore.
I have said in these columns be-
fore that when the senate refused to
accept the Presidents orders and
pass legislation that would permit
him to appoint six new justices to
the supreme court at one time, the
President suffered one of the worst
political defeats he has ever en-
countered. He probably will never
meet with another such disastrous
setback.
So, congress has wasted nearly
all of the 1897 session on a PROPOSE
ton for which it was not respon-
sible.
It may be said that congress
should remain in session under
those circumstances and give all Of
the time that IS necessary to DELHI
Grafton Of measures before 1t. Yet.
facts must be faced. One Of these
facts is that through all Of the
prior to adjournment scores
of members were wearing them
selves down fighting against a prop
osition with which they could not
agree. In the meantime, Washing
tons summer settled down. Wash
ington's summer is completely hot
and humid summer. Most Of the
members of the senate and house
are no longer boys Of college age.
They cannot Withstand the physical
rigors of heavy work under weather
conditions that prevail in WASH
ington summer. Thus it is not
strange at all that as July passed