The Wilmington morning star., 1946-11-11
VINS0N INFLUENCE
MAY REACH COURT
Tension Between Justices
Jackson, Black Expected
To Disappear Now

WASHINGTON, Nov. 10. -(P-
Friends of Chief Justice Vinson in
dicated Sunday they expect his
conciliating influence in the Su-
preme court to become manifest
this week with the first opinions of
the new term.
They hope he has succeeded in
modifying tension between Justices
Jackson and Black whose differ
ences flared into the open last
summer.
Vinson and the eight associate
justices have been working in their
offices and homes for the last
two weeks on opinions in 20 cases
argued last month. Those that are
delivered Tuesday may give some
indication whether the tribunals
feuding factions are headed toward
a greater degree of harmony. The
Tuesday session was ordered in
stead of the usual Monday one be-
cause of the Armistice day holiday
Monday.
Outwardly, peace appears to
have returned to the court. Black
and Jackson converse amiably.
During argument of the 20 cases
no indication of personal or ire
concilable legal differences was
noted in the judges comments or
questioning of attorneys.
But, said n authority on the
courts work, the outward signs
are one thing and what happens
when the time comes to write opin-
ions is another. If conflicting views
on legal points, on the very nature
of justice and the functions of the
court continue to develop into
sharp-worded opinions there are
likely to be barbed answering.
The 20 pending cases offer a
wide field for possible new dis
agreements. In ten of the more diff
ficult cases, the tribunal was I'M
able to reach decisions after hear
ing first arguments and studying
briefs. Rearguments were order
ed.
In one case the court has heard
arguments on three separate oc-
casions in its effort to reach a de-
cision. 1t involves anti : trust
charges against a group of unions
and employers. 1t has been pend
ing in the Supreme court since Nov
ember, 1914.
Another case awaiting decision
was filed with the court even
earlier - in June, 1914. It in
wolves validity of orders by the
Securities commission requiring
dissolution of two holding comp
anies.
Immediately after reading its
opinions on Tuesday the court will
wade into a new stack of cases
listed for argument over a two
week period.
In the stack is a closely-contest-
ed New Jersey dispute touching on
the issue of the separation of
church and state. 1t has brought to
the court intervening briefs from
six states and two church organi-
cations.
The dispute involves the right
of the board of education of Ewing
township in New Jersey to use
funds raised by taxation to pay for
transportation of pupils to Roman
Catholic %parochial schools in Tren-
ton, N. J..
A township taxpayer, Arch R.
Everson, said the practice was a
use of tax money for private pur-
poses and amounted to public sup
port of religious establishments.
The New Jersey Court of Errors
and Appeals upheld the school
boards action. 1t also upheld va
lidity of a 1941 act of the state
legislature on which the school
board based its action.
Briefs in support of the New
Jersey law were filed by New
York, Michigan, Louisiana, Mass
a%chusetts, Illinois and Indiana.
A brief upholding Everson's
stand was filed by counsel for the
general conference of Seventh Day
Adventists, and the joint confer
ence committee on public rela-
tons representing the Southern
Baptist convention, the northern
Baptist convention, and the Nation
- pop4ie+ convention inc