Evening star., 1937-01-13
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

Apropos possible amendments to the
Constitution especially changes to clip
the wings of the Supreme Court, Wash
ington notes with interest what the new
constitution of the Philippines provides
on this score The Supreme Court of
the insular commonwealth is composed
of chief justice and 10 associate justices.
All cases involving constitutionality Of a
treaty or law must be heard and decided
by the court sitting as a bench. No
measure may be declared unconStitu-
tional without concurrence of two-thirds
of all court members. To be eligible to
appointment, justice must be at least
40 years of age and have been for 10
years or more a judge OF court OF
record or engaged in law practice in the
Philippines Members of the Supreme
Court and all judges of inferior tribunals
hold office during good behavior until
they reach the age of 10 years, or become
incapacitated The Philippines consti-
tuition is the exclusive creation Of Filipino
statesmen and jurists. though modelled
closely on that of the United States.
The Official document bearing President
RooSevelt's signature. along with the
certificate of adoption by the ConStitu-
tional Convention at Manila, now reposeS
in the archives of the State Department
at Washington.
Speaking of our own Constitution, that
immortal parchment remains in the Gus
tody of the Library of Congress, along
with the Declaration of Independence,
despite the special shrineS made ready
for preservation of Uncle Sans most
precious state papers in the exhibition
hall of the National Archives Building.
Archivist Connor hopes that the struc-
ture some day may be intrusted with the
keeping Of both documents, but there's
no semblance of controversy on the sub
ject with the Library authorities. Dr.
Connor's immediate preoccupation Is the
assemblage under his spacious roof OF
that amorphouS mass of Federal records,
amounting to an estimated 1000, 900 cubic
feet. now scattered all over the District
of Columbia map. Eventually, the bulk
of these records will find lodgment in
the archives files and vaults. Some men,
bers of Congress think the Library is a
more suitable home for the Constitution
and Declaration because of evening and
Sunday visiting hours. But DR.. Connor
presumably would make the historic
treasures equally available to wayfar1ng
patriots in the Archives Building, already
q tourist mecca.
What's wrong about running for the
vice presidency of the United States? Is
it q matter to which statesmen attribute
little or no importance-or what? The
queries are suggested by the curious fact
that not one of the three present mem
bers of the Senate, who have asplred to
the second highest ONCE within the
Nations gift, includes that distinction in
his photographed sketch in the Con-
grcssional Directory. Senator Hiram w.
johnson of California, Teddy Roosevelt S
Bull Moose running mate in 1912, IS
silent on the subject. Senator Burton
K. Wheeler of Montana, who had second
place on the La Toilette Progressive
ticket in 1924. is similarly mum. and so
is Senator Joe T. Robinson of Arkansas,
AL Smiths partner in 1928. President
Roosevelt has no inhibitions about re-
calling his ill-starred maiden venture in
national politics. In his Congressional
Directory who's who, F. D. r. duly
records that he was the Democratic
nominee for Vice President Of the United