Evening star., 1937-02-08
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.
A motion to divide President
Roosevelt's bill for reorganization Of
the judiciary into two separate meas
ures will be made by Senator Van
Nuys. Democrat. Of Indiana, 1t de.
veloped today.
Van Nuys said he is opposed TO
packing" the Supreme Court, but is
in favor Of the recommendations Of
the President for improvement Of
judicial procedure.
st believe the bill should be divided
into two parts, each to be acted on
separately" the Senator said. "At
the proper time, and when the bill Ii
before the Senate Judiciary Commit.
tee. shall make the motion to 50
separate it,"
At today's meeting Of the Senate
Judiciary Committee, Van Nuys gave
notice he would move to have the
Chief Justice and associate justices OF
the Supreme Court invited to appear
before the committee and give their
advice regarding the Presidents re-
OrganlZatlOn proposal.
THE bill was not before the commit
tee at today's meeting" said Van
Nuys, "and, therefore, I withheld my
motion"
The committee does not meet again
until next Monday. While the Presi-
dents reorganization plan was dis.
cussed informally, the discussion had
to do with procedure and not with the
merits of the bill.
Ashurst Offers Bill.
Senator Ashurst, Democrat, OF Arr
zona, chairman of the Judiciary Com.
mittee, introduced the bill in the SEN
ate when that body met at noon.
Asked If he had made any changes
in the bill, his reply was, i may add
q title"
Already Chairman AshurSt and
other Senators are being deluged with
kilograms and letters regarding the
plan to reorganize the judiciary.
Ashurst said he had no time to read
any of these communications. He
added:
II think the Senate learned not to
get axcited or to let its blood pres
sure be raised by kilograms during the
consideration Of the Wheeler-Ray-
burn bill"
Ashurst did not amplify this state
ment. It was during consideration
Of the Wheeler-Rayburn act relating
to public utility holding companies
that it was developed that a large
number of kilograms in opposition to
the measure had been procured and
sent to members Of Congress by adj
versaries Of the measure, whose names
were signed to the kilograms, unaware
Of the action.
Senator Ashurst and Representative
Summers of Texas, chairman of the
House Judiciary Committee, were at
the White House for luncheon with
President Roosevelt today, presumably
for conference in regard to the ju-
dietary reorganization bill, and what
should be done to hasten its con.
sideration in the Senate and House.
Long Battle Planned.
There were indications today that
opponents Of the measure, particu-
larly those who do not like the Presi.
dents plan for increasing the size Of
the Supreme Court, were preparing for
long, drawn-out battle. They be-
ieve that, given time, sentiment
against the bill will crystalize through.
out the country. and will have an i'm.
portant bearing on the outcome Of
the contest in Congress.
The House Judiciary Committee Is
to meet tomorrow. It will have before
it the Presidents bill and his message.
Whether the committee will undertake
to ask members of the Supreme Court
to appear before 1t has not yet been
disclosed. The impression gaine1
ground that the bill would have an
easier path to travel in the House than
in the Senate. It may be the strategy
Of administration leaders to have the
measure considered first in the House,
in the hope of getting a big vote for
the bill In that body. Such q vote
might have its effect on the attitude
of the Senate later.
The Presidents court bill was in
troduced in the House Friday by Rep
resentative Maverick, Democrat, Of
Texas.
Senator Ashurst declined to say
whether he would favor the Van Nuys
motion to divide the bill into two
parts. It Is believed, however, ad-
leaders viii resist strenu.
ously such . motion. Nor would SEN
-(see JUDICIARY. Page A-2J